Traveling to South America has always been something that I’ve dreamed of doing, so when I got the opportunity to travel to Peru, I couldn’t pass it up. I had just over 10 days to spend while I was there, so naturally I wanted to do everything, and I was able to squeeze in as much as possible while still having an amazing time!
Lima
I flew in to Lima and we stayed at the Dazzler Hotel for the first few nights of our trip. While we were in Lima, we tasted some of the yummiest food. From delicious buffets at Bistecca and Brujas de Cachiche, to a million kinds of meat at El Hornero, there was never a meal I didn’t like. We even tried what the Peruvians call “chifa”, which is a fusion between Peruvian and Chinese cuisine – YUM!
Our hotel was located in Miraflores, which is a beautiful neighborhood overlooking the sea bluffs of Lima. With scenic green parks and ocean views, Miraflores was definitely somewhere that I could picture myself living if I ever moved to Peru. I loved the vibe of the people living there, and the views were absolutely stunning – even on cloudy days!
While we were in Lima, we went to visit the Museo Larco, which houses many sculptures and trinkets from Peru’s history. The grounds of the museum were so pretty – I couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the plants and greenery! That evening, we ate at the Cafe del Museo (Museum Cafe), and had a very filling and delicious meal of Lomo Saltado, which is a classic Peruvian dish made with sautéed beef, onions, french fries and tomatoes.
Before we left Lima, I got the opportunity to go paragliding, which is something I’ve been dying to do! It’s still so unreal to me that my first time paragliding was over the cliffs of Miraflores in Peru; it couldn’t have been more perfect. The view was absolutely breathtaking, and the feeling of freedom and weightlessness while I was up there was incredibly relaxing and refreshing.
Cusco
After a few days in Lima, we took a quick flight to the mountains of Cusco, where I was in awe of all the rich history and culture that we found there. I felt like I had stepped back in time to a completely different world. What I loved about Cusco was the mix of ancient Incan ruins with rolling hills that reminded me of the countryside. We even rode horses across the open landscape, and stopped at a few Incan ruins along the way.
If you ever visit Cusco, just be aware of the effects of the altitude – which is a big change from what most people are used to. I’m the type of person who gets sick and dizzy from everything, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was one hundred percent okay the entire time I was there (with the exception of occasionally waking up with what felt like a headache from all the altitude pressure). I give all the credit for my well-being in Cusco to the endless cups of coca tea that I drank. Seriously guys, I’m pretty sure I can’t think of one moment I was there when I wasn’t drinking this tea. Coca tea is made from coca leaves (no brainer), which the Cusquenans chew on or brew in to a tea to subdue any signs of altitude sickness. I thought it tasted delicious, but I’m a tea fanatic, so I may be biased since the others in my group didn’t seem to agree.
Machu Picchu
Of course, you can’t visit Peru without going to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is actually located around 4,000 ft. lower in altitude than the city of Cusco itself. We took two trains from Cusco to the city of Aguas Calientes, which was around a 3 hour ride. From the train station, we took a bus up the winding trails of the mountain (not going to lie, this was a bit terrifying), until we reached Machu Picchu itself. When I arrived at the ruins, I was overwhelmed with an unworldly feeling, and we were all pretty speechless. The energy I felt up there was truly indescribable, and we spent hours exploring the ruins.
While we were in Cusco, we stayed at both the Costa del Sol Ramada and the Tierra Viva. As far as places to eat, there are many restaurants within walking distance of the hotels, which all serve several delicacies including guinea pig and alpaca (not kidding!). When we visited Machu Picchu, we ate in Aguas Calientes at Cafe Inkaterra, which was located in a quaint, beautiful setting.
xx.
