Where can you find miles and miles of glorious Andes mountain views, Incan trails and luscious jungle? Peru!

Soaking in the amazing geography, meeting friendly locals, savoring Peruvian delights including the fried guinea pig delicacy, riding through the ancient ruins and learning about the rich history, my journey in Peru was nothing short of magical. 

Read my blog below the Photos! 

Flying into the capital Lima, I was immediately heady with the side-effects of the drastic altitude change (i am accustomed to living at sea level).  I had to spend a couple of hours recovering with coco tea & puffing oxygen through this oxygen canister which I grabbed at the airport. A city of fresh ocean air and mouth- watering ceviche, Lima is another Peruvian gem. I enjoyed a tour of Lima’s colonial center which houses many beautiful examples of Peruvian architecture. I enjoyed walking through the plazas, gaping at the colorful cathedrals.

We flew to Cusco the next day, I was almost at 11,000 ft and feel dizzy & breathless being so close to the sky! After more cups of mate de coca, I headed out on my half-day tour of Cusco which took me to the most revered ruins in the city including the massive temple Koricancha. Then, we ascended a side of the mountainous city to take in the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Puka Pukara, and Tombamachay. The amazing thing about Cusco and Incan architecture is the massive stones they used for construction. Some have four sides, some have 8, and even 12! How did the ancient folks crave these massive, multi-sided stones and stack them seamlessly on top of the other? Only the Incas know. Such an engineering feat.

The few days brought more amazing Peruvian towns and Incan ruins. We made our way from Cusco further on into the Sacred Valley, visiting ruins and a lively market in Pisac and Urubamba. I also requested for a private guide to explore a part of the Sacred Valley on horse back, the views up the mountains were amazing. Note: Western saddle riding style.  In Urubamba, we found an amazing spot for lunch—Huacatay, which serves the highest quality of Andean food in the most beautiful patio space I have ever eaten in—but I also came upon a gem of a stop in the Ceramicas Seminario. Here, craftsmen work to give new life to their ancestor’s practice of clay sculpting and painting. You can watch a history of ancient clay practices, see the artisans themselves, and even buy a few beautiful pieces of art to take home. After our lunch stop in Urubamba, we continued on to Ollantaytambo, where the hillside Incan fortress toured over us, and invited us to climb its many passageways.

Over the week, we saw more breathtaking ruins. First, we trekked to Moray, where one can see the most amazing terracing in all of Peru. The next stop, Maras is a testament to the Inca’s skilled engineers who extracted natural salt from the mountain stream by using numerous white drying pools. These ruins were nowhere close to our last in Peru. After resting in Ollantaytambo, we took a 4 hour train ride through the beautiful flora & fauna. Throughout the journey, we were awed by the magnificent skyline of the Andes mountains and many the rivers views. Rail tickets can be purchased at: http://www.perurail.com/

Finally, we made it to the ultimate of South American sites—Machu Picchu! Nestled in the beautiful green mountains, in the mist of morning fog (we started trekking around 6am), we discovered this ancient city, this lost jewel. Our guided tour provided in-depth knowledge of what it must have been like to live as an Incan did in Machu Picchu. The beauty and magnitude of these ruins will stick out as my most prominent and glorious of the trip. We enjoyed the day taking tons of photographs and wandered about the crowded ruins, soaking in the atmosphere as much as could.

After all of this extreme culture and mind-blowing views, it was time to rest our legs in Aguas Calientes. We spent a day here, at the bottom of the mountains which house the Machu Picchu, to recover. The next day, we returned to Cusco on a train, and I enjoyed the rest of the day getting to know the city even better. The market, San Pedro, is one of the most amazing I have seen. Here, you can get anything from jewelry, to raw meat, to fresh juice, to an assortment of cheeses and tasty snacks. Being close to New Year, it was bustling with festivity & we had to hold on tightly to our belongings!

Cusco is also home to many excellent dining opportunities such as Justina’s for pizza, El Encuentro for a cheap, delicious, and authentic Peruvian meal, and Helado for your sweet tooth. We enjoyed a wonderful  lunch the next day & saw many devotees carrying dolls (of Baby Jesus) after attending mass in the Roman Catholic Churches. It was a cherished moment indeed.

Our flight departed Cusco just 1 hour before a 5.2 earthquake shocked Cusco. Thank god no one was seriously injured (accordingly to the new articles we saw).  As we departed Peru, we promised to make a trip back one day. I had discovered so many hidden treasures, tasted so many exotic delights (we bought numerous cook books!), and feasted my eyes upon true wonders of the world. Peru will be in my mind and in my heart for years to come.

Tip / Info

• Altitude sickness may occur in travelers who ascend rapidly to altitudes greater than 2500 meters, including Cusco (3000 meters) and Lake Titicaca (4000 meters). Do obtain the right altitude sickness drug from your doctor at least 1 week before your arrival into Lima, so that you have sufficient time to consume the drug. 

• Average Height of Cities in Peru

  City	Height (Ft)	Height (Meter)
  Lima	5080	1550
  Cusco	10800	3300
  Ollantaytambo	9150	2790
  Machu Picchu	8040	2450
  Puno	12420	3860
  Arequipa	7740	2380
  Lake Titicaca	12420	3860