What to visit in Peru besides Machu Picchu?

Many tourists come to Peru to visit Machu Picchu since it became one of the new 7 wonders of the world. 

Machu Picchu is an amazing place to visit and should not be missed out!! However, there is so much more to discover in Peru. 

Just take a look!

Discover the Ballestas Islands

These islands are located in the port of Paracas, south of Lima. You can get here by bus in 3.5 hours. Once here, you can enjoy a 2-hour boat ride to the Ballestas islands and admire penguins, sea lions, turtles, cormorants, pelicans and much more.

You can also visit the Paracas National Reserve, where you will find exotic beaches of the Pacific coast. There is plenty of accommodation, bars and restaurants right next to the port.

Sandboarding in Huacachina

Huacachina is an oasis located 10 minutes away from the city Ica, south of Paracas. You can get here by bus from Paracas (1 hour) or Lima (4.5 hours).

This Oasis is surrounded by huge sand dunes where you can enjoy fun dune buggy rides and practice sandboarding as well. At la Huacachina you will find cheap options of hostels and restaurants.

Nazca Lines Overflight

These lines are located south of Ica, in the Nazca Desert. You can get here by bus from Ica (3 hours) or Lima (7.5 hours)

These mysterious lines are one of the world's great enigmas. These 1,000 year-old figures drawn into the desert floor are visible only from the sky.

Flying over the Nazca desert you can marvel looking at the perfect shape of a monkey, a spider, a while, a lizard and various types of birds, including humming birds, sea birds, and the mighty Andean Condor.

Explore the Colca Canyon

The Colca Canyon is located 3 hours from the city of Arequipa, south of Nazca. You can get to Arequipa by bus from Nazca (9 hours) or Lima (17.5 hours).

This canyon is considered one of the deepest in the world. If you reach the Canyon early in the morning you will see Andean Condors flying around. On the way to the Canyon you will pass by the beautiful Colca Valley and its colorful villages with hot springs.

Lake Titicaca Floating Islands

Lake Titicaca is located in Puno, south of Cusco. You can get here by bus from Cusco in 8 hours but if you are in Lima, is way easier to get here by plane.

Lake Titicaca is famous for its floating islands. These islands are made entirely of reeds by the Uros people, a pre-Inca civilization that still lives here. When you visit them, they show and explain tourists their customs and traditions. You can also get a ride on a reed boat.

Discover the Amazon Rainforest

If you wish to visit the Peruvian rainforest and its wildlife, you can visit either Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado.

If you are in Lima, will suggest to take a flight directly to Iquitos. Here you will find Lodge options and also Cruise options. It all depends in what you are looking for.

If you are already in Cusco, will be easier to take a flight to Puerto Maldonado as its located right next to Cusco. Here you will find Lodge options for different budgets.

Unesco grants Inca Qhapaq Nan road system World Heritage status

Qhapaq Ñan otherwise know as the Main Andean Road, was the backbone of the Inca Empire’s political & economic power. The whole network of roads over 30,000 km (18,600 miles) in length used to connect various production, administrative & ceremonial centres constructed over more than 2,000 years of pre-Inca Andean culture from modern-day Colombia in the north to Argentina and Chile in the south, via Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is famous around the world and thousands of tourists flock to the region to walk the trail each and every day.  However, the trail that many tourists know is just a small sector of the thread of Inca paths that held this great empire together, physically & organizationally.


Description

The Main axis of the route, also known as the Royal Road runs along the peaks of the Andes which is at it's most discernable between Quito (Ecuador) and Mendoza (Argentina). In addition to this backbone over the highest peaks, other roads also run in a north-south direction along the Pacific coast. The Inca Empire organized its network on a continent-wide scale; its roads are an invaluable expression of the organizing and planning spirit of the available labour force and constituted a key instrument in unifying the Empire physically and organizationally.

This route is a demonstration of universal value on a grand scale. Experts' meetings have been held to identify the cultural significance and unitary value of the entire network with a view to considering options for its inclusion on the World Heritage list through various forms of technical cooperation.

The Incas of Cuzco achieved this unique infrastructure with a unitary character in less than a century, making it functionally coherent and establishing additional centres for commerce, exchange, production and worship, adapting production sectors to topography and climate, in each ecological area to be found along the Road. The Road also expressed these peoples’ harmonious relation with and their adaptation to the complex Andean natural setting. Today, the cultural landscapes of Qhapaq Ñan form an exceptional backdrop on which living Andean cultures continue to convey a universal message: the human ability to turn one of the harshest geographical contexts of the American continent into an environment for life.

