peru

machu picchu, peru

machu picchu, peru

 

I went to Peru in 2013 with my buddy Becca over Thanksgiving break. It was actually my first big international trip since entering the work force in 2010. And it's safe to say it was the reason I fell in love with traveling to South America, which I have been to many many times since this Peruvian adventure. We spent time in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes and of course, Machu Picchu. 

Foods to eat in Peru

  • Anticuchos (kebabs)

  • Rocoto relleno (stuffed pepper)

  • Alpaca jerky

  • Lucuma (sweet fruit looks like mango tastes like maple syrup)

  • Pollo a la brasa (soy roast chicken)

  • While guinea pigs are eaten by the locals, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND EATING GUINEA PIGS BECAUSE THEY ARE WONDERFUL LITTLE ANIMALS WITH BIG, HAPPY PERSONALITIES.

 

Lima

Restos:

  • Rustica barranco

  • Astrid y gaston for din

  • Punta sal for lunch

  • Ceviche at Sonia

  • Pescados capitales

  • El mercado

  • Country club Lima hotel for pisco sours

  • Segundo muelle for good seafood

  • La rosa nautica for ocean views

  • Central (new age-y)

Things to see:

  • Pizzaros tomb

  • Iglesia de San Francisco cathedral and catacombs

  • Explore historic Centro district (try 3 hour tour)

  • In pueblo libre: Museo nacional de antropologia y arqueologia

  • Museo Rafael larco Herrera, has great restaurant too

  • Museo de oro in monterrico suburb (take taxi there)

  • El parque del amor on cliffs

  • Explore El centro

  • Bajada de banos in barranco

Shopping:

  • Dedalo arte y artesania in barranco

  • Las Pallas shop in barranco

  • Tottus (grocery)

 

Cusco

 Restos:

  • Chicha

  • El Tupay restaurant

  • Cross keys pub

Things to see:

  • Awana kancha for llamas (outside cusco)

  • Monastery of Santo Domingo

  • Mercado central (market)

  • Casa choncha for machu artifacts

  • Centro de textiles tradicionales

  • Koricancha

  • Museo de arte precolombino

  • Museo hilario mendivil

Shopping:

  • Candles on candle-making street

  • Tater Camilo Vera for ceramics


Sacred Valley

 Things to see:

  • Ollantaytambo and ruins/temple

  • Salineras salt mines

  • Chinchero

  • Pukapukara (outside pisac)

  • Sacsayhuaman

  • Sacred valley hike

  • Market in Pisac

Restos:

  • Pachamama grill


Aguas Calientes

  • Have hot cocoa at Inca Planet Cafe

  • Go to the hot springs

  • Eat at Indio feliz

  • Museo de sitio manuel chavez ballon (Machu Picchu museum) 

Machu Picchu

  • Machu Picchu mountain is twice as high as Huayna Picchu

  • See temple of the moon on other side of Huayna