Peru

19 Jun 2027 – 26 Jun 2027 · by lynnv100

Destinations

Lima, Peru

https://www.machupicchureservations.org/tour/salkantay-trek-4-days?fbclid=IwdGRjcASC-0VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeRQqB7TBrLFBSUBeYrn1SMknMfRnWcUHrtTOf6lEQ2_HCgfOBzpp3y9ZWG1c_aem_McDBO8xcsS8EkpJHfZCrEg Day 1 - Fly into Lima. Reaching at 9 pm. Overnight near Lima Airport Day 2: Morning flight to Cusco & drive to Ollantaytambo • Visit Moray Terraces first & then Maras Salt Mines on the way. • Stay: Urubamba Day 3: • Zip Line (Sacred Valley) • ruins of Ollantaytambo & visit Ollantaytambo Fortress, pink granaries • Stay - Urubamba Day 4:Train to Aguas Calientes & first Circuit • Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes - PeruRail Vistadome 8.53 AM train • Circuit 2A (1.00 Pm) with guide • Stay: Aguas Calientes Day 5: Second Circuit • Circuit 1-A (Machu Picchu Mountain) - 7.00 am • Exit and have a buffet lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge • Hot springs (private pools at Termas de Aguas Calientes) if kids want. • Stay: Aguas Caliententes Day 6: Train back to Ollantaytambo and then Cusco • Train back to Ollantaytambo - Inca Rail 360 degree @ 10.32 am • Visit Chinchero or pisco. (visit Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez OR Master weaver at the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco instead of Chinchero) • Walk the Plaza de Armas. • Stay - Cusco Day 7: • Deciding between 2: the famous "Vinicunca" or Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. • Stay - Cusco Day 8: Cusco Rocks • Sacsayhuamán, Visit San Pedro Market San Blas neighborhood for cafes, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) • Stay - Cusco Day 9: FLY BACK TO lima - Drive to Sanddunes. Visit Huacachina (near Ica)and book dune buggies & Sandboarding. Drive to Paracas Stay - Paracas. Day 10 - Take a boat to the Ballestas Islands Drive back to Lima, explore miraflores & scenery. Overnight - Lima Day 11 - Fly back Check out Luchito cooking class https://www.findlocaltrips.com/es/t/peru/lima/clasicos-peruanos/_XSvUwVByTAiOq9HqgQ2R 1 - Paracas/Huaccachina : we used escape from Lima, was cheeper and simple. Boys didn’t think the boat ride was worth it but we liked it. They loved the dune buggy. Stay for the sunset if you can. 2 - We stayed at Andenes de Inca in Ollantaytambo (loved this little town 😍) as our base to visit the valley. Can’t recommend this place enough, it was perfect! Walter the manager goes above and beyond! 3 - Collectivo : not as straightforward forward as I thought, takes a little getting used to so you waste time but great experience to be able to travel with the locals and it’s super cheap. 4 - Getting to places : I am not a tour group kind of person 😬 so we used taxitadum for a lot of destinations. Great service and you have the driver for the day, they are all super helpful, on time and they don’t rush you. Little tip, try and go later in the day if you can to Rainbow mountain and Humantay as the tour groups arrive early and leave early. 5 - In Cusco we rented a perfectly located air BnB called “home in Cusco” hosted by Melissa, it’s right in the middle of San Blas and 2 mins walk to Plaza de Armas. Definitely book it if it’s free. 6 - Machu Picchu : we used Peru rail, got our bus tickets in aguas caliente and got a guide while waiting in line for the bus, 200 soles for 5 people. 7 - Jungle in Tombopata region 4 days 3 nights : We used Jungle pro and stayed at Finca Sachavacayok. OMG that was such a highlight of our trip, this place is AMAZING! and our guide Pepe was fantastic! We saw so much wildlife 😍 I am so happy we went with them! 8 - we used Latam for all our flights, all was ok but the luggage booking can be very long so make sure you give yourself plenty of time, even for internal flights. 