Source: Unesco 

5 TIPS TO HELP YOU SLEEP WELL ON YOUR BUS RIDE 

As backpackers, we know it´s not incredibly comfortable to travel by bus, especially if we travel long distances. Trying to sleep during a Bus ride can be a long and tedious task for some travelers, because of discomfort or because they are light sleepers who awake with the slightest interruptions. However, we believe these tips could make it a little easier J

1. Choose the seat next to the window

This seat has two advantages: you can lay your head on the side so you do not end up on your neighbor’s shoulder and you can avoid people bothering you when they walk down the aisle.

2. Avoid having a lot of food or drinks

It’s tempting to accept all you’re offered. However, sleeping with a full stomach is never a good idea, especially if you’re going to be sitting in the same position for a long time. Avoid eating or drinking a lot if your intention is to sleep.

3. Have a travel pillow and blanket

Most Bus Companies offer passengers these two items that make falling asleep much easier. However, it´s better to bring your own, especially a pillow that will suit you perfectly. Remember it helps to be as comfortable as possible to fall asleep!

4. Dress in layers

Whatever Bus Company you’re using, there’s usually some issues with the temperature. We all have our differences when it comes to a comfortable temperature and the easiest way to be comfortable is to wear many layers. In this way, you can take them off and put them back on as the temperature changes.

5. Bring your own entertainment

Bringing your own entertainment such as music, books, games, etc. will distract you from all the noise around. Reading books and listening to music will also help you to relax and have a good night’s sleep.

Remember that for long distance is much better to take overnight buses, in this way you save time and money you would spend on a hostel.

We hope these tips might help you on your next Bus Rides!

CHACHAPOYAS is waiting for you...
 

If you have the chance to head north of Peru, you cannot miss Chachapoyas. This little visited destination will amaze you with its breathtaking ruins, wonderful natural attractions and cheap prices!!  

Chachapoyas is the capital of Amazonas province, located in the Amazonian zone of Peru. This destination is very attractive for hiking & trekking and is the perfect starting point for all excursions. 

A must-see is the impressive Fortress of Kuelap, the most famous historical site of the Chachapoyas civilization located about 3000 meters above sea level. These ruins are huge, about 600 meter long and 110 meters wide approx.

Inside the giant stone walls are hundreds of buildings with trees and plants rising up in between. So once here, you feel like someone just discovered this fortress not too long ago.

                                                                                                                                                    

You should definitely visit the Gocta waterfall. You will find this incredible waterfall after hiking 2 hours approx. but there are horses for rent too!! 

It is considered to be the third or fifth tallest waterfall in the world with its 711 meters. It offers amazing views of the surrounding valleys and green mountains full with vegetation, like most of the attractions here.

You can also visit the Karajia Sarcophagi. This is a row of six mummy’s statues which are located on the wall of a beautiful cliff-side. These attractions have preserved their beauty and history because they have hardly been affected by the tourist trade.

Chachapoyas town has a good variety of hotels and hostels. Its Main Square (Plaza de armas) is in the middle of town and it’s surrounded by cafes, markets, restaurants and shops.

This incredible destination is only accessible by Bus as there is no airport close by. The easiest access points are Trujillo, Chiclayo and Tarapoto. We always recommend taking the night buses which go directly to Chachapoyas.

The best time to visit Chachapoyas is during the dry season, from late April to early November. In this way you avoid block of the roads due to strong rains.

CHACHAPOYAS espera por ti... 
 

Si tienes la oportunidad de visitar el norte del Perú, no puedes perderte de Chachapoyas. Este destino poco visitado te sorprenderá con sus ruinas impresionantes, maravillosos atractivos naturales y precios económicos!!

Chachapoyas es la capital de la provincia Amazonas, ubicada en la zona amazónica del Perú. Es un destino muy atractivo para hacer trekking y es el perfecto punto de partida para todas las excursiones.

Tienes que visitar la impresionante Fortaleza de Kuelap, el sitio histórico más famoso de la civilización Chachapoyas, ubicada a unos 3.000 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Estas ruinas son enormes, con unos 600 metros de largo y 110 metros de ancho aproximadamente.

Dentro de los gigantes muros de piedra existen cientos de edificaciones, con árboles y plantas que crecen a su alrededor. Así que una vez aquí, te sientes como si alguien acabara de descubrir esta fortaleza no hace mucho tiempo.

Otro atractivo impresionante que no puedes dejar de visitar es la Catarata de Gocta. Antes de llegar a esta increíble catarata, se debe caminar 2 horas aproximadamente pero también hay caballos para alquilar!!

