1.DON’T SKIP LIMA!
Of course, 99% of the time, you’ll be flying into Lima from locations around the globe. However, most individuals both spend an evening and fly to their subsequent vacation spot or simply fly instantly to a different metropolis like Cusco. If you’re quick on time I get it, however, even spending 24 hours in Lima is completely price it!
The metropolis is world-renown for its delicacies, and also you’ve received to style contemporary ceviche caught from the ocean that morning! Take a meals tour of town, admire road artwork in Barranco, and maybe pattern native brews at Barbarian brewery in Miraflores.
Either manner, go and luxuriate in Lima, as it’s a world vacation spot that’s price a go to.
2. TAKE TIME TO ADJUST TO THE ALTITUDE IN CUSCO.
Cusco is situated at over 11,000 toes (3,400 meters) above sea degree. At altitude over 8,000 toes (2,400 meters), you’ll doubtless begin to really feel the results of altitude illness. So take the time to regulate to the altitude in Cusco earlier than attempting to deal with one thing just like the Inca path hike or Rainbow Mountain.
Reserve a day or two to take it simple, stroll round at a slower tempo, and eat gentle to slowly modify. After just a few days it will get simpler, however positively hearken to your physique, drink coca tea, and see how you’re feeling.
We ended up spending the afternoon we received in stress-free on the resort and getting a lightweight dinner of soup. We awoke refreshed with little altitude illness the following day, good for exploring extra of Cusco.
But once more, altitude impacts everybody in another way, so I can’t stress listening to your physique sufficient!
3. THE INCA TRAIL IS CLOSED IN FEBRUARY.
No, this doesn’t imply you may’t go to Machu Picchu in February, however the authentic Inca Trail hike is closed down for upkeep. It can also be the rainiest time of 12 months to go to Machu Picchu. Instead, test it out throughout the dry season from April-October!
4. YOU MAY WANT TO STAY IN AGUAS CALIENTES BEFORE GOING TO MACHU PICCHU.
If you aren’t mountain climbing to Machu Picchu, like we didn’t, you’ll most likely wish to take the practice to Aguas Calientes, spend the night time, and take the bus up the following day.
We advocate testing the Jaya Machupicchu resort (may be booked on TripAdvisor, Booking.com, or Agoda), as it’s subsequent to the practice station, has attractive rooms with pretty bathtubs, and is ideal for an excellent night time’s sleep for mountain climbing round Machu Picchu the following day.
Just make sure to e book each your resort and practice forward of time to not danger not having a room or seat!
5. BOOK MACHU PICCHU AHEAD OF TIME!
Like reserving your practice and resort early, positively pre-book your Machu Picchu tickets. Now they solely permit 2,500 guests to this website per day at varied time slots. So positively e book your bus and tickets to Machu Picchu forward of time to make sure you could get in!
6. BRING YOUR PASSPORT TO MACHU PICCHU AND RAINBOW MOUNTAIN!
They do ask on your passport at Machu Picchu, so positively convey it. But except for that, you may get your passport stamped at each Machu Picchu AND Rainbow Mountain. Just be certain you’ve received area in your passport!
7. CHECK VISA REQUIREMENTS AND VACCINES.
As a US citizen, you don’t want a visa to go to Peru if staying underneath an allotted period of time. This is between 30-183 days, nevertheless it will depend on what quantity of days they provide whenever you arrive. And it actually varies by particular person. Chris spoke Spanish to the customs agent and received 90 days. I spoke English and received 60. We have been solely there for 10 days so it didn’t matter, however I suppose talking Spanish might assist?
And for vaccines, verify the CDC web site. We ended up getting antimalarials for the Amazon Rainforest and a Yellow Fever vaccine earlier than our journey.
8. IT CAN TAKE SOME TIME TO REACH THE AMAZON LODGE.
If you determine to go to the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, which was really our favourite a part of visiting Peru, then positively permit for some journey time. We stayed on the Tambopata Research Center and it was a 1.5-hour flight from Lima, a 1-hour shuttle to the port, and a 3-hour boat trip to our lodge.
Yes, that appears extreme, however if you wish to attain extra distant areas and see extra wildlife, it’s price it!
Overall, although, be ready to take some time to succeed in your lodge, whether or not you’re staying in Iquitos or venturing into the Tambopata National Reserve.
9. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PLACES TO SEE INCAN RUINS.
Think Machu Picchu is the one place to see historic Incan ruins? Think once more! The Sacred Valley is stuffed with ruins from the salt mines of Maras to the agricultural ruins in Moray. Also, try Ollantaytambo and Pisac whilst you’re there too! Be certain to see these in your option to Machu Picchu.