9 - Altitude sickeness : We waited until we got there to see if we would be affected. Nobody did except when we went up to rainbow mountain and Humantay. My son nearly fainted at Rainbow but recovered quickly. We had headaches but they went away with Tylenols and when we travelled back to lower altitude. In Cusco we stayed at both Eco Buunu Inn and Moaf Cusco Boutique Hotel. Eco was $26USD per night, and included breakfast. The value of this place was amazing. Very attentive staff, great hot shower and comfortable room. 15 min walk to Plaza de Armas, and located very close to several laundromats, mini marts and a few woodfired pizza places. What I really liked about this place is they had their own cafe which is open from about 6am until 930pm making it an easy place to grab a basic dinner after arriving or if you're not coping well with altitude. Moaf was also great, but not as good value as Eco in my opinion. Priced at $76USD per night this room had a heater and also included breakfast. The staff were lovely, the accommodation just a 5 min walk to Plaza de Armas. The shower was ok, it didn't drain properly though, and there were a few maintenance issues needing attention in the room. The hotel did have oxygen behind the desk, and stored our bags for free after checkout. We absolutely loved Ollantaytambo! 4 days here was perfect! It's a great base for local hikes and to explore village life. But if your thinking of doing humantay, rainbow mountain etc do it from cusco, it's substantially cheaper. We stayed here in Ollantaytambo and highly recommend https://www.booking.com/Share-eFa82H . Also make sure to visit the coffee shop called Latente, if you're a coffee lover you won't be disappointed! We hiked to Puma Marka, well worth it, just note that entry is 20 soles pp. Ollantaytambo is also a great base for hiking Inti Punku, but unfortunately we didn't get there this trip. You can also buy the Cusco tourist ticket at the main Ollantaytambo archeological site. There were plenty of drivers offering sacred valley tours. There is also a fresh produce market to the left of the main square if you're looking towards the river. We chose Salkantay Trekking to do the Imperial Inca Jungle trek with, and it was a great choice. We loved the mix of mountain biking, rafting, ziplining and hiking. The accommodation on the trail was great, food excellent, guide warm and knowledgeable. We ended our trek with Machu Picchu doing circuit 2 at 6am and this is a fabulous time to go - the sunrise was incredible, and no big crowds! We chose Muyuna Lodge for our Amazon experience and hands down this was an absolute highlight of the trip and worth every cent. Search my other post for more details. We also stayed in Miraflores, Barranco, Yucay. I can recommend the restaurante 'Rue' in Barranco for a delicious dinner. Any questions, happy to help! Happy travels! Museo Larco, street art in Barranco, Circuito Mágico de Agua, Parque Kennedy in Miraflores (evening is best-sometimes street performers, cats are out, lots of vendors) Barronco Jade Rivera museum, Restaurant Huaca Pucllana, LA Mar, walk around Miraflores and explore. Barranco and Huaca Pucllana Site Museum Recomnend My Amazon Tours https://www.twoeejitsabroad.com We had an amazing 4 days 3 nights at inkaterra hacienda concepcion Puerto Maldonado. Jump on a plane and go to Tarapoto… I absolutely loved it… probably the place I enjoyed most. Quick llama for transportation to hotel https://www.quickllama.com/en/ Pre book taxidatum.com and a guy waits with a sign with your name on it and walks you to the car use Airport Express Bus...very safe and everyone spoke English!m Here is a travel article I wrote about Peru that might help some: https://pursuingtravelwiththemillers.com/peru/ Make sure you do the Golden Shadows in Paracas...that was probably one of the favourite things I did on my whole trip to Peru! I traveled with Peru Hop and loved it! Just arrived home after 7 days in Peru... Here's my synopsis: Lima to Cusco and immediately to Ollantaytampo (Via Pisac ruins and Market w/Taxidatum 5 stars) Stayed at Las Posadas (3 Nights 4 stars) While there walked the lovely town that smelled like flowers everywhere and quaint cobble streets and sounds of gentle running water-also did ruins in town and shopped market nearby, enjoyed the square and went to sleep early each evening after an amazing Dinner) then took train to Machu Picchu through Machu Picchu Terra (reservations) 5 stars. Peru rail train was also a lovely ride with amazing views in it own right. Back to Cusco for city bus tour double decker 3 1/2 stars next day a 2 hour horseback riding to to ruins and temples great landscape and photo opportunities along with guides knowledge was nice. An evening of exploring the town and square with some of the best food (Andean Grill, Republic del Pisco, and my Awesome 5 star hotel "Hosteria de Anita" at the top of the stairs!! (near the JW Marriott) was best value and lovely views a fantastic room with a nice breakfast and great staff) has a garden for