Our Lama Shepherd who let her lamas hike with us On day 10, the day after our visit to Machu Picchu, we took an early train for a last 1.5 hour scenic ride through the Sacred Valley of Peru. Arriving in Ollantaytambo, we then took a 2-hour van ride to the southern end of the valley back to Cusco. Back in Cusco we walked through the charming San Blas neighborhood to reach our lunch spot, Pachapapa. After lunch, I walked around on my own and did some shopping. In Cusco there are so many opportunities to part with your Des Soles!  Once the center and capital of the Inca Empire,…

I spent five days of my Peru trip in the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley, located between Cusco in the South and Machu Picchu in the north, is known for its stunning natural beauty and rich Inca history. As the vital agricultural and strategic center for the Inca Empire, the region features impressive ruins like the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the terraces of Pisac and Moray, and most impressive of all, Machu Picchu. The valley is carved by the mighty Urubamba River and surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks, offering breathtaking scenery, which I would see while hiking the Inca Trail.  Peru – Day 5 – First Day in the Sacred…

This morning I flew from Lima to Cusco – from sea level to 11,300 feet. The approach into Cusco was spectacular. At times we were flying between two mountain ranges – truly cool! On taxi ride to the hotel, I saw a vendor walking among the cars in the traffic selling soft drinks, bottled water and rolls of toilet paper. I saw this practice in Lima as well. Evidently, as a cultural practice in some countries, it is common for public toilet facilities to provide only a toilet, and for people to bring their own paper or purchase some from a nearby vendor for a small fee.  For example, in some parts of China,…

Because our flight was delayed yesterday out of Atlanta, when we landed in Lima I went straight to the hotel and fell asleep at around 1 a.m. I did not eat breakfast in the morning because I had booked a 4-hour food tour that started at 9:30 a.m. So, this morning I met our guide, who has indigenous, Spanish and Japanese ancestry. He would focus on the Barranco area of Lima. And this was the review I left. “First of all, David, our guide was not only knowledgeable, but was also warm and sincere. And I not only learned a great deal about the Lima and Peru culinary scene, but also a great deal…

Today I begin an 11-day trip to Peru. Having left Richmond, I have a layover in Atlanta before my 7-hour flight to Lima, arriving around 9 pm this evening. This is a “Backroads” trip with my friend Pete. I will be spending two days in the coastal capital of Lima (elevation – sea level)g, two days in the mountain city of Cuzco (elevation – 11,300 ft) and time cycling and hiking in the Andes Mountains (elevation 11,000 to 13,000 ft), including the “Sacred Valley”, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. I have already started taking acetazolamide – to prevent altitude sickness. Hopefully, it works. The last time I spent this…