Está considerada como la tercera o quinta catarata más alta del mundo con sus 711 metros de altura. Ofrece vistas impresionantes a los valles y montañas verdes llenas de vegetación, como la mayoría de los lugares de interés aquí.
 

 

También puedes visitar los Sarcófagos de Karajía. Se trata de una fila de seis estatuas momificadas que se encuentran al filo de un hermoso acantilado. Estos atractivos han conservado su belleza y su historia ya que apenas se han visto afectados por el turismo.

La ciudad de Chachapoyas tiene una buena variedad de hoteles y hostales. Su Plaza de armas se encuentra en el centro de la ciudad y está rodeada de cafés, mercados, restaurantes y tiendas.

Este increíble destino sólo se puede acceder en Bus, ya que no hay aeropuerto cerca. Los puntos de acceso más fáciles son desde Trujillo, Chiclayo y Tarapoto. Nosotros siempre recomendamos tomar los buses  que salen de noche y que van directamente a Chachapoyas.

La mejor época para visitar Chachapoyas es durante la temporada seca, desde finales de abril hasta principios de noviembre. De esta manera se evita los bloqueos de las carreteras debido a las fuertes lluvias.

LIMA STOPOVER


Once in Lima, do not miss a visit to the beautiful historic center, is an ideal beginning or end to your trip to Peru. You can take a small tour on your own during day time or night time. If you decide to do it in the morning, you should definitely visit the catacombs beneath San Francisco Convent.

Lima, nowadays a little bit chaotic and quite noisy city, has a rich historical and architectural heritage. Known as the city of Kings, was until the middle of the 18th century the capital and most important city of the spanish dominions in South America.

When you visit Peru, you should definitely explore the impressive historical downtown of Lima with its beautiful colonial streets, churches, ancient monuments, squares and  picturesque buildings.










PARADA EN LIMA

Una vez en Lima, no te pierdas una visita al hermoso centro histórico, es un tour ideal para el principio o final de tu viaje por el Perú. Puedes realizar un tour por tu cuenta durante el día o la noche. Si decides hacerlo durante la mañana, debes visitar las catacumbas localizadas debajo del convento de San Francisco.

Lima, hoy en día, una ciudad un poco caótica y bastante ruidosa, cuenta con un rico patrimonio histórico y arquitectónico. Conocida como la ciudad de los Reyes, fue la capital y ciudad más importante de los dominios españoles hasta mediados del siglo XVIII.

Cuando visites Perú, recomendamos explorar el impresionante centro histórico de Lima, con sus hermosas calles coloniales, iglesias, monumentos ancestrales, plazas y edificios pintorescos.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO PERU

 

Peru is a country filled with stunning landscapes thanks to its geographical diversity, its vibrant cultural heritage, incredible archaeological sites and unique Andean culture. From the ruins of Machu Picchu to the Amazon Jungle, from the floating islands of Lake Titicaca to the mysterious Nazca Lines, Peru offers unique memories and the journey of a lifetime for all travelers. Here are some tips that will help you to enjoy your trip even better!!

- Its always helpful to know a bit of the local language. It makes things like bargain prices and asking for directions much easier. The good news is that you don't have to be fluent to get around. You can take an hour of Spanish class in Peru for pretty cheap. You never know what you might miss out because of the language barrier.

 



- Several small shops or stores don't accept credit cards, so make sure you're prepared with cash every time you go out.

Ceviche

 

- Be open to try typical dishes of the Peruvian cuisine, you will not get disappointed. Some of the most famous dishes are Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and Aji de Gallina, you can also try something more exotic but delicious as Anticuchos, Cuy Chactado or Pachamanca.

 

 

- If you're traveling on a budget, have plenty of time and want to get to know Peru in a fun way, then you can travel by bus. This would be the best option to explore Peru, its amazing landscapes and local traditions on your way from one place to another.

 



Colca Canyon in Arequipa

- Most visitors do the Peruvian Two-Step: spend a night or two in Lima, then travel to Cusco to visit Machu Picchu. Undoubtedly, both are spectacular destinations but there is more out there to discover. So don’t confine yourself to this strict itinerary or you’ll miss several interesting destinations, local traditions and adventurous activities this country has to offer.

- There have been cases of tourists being robbed by the taxi drivers. To avoid this episode, only take licensed taxis. Always negotiate the price before getting in the car. It's always best to ask a local how much it should be to get to your destination before speaking with the taxi driver.