complimentary afternoon tea. Lastly Lima...well not my favorite place i stayed at a very small guesthouse which i was the only guest and no one spoke english but they did there best to accomidate me, (Mirabus city tour was underwhelming as was the horrible traffic and found beggers and street vendors toooooo aggressive) only highlights did include Ceviche House for great food and service, and Palomino Island tour with Ecocruises to swim with sealions is indescribably unforgetable. Dinner at private club waterfront restaurant for amazing food and sunset ended my trip on a happy note!! For those wondering the InDrive app for taxis accepts cash and is reasonable as well as reliable for Lima. *oops forgot to mention took only 2 diamox on arrival didn't like tingly hands but had no altitude sickness I used patches and coca tea instead!! You should go straight from Cusco to the sacred valley for a few days to acclimatise, then machu Picchu, then back to Cusco. Alice Angela Juan Carlos ‪+51 986 049 623‬, Ulises +51 974 291 635, Miguel +51 970 924 616 We just returned from an incredible 8-day Spring Break adventure in Peru, and while it’s fresh in my mind, I wanted to give back to this amazing community where I got so many ideas over the past 6 months of planning. 🙏 Below, I’ll post screenshots of our abridged itinerary — but first, I want to shout out some of the amazing people who made our trip truly unforgettable: ✨ Juanca – Our private driver and Sacred Valley guide. His deep knowledge of Incan history, archaeology, and the best local restaurants added so much richness to our experience. ✨ Sophia (LlamaPack Project) – Led a beautiful, meaningful hike supporting the high-Andean Canchachana community’s work to conserve llamas as pack animals for sustainable tourism. ✨ Ulises – Our Machu Picchu guide, who knew all the best spots for photos and shared fascinating anecdotes about how the Incas might have lived. ✨ Carolina – Gave us a truly special Family Walking Tour in Cusco, where we tasted local foods in San Pedro Market, made our own ice cream, and painted Toritos de Pucará (little ceramic bulls) to take home. ✨ Francisco and Luz (MachuPicchu Center) – Flawlessly arranged all our private transfers and tours (except LlamaPack and the city walk). So grateful for their coordination! Top 10 Things to Know Before You Go: 1️⃣ Altitude sickness is real, even if you’re fit. I run regularly and still felt winded and got headaches, especially at Rainbow Mountain (despite Diamox, coca, and muña tea). 2️⃣ Always carry toilet paper — and don’t expect running water at every stop. 3️⃣ Small bills are essential — you’ll need them for tips, bathroom access (1–2 soles), and small purchases. 4️⃣ Neck pillows save lives on 2–4 hour bumpy rides. 5️⃣ Bring your own washcloth or loofah — most hotels don’t provide them. 6️⃣ Expect a bout of traveler’s diarrhea — pack or pick up azithromycin and Imodium locally just in case. 7️⃣ Support local conservation efforts like LlamaPack Project – it’s a meaningful and off-the-beaten-path experience. 🦙 8️⃣ Tours often require a fair amount of fitness — always check physical requirements or accessibility if needed before booking. 9️⃣ Dress in layers — you’ll go through three seasons in one day: rain, heat, and cold. 🔟 Carry an external battery — you’ll drain your phone quickly with all the photos and videos you’ll want to capture. This trip was everything we hoped for and more — history, culture, adventure, and family memories that will last a lifetime. I hope this helps anyone currently planning! Happy to answer questions if you have any. 🌎✈️ 2. Cash is very handy (especially for markets/small businesses) and Wise card great for rest. 3. Go to small sellers for water - and check price. Varies quite a bit but you’ll pay double or triple at a restaurant. Most 750ml (or roughly) bottles should be 1-2 Soles. 4. Uber was best in Arequipa, Didi served us well in Lima and Cusco. 5. Taxidatum worked great for Cusco - Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo transfers. They adjust itinerary to suit you. 6. Whilst I saw a lot of posts advocating using Claro, we ended up with Bitel SIM cards as they had better deal and worked fine (unlimited internet) for whole time. 7. The Stardome in Ollantayambo is worth the money! 8. Definitely buy your Machu Picchu tickets online (use Edge browser) well before - the line for next day tickets was starting the night before.
