December 2021
A country that boasts incredible biodiversity including Andean mountainous landscapes, the Amazon rainforest, Pacific coast, and desert plains. A trip to Peru (at least an initial one) is not complete without a visit to the iconic Machu Picchu.
General Tips / Notes
- South America in general I thought more people would speak English but it’s not always the case. Would be helpful to brush up on some Spanish if that’s possible
- If a place doesn’t have a website, or you can’t find information you need about it, try hitting them up on Instagram or WhatsApp or both. Instagram also good to see how a place looks before going
- Everything is much cheaper here than it is in America, also useful to have some cash
- Keep phone numbers of uber & taxi drivers when you can
- Bargaining is an option for many goods & services
- Always be careful. People target tourists
- Could be a good idea to register your trip with the US by the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
- Depending on the length of your trip, travel insurance might not be a bad idea
Lima
Peru’s capital and the second largest city by population across the Americas. With a history that takes from Incan and Spanish colonial influences, it is also one of the best food cities I’ve ever been to.
Food
Central
- Best meal I’ve ever had in my life
- Was featured on an episode of Chef’s Table, showcases the chef’s obsession with vertical farming and using ingredients from across Peru’s vast biodiverse landscapes which he found by going to very remote areas and meeting indigenous people in numerous locations
- Was ranked the Number 1 ranked restaurant IN THE WORLD on World’s 50 Best in 2024
- Try and get reservations as soon as you know what dates you will be around, pick the option with the drink pairing included
- While not cheap in general, the price tag of $240 (at least at the time of my visit) for the meal and drink pairing is about as good a price you’ll find for a meal of this caliber
Rafael
- Upscale place with very high quality food
- Was pretty easy to get a reservation
Maido
- World renowned restaurant, consistently coming in top spots on world restaurant rankings
- I tried very hard to get a reservation but was unsuccessful, I’m sure it’s as good as advertised
Maria Mezcal
- Bar with great tacos on a small street which has cool bars to pop in and out of
Nightlife
- There were still many COVID restrictions during my time here so not too much info for you here but seemed like there were a plethora of awesome bars/clubs and it has probably returned to some form
Lodging
Pariwana Hostel
- Great social hostel
- Located in Miraflores, a safe and touristic neighborhood
Activities
Huacachina / Paracas
- Cannot recommend this enough, takes at least 1 full day however
- Involves taking a boat in Paracas and seeing sea lions and other aquatic wildlife / having an authentic Peruvian seafood meal followed by going to the stunning oasis of Huacachina where you can go sandboarding and otherwise enjoy the small town
- I highly recommend Peru Hop’s tour to Paracas/Huacachina, they have one- and two-day options but would advise staying a night
- Actually ended up getting invited and going to an all night Christmas Eve feast/party at our tour guide’s house since our group of 6 made fast friends with him (not sure if he is still running this tour but can reach out and ask if needed, would be great to get on his tour)
Markets
- Cool to see and you can barter for little (or big) gifts/souvenirs
Beach
- Take a walk to the beach, also cool to see and there are activities like paragliding and whatnot if that’s your thing
Cusco
A beautiful city way up in the mountains that was once the seat of the capital of the Inca empire. It serves as the passage to Machu Picchu, be prepared for a drastic altitude change upon arriving here.
Food
Cicciolina
- Pretty good Tapas restaurant
Papacho’s
- Restaurant looking over the market/cool view if you can sit outside
- Nothing crazy special but solid food and pretty quick
Papacho’s
- Peruvian Chinese restaurant we were recommended and looked great but we didn’t have time to go to
Nightlife
We didn’t have time to go out in Cusco so take this section as you will.
Mama Africa / Mushrooms
- Two clubs we were referred to
Mukis
- A place we were told was great to grab drinks at
Activities
Rainbow Mountain ATV Tour
- Absolutely amazing experience, one of the most memorable travel excursions I’ve ever done
- Need to bring cash (you need it to use the bathroom)
- Highly advise to try to schedule this after you’ve been in Cusco for over 24 hours. I cannot stress enough how real the altitude sickness is at the top of this mountain, and it is worth having sickness pills too (either bring them or find them in town)
- I can track down the exact one we did if needed but a quick Google search reveals different options to do this pretty easily
Lodging
Palacio del Inka
- Luxury hotel
- Worth the price to be comfortable in this altitude
General Tips / Notes
- I mentioned it above but be prepared to potentially spend some time under the weather during your time in Cusco. The altitude difference is real. Bring or buy altitude sickness pills if you can (they have them in Cusco too)
Aguas Calientes
Home of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Lodging
Sumaq
- Nice hotel that was pretty comfortable
- Housed the best restaurant we went to during our time in Aguas Calientes by far