- If you plan to hike in high elevation destinations, such as Cusco or Puno, it would be a good time to follow local traditions and start chewing coca leaves, a perfectly legal tradition of Andean life because it is not cocaine. This will help with the altitude sickness and not to feel tired right away.



Pisco Sour

- It doesn’t matter what you drink, you are in Peru so you should drink like a Peruvian. Try the National drink: Pisco, a distillation of crushed grapes and national pride. There is a variety of delicious cocktails you cannot miss, such as Pisco sour, Chilcano or Algarrobina.

Peru is one amazingly beautiful country filled with some of the kindest people in the world.

5 recomendaciones básicas para tus viajes

Todos las personas que alguna vez hemos viajado, sea por placer o por trabajo, deseamos disfrutar de esta experiencia al máximo. Así sea que vayamos a estar un fin de semana en alguna ciudad pero deseamos, por lo menos, hacer un pequeño tour y tomar las respectivas fotos para el "recuerdo" y para contar las anéctodotas más divertidas entre amigos y familiares.

viajando en bus

Sin embargo, quién no se ha encontrado alguna vez con "ese" turista - que no debió salir de su casa- y que lo único o poco que hace es criticar a la ciudad, provincia o país que le está dando la bienvenida? El que menos se ha cruzado alguna vez con una persona así, aquel que le baja los ánimos a todo y que está haciendo comparaciones y criticando todo.  

Con los viajes que hemos podido realizar durante los pasados dos años, ya sea dentro o fuera el Perú, hemos apreciado cada instante en cada ciudad, cada sonrisa de bienvenida de los locales, cada comida típica que se ha probado. Cada lugar tiene su encanto, sus costumbres y hasta sus trajes típicos. No hay nada más lindo que valorar la riqueza de los pueblos, la diversidad y ese "algo" característico que le da a cada lugar su sello personal.

Por eso, queremos compartirte algunas recomendaciones básicas para cualquier viaje que vayas a emprender:

1. Libera tu mente.

Antes de viajar tienes que mentalizarte en que vas a descubrir cosas nuevas, despojarte de cualquier tiempo de prejuicio y prepararte para una experiencia invaluable que, de seguro, llegará a involucrar todos tus sentidos. Ya que uno llega y ve los paisajes, huele los aromas que identifican a esta nueva ciudad, escucha la forma de hablar y expresarse de los locales, degusta la comida y, siemplemente, siente en todo el sentido de la palabra su nuevo destino.

2. Sé flexible.

Te recomiendo que no trates de hacer un esquema totalmente estructurado de tu viaje. No me malinterpretes, está bien que seas medianamente ordenado con el itinerario y los tiempos que vas a pasar en cada punto de tu destinto pero siempre deja un espacio para cualquier cambio de planes inesperado. Recuerda que como viajero irás encontrándote con otros turistas en el camino que te irán dando tips y recomendaciones. Nunca está de más escuchar los consejos de otros, que como tú, están conociendo. Quizá hasta descubres cosas maravillosas que no tenías contempladas.

3. Sé respetuoso.

Ten en cuenta que cada pueblo o ciudad que vayas a visitar no tiene necesariamente tus mismas costumbres o formas de expresión. Respeta cada cultura y disfruta del momento. Cada uno es feliz con su forma de ser y sus costumbres. Quién sabe, hasta quizá podamos tomar para nosotros mismos algo que nos guste. Hay una inmensa gama de posibilidades en la vida y debemos respetar cada una de ellas.


4. Interactúa con los locales.


Acércate a ellos, preguntales sobre su cultura, su estilo de vida, sus costumbres, sus comidas, sus vestimentas.... cada detalle que te llame la atención y del cual quieras aprender. Hacer turismo no sólo significa llegar y hacer un tour por la ciudad y mirar lo más "comercial" de una ciudad. También es conocer al pueblo por su gente, que son el mejor espejo de éste. Estoy seguro que el lugareño te contará de todo y hasta esas historias y leyendas más antiguas y con mayor tradición.


5. Diviértete.


Rocoto relleno y pastel de papa

Es uno de los puntos claves de todo viaje!! Sal de fiesta, goza de la vida nocturna. No todo lo que podamos aprender de una ciudad está en una guía que explica su origen o en un museo. Hay tiempo para todo cuando uno está de vacaciones. Si hay que dormir poco, pues se hace y ya está. Finalmente, no sabemos si regresaremos nuevamente a este lugar. Así que a sacarle el jugo a cada instante. La vida y los momentos son sólo un instante!