Paracas, Peru
Huacachina, Peru
Ollantaytambo, Peru

Stay in Ollataytambo's old town, it is really fantastic. The ruins there are really interesting, and we loved doing the llama pack hike in Urubamba, which is quite nearby. We stayed at Apu Lodge, which has fantastic views, and a lovely garden full of hummingbirds. Hello this is Marco ! ✈️ Day 1: Miami → Lima → Cusco • Fly Miami → Lima, then Lima → Cusco (same day if possible). • Do not stay in Cusco city your first night if you can avoid it. • Continue straight to the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo or Urubamba). • Sacred Valley sits lower (~9,000 ft) than Cusco (~11,200 ft), which helps with altitude adjustment. • Light walking only, hydrate, coca tea, early night. Day 2 – Easy Exploration • Pisac market + ruins • Lunch in Urubamba • Relax afternoon Day 3 – Classic Sacred Valley Day • Moray & Maras • Ollantaytambo fortress • Optional light hike or bike ride Day 4 – Chill / Active Recovery Day • Short hike or yoga • Coffee in Ollantaytambo • Visit local weaving villages • Pack + briefing for Inca Trail . The inka trail takes 4 days . And make sure you book this in advance so you do t miss out the permits . I run my own tour company and I am a guide for those trails. Www.bloodybuenoperu.com Casa Andina Sacred Valley is beautiful. We did the sacred valley tour which included Ollantaytambo, Maras and Moray and Chinchero. It was great- highly recommend Recommend stay below We loved sky dome in Ollantaytambo. We also stayed in Apu Lodge in the center of the city too. We just loved Ollantaytambo. Pisac was also great. Stayed just one night but think about it all the time. We did the Inca trek to Machu Picchu with alpaca expeditions and it was one of the highlights of my life. Cusco was also super cool - the best food in Peru!! I’d spend two days in Ollantaytambo. I stayed in an awesome Airbnb. https://www.airbnb.com/l/F4u8i9ro https://www.booking.com/Share-eFa82H I stayed 3 nights in Hotel Las Orquideas this week. It cost 30 USD per night for my double room with private bathroom. The location is very good, I could walk everywhere. But what made the difference was the owner (who is also always at the reception) who helped me organize many tours around the area with awesome guides for really good prices, gave me a lot of information about History (he studied it himself) and was generally always kind trying to help! Qorisonqo Inn was great. Top location on the street the train arrives and around the corner from the plaza. Beautiful views from the room. USD 27 for 4 people Inc breakfast TreXperience I did the 2 day Inca trail. We just finished the 4d 3n with Wayki Trek. I'd highly recommend them to anyone looking. They are a small locally owned business that have much smaller group sizes to some of the others out there. We did 2 days with Andean Path Travel. They were excellent. Knowledgeable, passionate. They took care of everything. Local company.https://andeanpathtravel.com/ Check www.yapaexplorers.com You can find from 2 days to 5-6 days Inca Trail, depends of you time and budget. Mountain View Experience ( between Cusco and Sacred Valley) - a trip highlight. We would recommend our hotel in Ollantaytambo too, Parwa House. This was our Airbnb in Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley with a 3rd floor view of the ruins. 10 minute walk to the train going to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/50298861?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76
Aguas Calientes, Peru

Book tickets You have 2 companies : Www.perurail.com Www.incarail.com there's route Aguascalientes-Machupicchu is made only for https:// Thank you to this group, I learned so much as I was planning our trip. Here are my comments and tips for the next person planning. Purchase your Machu Picchu tickets in advance at [https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/inicio](https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/inicio) We did circuit 1 and 3 day one and circuit 2 on day two. We decided to climbed Waynapicchu and bought tickets in town the day before. The one thing I would recommend is to take an 8, 9 or 10 AM circuit vs the first ones because it can be very foggy and cloud covered first thing in the morning during April. Purchase your bus tickets to/from Aguas Calientes to MP in advance at [https://comprar.caminoalamaravilla.com](https://comprar.caminoalamaravilla.com) Book your train ticket to/from Aguas Calientes on either Peru Rail or Inca Rail. My favorite circuit was 3 and I was surprised how circuit 1 is very short and only gives you the "postcard view." Roy was our tour guide for the two days and he was great and I would highly recommend contacting Hernan to schedule a guide for you [https://www.facebook.com/hernan.hermoza](https://www.facebook.com/hernan.hermoza) comprar.consettur.com/ I fell in love with Aguas Caliente. "Inkaterra" I booked at SuperTramp - very affordable. Bus from AC to MP takes just 20 min, you can book your ticket online if you want to get arranged everything: https://comprar.consettur.com/ There is a museum about Machupicchu, also hotsprings and a butterfly house.
