Leah R.’s Field Notes from Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Lima
Courtesy of Leah
Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, Leah R. shares her highlights from a trip to Peru.
We selected Peru because of two things: Macchu Picchu and Central. What we found was a country so beautiful we couldn’t stop raving about it weeks after our trip, with experiences that surpassed expectation. We stayed for 11 days: 8 in Cusco and the Sacred Valley and 3 in Lima – and left feeling that we were barely scratching the surface.
Do
Red Valley - Yes, Macchu Picchu, Lake Humantay, and Rainbow Mountain are all worth going to. Yes, they are going to be crowded, and yes, pretty much any group tour you’ll find will start at more or less 5 am. But beyond these hits were our favorites [such as] hiking Red Valley. Though adjacent to Rainbow Valley, it felt worlds apart, walking without the crowds and in my opinion even more beautiful. Note that you will need to pay an additional entrance fee.
Stay
El Albergue (Ollantaytambo) - The most strategic hotel for those early morning trains to Macchu Picchu. While everyone else is getting picked up at 3 or 4 am from Cusco, you get a couple of hours extra sleep since you’re literally inside the train station. Also they offer a pachamanca lunch which is not to be missed.
Eat
Morena (Cusco) - Good cocktails, great food, superb location - ask for a table with a view of the square
Also included in her notes:
A “beautiful hotel in San Blas with spacious and well decorated rooms and friendly service”
A “must try” restaurant that offers a gastronomic tour of Peru
A Lima hotel with “fantastic staff and service, a safe and central location, and overlooking the water. They also have rooms with their own private sauna”
Her favorite travel experiences and travel tips
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