Aside from the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Trujillo, within the northwest a part of Peru, has many archeological websites which might be far more off the crushed path. And even simply exterior of Lima (and a good day journey from Lima) is Pachacamac architectural complicated!
10. DAY TRIPS ARE GREAT IF YOU’RE SHORT ON TIME!
As a lot as we want we had the time to spend months exploring the depths of Peru, typically time (and cash) don’t allow doing that. However, in case you are quick on time, day journeys are incredible methods to discover Peru and get loads out of your journey!
From Lima you are able to do these nice day journeys:
Either manner, they’re price testing to actually expertise all that Peru has to supply.
11. PRO-TIP: DO THE FLASHPACKER CONNECT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TOUR.
Something that we observed is that Rainbow Mountain is extremely crowded nowadays. The time of being the one one there’s lengthy gone, however that doesn’t imply you must hang around with the crowds!
Instead, e book your Rainbow Mountain tour by FlashPacker Connect. They are the primary ones on the path because the solar is beginning to rise, and you might be one of many first ones on the mountain whenever you get to the highest! You’ll have loads of time to benefit from the views earlier than mountain climbing down and seeing all the crowds making their option to the highest.
Trust me, it’s price it to pay a bit additional and stand up SUPER early.
12. THE CURRENCY IS THE PERUVIAN SOL, AND CASH IS KING.
The Peruvian Sol is utilized in Peru, so make sure to get some from the ATM throughout your time in Peru. You can positively use a bank card like Mastercard or Visa throughout your travels, however for probably the most half, attempt to have sols on you, particularly at markets for shopping for souvenirs, some eating places, for tipping guides, and many others.
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Sunrise over the Amazon Rainforest cover at Refugio Amazonas.
13. THERE MAY BE A SQUAT TOILET IN YOUR FUTURE…OR AT LEAST NO TOILET SEATS.
Toilets around the globe fascinate me. From bidets in Italy to bum weapons in Thailand, don’t assume the bathrooms the place you’re touring are identical to residence.
In this case, most bathrooms have been western bathrooms, however I observed many didn’t have a bathroom seat in public restrooms. This isn’t an enormous situation, however one thing I observed.
However, once I was mountain climbing Rainbow Mountain, I had to make use of the bathroom near the mountain, and the one factor out there was a squat rest room. It was my first expertise with that, however if you happen to’re doing a little mountain climbing (if there are loos in any respect), don’t count on it to be too fashionable or fancy.
Also, more often than not you shouldn’t throw rest room paper in the bathroom itself. Instead, it goes within the garbage can.
14. DRINK PISCO SOUR. AND LOTS OF IT.
I discovered my new favourite beverage: pisco sours. Yea, they could be a little bit of a calorie bomb, however oh my gosh they’re SO good! We had one nearly day-after-day. Try the unique, chicha Morada (blue corn), ardour fruit, and many others. Just attempt all of them. Make pisco bitter throughout a tour or simply have them at a bar in Lima!
If you actually wish to be taught extra about this well-known Peruvian drink, go to Pisco on a day journey from Lima!
15. DON’T DRINK THE WATER.
When it involves issues to NOT drink, don’t drink the faucet water. It is just not secure to drink and will probably make you ailing, so purchase water on the retailer or use a LifeStraw, or LifeStraw water bottle. Be certain to make use of bottled water for brushing your enamel too!
16. DRINK COCA TEA, BUT NOT IF YOU HAVE A DRUG TEST COMING UP SOON!
Maybe it was a placebo impact, however the coca tea was fantastic, we drank it on a regular basis, and we hardly had any altitude illness. Coincidence? I believe not.
Coca tea has been used for hundreds of years in stopping and serving to with altitude illness, particularly in locations which might be increased in altitudes like Cusco, Puno, and the Sacred Valley. Try it out (it tastes loads like inexperienced tea).
However, if in case you have a drug check arising at work, skip it. The leaves come from the plant that produces cocaine, and whilst you received’t get excessive consuming coca tea, your urine will present traces of the cocaine metabolites.
Side notice: Don’t attempt to take the coca leaves residence as a memento both as it’s unlawful within the US.
17. EAT ALL THE FOOD!
The meals in Peru is AMAZING! We’re speaking contemporary seafood, a lot of potato dishes, and a lot extra. Try fruit on the native market, guinea pig (cuy) in Cusco, or take pleasure in an evening out at one in every of Peru’s beloved chef Gaston’s many eating places throughout the nation.
From Lima to Cusco, the meals is severely so tasty!
18. DON’T FORGET TRAVEL INSURANCE!
Whenever you journey internationally, don’t overlook to get journey insurance coverage! From accident and hospitalization to emergency evacuation, journey insurance coverage is there for the “oh shit” moments that life can throw at you.