VIAJES National Geographic magazine published the list of winners of its readers' vote for the best destinations, hotels and tourist attractions of 2024, and Peru has landed in first place on the list of international destinations. For that reason (and many more), it’s a great destination to have on your bucket list!
The country’s diversity is one of the main reasons for this recognition, as the publication highlights that “travelling to Peru is like entering a fantastic world,” referring to the different habitats that can be found in the country: Coast, Mountain Range, Jungle and Desert, which adds up to the mix of history, flavour, and nature that can be found in each of them.
We visited Peru in July and spent three nights in Cuzco; it was the highlight of our entire Peru trip. Cuzco airport is situated at a high elevation of 3,339 msl (11,152ft), so to get acclimatized, we decided to start our day at Sacred Valley of the Incas, just a one-hour drive from the airport. There, the elevation is around 2,050 metres (6,730 ft) at the Urubamba River. The Secret Valley is a peaceful and scenic place around it you can stop at Pisas, Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo. We went back to Cuzco for dinner and to sleep, but we were gladly surprised by the celebration of Our Lady de La Candelaria’s Feast Day. We walked to a small park two blocks from our hotel to enjoy fireworks and celebration with the locals. One recommendation for the first night in Cuzco: try to eat just a little to facilitate digestion.
The next day, we embarked on the Hiram Bingham train to the lost city of Machu Pichu. The Hiram Bingham is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with breathtaking, open-air views from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, passing by the Secret Valley. We sat and feasted on the exquisite Peruvian cuisine and enjoyed the vintage cocktail bar and a punchy Pisco sour. The energy in the wagon was great; we made new friends while we partied with live music! At the citadel, be amazed by the majestic ruins with a professional guide. It is better to book your tickets in advance; right now, the government has prescribed just five different routes to protect the citadel, and the views are different from each one of them. We spent around three hours exploring and learning about the history and culture of the Incas, and our route allowed us to take the traditional picture of Machu Pichu before heading to Sanctuary Lodge for a refreshing cocktail in the mountains, after which we would take our train back to the city.
By the third day, we had acclimatized to the high elevation of Cuzco city and spent the day touring around the main square, the multiple churches, convents, Sacsayhuaman and the San Blass area. Factor in some time to purchase souvenirs; Alpaca wool is a very good quality in Peru, especially in Cuzco, where you will find multiple stores that specialize in these products.
The following day, we flew to Lima – but more on that in another blog post! Stay tuned!
We have tours going to Peru:
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