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Lima, Peru
Welcome to Peru, my favorite country in the entire world! Are you ready to see
the best places in Peru?? Luckily for you, you are in Lima, Peru’s capital.
Featuring the perfect balance between Peruvian culture and a metropolitan city,
Lima is a great introduction to Peru. Lima is a place where you won’t find too
many culture shocks because it is a big city that has adapted to many of the
western cities. Here you will find international food, lots of English-speaking
locals, and a little bit of culture. For anyone that wants an introduction to
indigenous ruins before they visit the famous Machu Picchu can visit Huaca
Pucllana.
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Paracas, Peru
Paracas is a coastal city located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. As the home
of the Paracas National Reserve and Isla Ballestas, Paracas is a must on any
Peru itinerary. But is it a good place to stay? Depends. Paracas is a rather
quiet town with not much to do at night. The only pro is staying in Paracas is
that you get to hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean as you fall asleep!
- Islas ballestas
- Playa Atenas - Reserva Nacional De Paracas
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Huacachina, Peru
Huacachina, otherwise known as the breath-taking oasis, is only located 15
minutes away from Ica on a tuk-tuk. The journey costs less than a few dollars
but the prices in Huacachina are substantially higher. There are hardly any
locals that live in Huacachina because the prices are just too high. Huacachina
is also the spot to party! If you aren’t already staying in Huacachina, a visit
is something you must do. A stunning oasis in the middle of Ica, visitors come
ride dune buggies or try sandboarding on Huacachina’s pristine dunes! I highly
recommend coming to Huacachina during sunset. Hike up the dunes and watch the
sun set behind the magical dunes as the skies burn with vibrant colors. They say
people hallucinate in the desert and see things they aren’t supposed to. Well,
the view here is something I can’t even believe with my eyes.
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Ica, Peru
After your visit to the country’s capital, you will move south into a completely
different environment: the desert region. This area is drastically different
from the dramatic cliffs of Lima. Featuring silky sand dunes that stretch beyond
your eye’s reach, the landscape in this region is absolutely mesmerizing. This
region is also known for its wine, the Huacachina Oasis, and the wildlife that
resides in Paracas. To get to Ica, Huacachina, or Paracas, you have to take a
bus from Lima. I recommend the company Soyuz. A clean and economical bus
company, Soyuz provides amazing service in this region. (Update: Soyuz is no
longer in operation because of the challenges endured in 2020, for more info on
buses to Ica, Huacachina, or Paracas, check here. Ica, the cheapest place to
stay out of the three, is a local city. Here you will find low prices on
accommodations, food, and culture. No wonder why it is the most popular to stay
for budget backpackers.
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Nazca, Peru
Located about 2 hours southeast of Ica are some of the earth’s biggest
mysteries. Figures of animals, plants, and other objects are etched into the
sand, spanning an area of about 50 square kilometers. To this present day,
the mystery of the Nazca Lines has not been solved. Who made them? What were
they for? Were there terrestrial beings? If you want to see the Nazca Lines, I
highly recommend seeing it in the air on a plane. Tours can be found in
Huacachina and Paracas but you might want to consider booking in advance to
secure your spot, especially if you are visiting in peak season.
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Cuzco, Peru
The next stop on our 2 week Peru itinerary is the capital of the Inca Empire,
Cusco. But how do you get there? If you look on the map, Ica and Cusco are on
opposite sides of the country. The fastest way to get there would be to get back
to Lima and take a direct flight to Cusco. The other option is to take a bus.
There are buses that run from Ica to Cusco daily. However, let me warn you. Even
though taking a bus is the most economical way, the journey is about 17 hours
long. You will start close to sea level and arrive at 3,400 above sea level. As
you ascend higher, your body adjusts to the level of oxygen. Taking a bus to
Cusco is a great way to acclimate to the high elevation. To check the bus
schedule, use busbud.com and enter your route. Cusco was once the capital of
the mighty Inca civilization before getting conquered by the Spaniards.
Inevitably, you will see lots of remains of the Inca empire in Cusco. Matter of
fact, many of the buildings you currently see are built by the Incas! Situated
in the Andes, the surrounding area is filled with natural wonders as well as
Inca ruins. We will spend a total of 6 days in Cusco exploring the many
unworldly attractions and acclimating to the altitude. Here are some of the best
things to do in Cusco, Peru.
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Machu Pichu, Peru
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, Machu Picchu. An abandoned ancient
Inca ruins untouched by the Spaniards, Machu Picchu is one of the most
spectacular Seven Wonders of the World. It is also probably the most famous
thing about Peru! Did you really think our Peru itinerary would not include
Machu Picchu? However, there are several things I need to clear up about Machu
Picchu. Machu Picchu is not located in Cusco. In fact, it is located extremely
far from Cusco. One of the main reasons why Machu Picchu was never discovered is
because it was so inaccessible. It is totally feasible to visit Machu Picchu in
1 day from Cusco. However, I would highly not recommend it because of the cost
and your time of arrival at Machu Picchu. If you do want to visit in 1 day, you
must take a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then take a bus from
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, and then come back the same way. You will
arrive at Machu Picchu midday, which is not considered the best time to visit
Machu Picchu because of the number of tourists. Bunched up like sardines in a
can, you will get smacked in the face by selfie sticks and pushed by aggressive
visitors. The cheapest option to visit Machu Picchu will take 2 days. You will
spend one night in Aguas Calientes, otherwise known as Machu Picchu town. The
way to do it is to take public transportation to Hidroelectrica. Hike two hours
from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, stay the night there and then visit
Machu Picchu early in the morning. After visiting Machu Picchu, go back to where
you were dropped off at Hidroelectrica to get a van back to Cusco. We highly
recommend doing it this way to save money, have a better time at Machu Picchu,
and not tire yourself out completely. I highly recommend you to visit Machu
Picchu as soon as you arrive in Cusco. Why? Because Machu Picchu is about 1,000
meters lower in elevation than Cusco. Visiting Machu Picchu first might actually
help you acclimate to the high elevation of Cusco and prepare you for other
future activities. These are tips you only get from someone that has been in
Cusco and Machu Picchu for a long time!
- Machu Picchu
- Templo Principal
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Cuzco, Peru
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Puno, Peru
Puno is the next stop on your Peru 2 weeks itinerary. We saved this city as the
last place on our Peru trip because the city is located more than 3,800 meters
above sea level. If you thought Cusco’s elevation was high, Puno is a whole new
ball game. But after spending several days in Cusco, you will be ready for the
elevation of Puno. Located on Lake Titicaca, one of the biggest lakes in South
America and the highest navigable lake in the world, Puno is considered
Peru’s folkloric capital. You can also find tours to Uyuni Salt Flats from Puno!
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Cuzco, Peru
It is highly recommended that you leave from a city different than the one you
came in. If you came into Peru from Lima, then exit in Cusco and vice versa. If
your flight out of Cusco is at night, you can take one of the morning buses from
Puno to Cusco. If your flight leaves in the morning or afternoon, you should
leave in the night on Day 13 to arrive in Cusco early morning. Either way,
check busbud.com for all bus schedules. It will be sad to leave such a beautiful
country but don’t worry, you can always come back. Northern Peru has plenty of
hidden gems such as Chachapoyas for you to explore next time!