Cusco, Peru

We thought El Balcon was really cute! Very walkable to the Plaza, nice people, breakfast included. Sonesta cusco was great. Nice rooms, good location. I think free shuttle to and from airport also. Stardome in Urubamba https://countryspousetravel.com/2026/02/01/mountainviewexperience/ Miski Samay Domo Boutique Hotel looks comparable and rates are lower. They have geodesic domes with glass to see the stars at night, alpacas on property you can feed anytime, hummingbird observatory, telescopes, jacuzzi/hot tub, etc. Haven’t stayed at either yet but I booked Miski Samay for two nights during my upcoming trip. From Nick Kemble I loved my stay here. Great restaurant and bar, amazing views, cute little cabins. The ones with hot tub cost more and are mainly for photos. I got one without. During the day, I caught a taxi to Moray circular ruins and then walked all the way back to the guesthouse. The next day after early check out, I hiked to Moray salt mines and all the way down to Tunupa buffet restaurant where I ate lunch then caught a taxi back to Cusco. Unforgettable experience! 1) They only sell for next day and only 1.000 in total spread on the different routes 2) Ticket availability can be followed here https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/disponibilidad/llaqta_machupicchu 3) 2A and 2B sells out first and always the morning slots first 4) Bring passports when queueing up as they need those for you to enter the queue inside the building (we saw locals with printed copies of passports, but they did scan foreigners passports) 5) You queue up in the street and when getting inside the building, then you get a queue ticket after the passport scan 6) Inside the building the queue is all the way up the stairs and upstairs in a snake-like-pattern with stairs and then down the stairs again, so when getting to the building, then probably around 50-70 people are still in front of you. Have this in mind. 7) We queued up at 05:30 and around 50-60 tickets we're available for us for 2A and 2B each when getting to the ticket lady, but only for afternoon. 8) I asked the first in line and they said they queued up at 01:30 in the night but it was not before 03:00 that much more people started coming 9) Some Peruvians told me some weeks back that Peruvians holidays were coming do maybe tourist low season but more locals instead 10) Based on today's experience and checks on ticket availability during our queueing, then I would expect that if you want a 9-12 ticket on 2A or 2B then around 03:30-04:00 in the morning is needed. No guarantee :D Insane? Well, wait until you see the bus and train queues then :D 😜😂 I loved Moray y Maras! https://www.trailsandtravelswithlea.com/peru/best-day-trips-from-cusco/#a3 Did our trip without guide and it was very easy. Took a 1/2 day trip from Cusco to Moray and Maras that was a ATV tour. Very fun. We did Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary and our kids loved it. We booked it through Airbnb experience and the driver picked us up and drove to the place and back. We also did Sam's Zipline Cusco (didn’t book in advance, just showed up) and my kids loved it too! https://www.salkantaytrekking.com We did the premium option 5 day - stay in dome https://youtu.be/GGrp2BXJG3M?si=2ZY0x6WFNxp53ph9 https://intiraymiperu.com/ Check www.yapaexplorers.com totally reccomended. Other options to compare tours and information www.findlocaltrips.com www.rainbowmountainperu.com Www.huacachina.com Taxidatum, we used it our whole three weeks in Peru. It was by far one of the best decisions we made. Incredible pricing and our family of four including two teens felt incredibly comfortable. We used Salkantay Trekking. Amazing company. Can’t say enough about how well taken care of we were. https://www.salkantaytrekking.com/blog/the-essential-guide-to-tipping-in-peru/ https://incredibleperutours.com/en/ We did Inkatrail and Salkantay trek with them, it was amazing! Hotel at Cusco Union hotel - Yummy free breakfast and offer airport pick up posada del Viajero Kaaros hotel Hi there! Hidden Jungle Cusco www.hiddenjunglecusco.com Is a small family run business - and the co-founder grew up there in Manu. Please check out the site and WhatsApp +51923289231 for more info 🐒🇵🇪 https://en.glamping.pe We were blown away by the Inkaterra brand of hotels. Such a cool and authentic feeling luxury stay. We stayed at the Inkaterra Hacienda in Urubamba and the Inkaterra La Casona in Cusco City. 10/10 recommend! Pariwana Cusco Organika Restaurant (everything is delicious but they have a killer goat cheese pizza) Mauka (owned by the wife of the Central owner) Rucula Peruvian Restaurant (must have lucuma cheesecake) Xapiri Ground (dope coffee spot) Qura (great breakfasts and coffee) Aulita (coffee, breakfast, and a fucking delicious arepa sandwich thing) Chicha por Gaston Acurio La Cuscquenita (great little spot with traditional food and a show of traditional dances every hour) Taytafe (great meats) Green Point Restaurants (delicious vegetarian spot) LIMBUS RESTOBAR ( bar with great views of the city at night) L'atelier Café Concept (charming little coffee shop where you can get a Instagram worthy shot of the city street below) For traditional Peruvian food in Cusco, try Cicciolina (mid-high budget, creative Andean cuisine), Pachapapa (traditional dishes like cuy in San Blas), and Morena Peruvian Kitchen (mid-range, modern take on classics). For budget eats, visit San Pedro Market for authentic local dishes. In the Sacred Valley, Mil by Virgilio Martínez (luxury) and Killa Wasi (mid-range) are great options. For tours, check Kantu Peru Tours or Explorandes for knowledgeable, well-reviewed guides. Check out the "Peru Travel Guide" by Josie Dinardo on Amazon. You'll find all the information you require to maximise your time in Peru. It'll help you every step of the way, from practical advice on lodging, transportation, and weather to suggestions for the greatest things to do, places to go, and places to eat. Enjoy exploring Peruvian culture and cuisine!
Puerto Maldonado, Peru

We had an amazing 4 day 3 night stay at inkaterra hacienda Concepción, beautiful comfortable cabanas, great food and really good included tours/excursions. It was our favourite part of our tour. Grand Amazon Lodge out of Iquitos. Maria Elena Peru latin tour! Absolutely amazing tourguide/organizer. Just love her, and so experienced! https://www.facebook.com/maria.elena.63623?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr Check some options in www.findlocaltrips.com search CUSCO If you're thinking of exploring the amazon, look no further than Muyuna Lodge. 3 hours from Iquitos this place is right in the jungle. We saw SO MUCH wildlife! Capybara, snakes, tarantula, monkeys, sloths, pink dolphin, iguana, teeny tiny tree frogs and so much more! The rooms are very comfortable, the showers are hot, the food incredible and the guides and staff are fabulous. I chose this lodge for their commitment to conservation and because it was Peruvian owned and they employ staff from a nearby village who grew up in the jungle. I would recommend hiring one of their rain ponchos. Rubber boots are provided. They also have very good quality binoculars for hire, so no need to buy your own. For the ladies, if you happen to run out of period products they also have these available at the lodge for sale giving that extra peace of mind, along with toothpaste and toothbrushes. The beer is cold, the cocktails delicious. And best of all, there is time for a daily siesta in the hammock swinging from your bungalow deck. This was one of the best experiences of my life - 5 stars from me!