Starting this new adventure, my expectations were low at the beginning and they changed ráask the get to Peruú. Today we know the beautiful Inca city of Cusco.
Being from Ecuador, a byeís brother, teníto the enterpriseón of that Perú was going to be a país very similar to mío and that the planned attractions were going to be very similar to those that had already beenívisited Ecuador… no sabíto that get to Cuzco all this was going to change.
Post written by Sil
Instagram: @smc_sock
With photos of Sil and Nicolás
Other post by Sil:
- ¿Travel by land in Ecuador? This is what you need to know.
- Polylepis Lodge Experience.
- The mábeautiful city of Cusco.
Arrival to Cuzco
We arrived at a modest and small airport.ñO, when removing the suitcases do not beán más de 7 meters walking to the exit where I directedéwalking through the pedestrian corridor they intercepted us 5 people operating taxis. As I recommendedóno of travel, teníwe have no idea what there isíto haggle a little with each price and the taxi to our B&B was approximately 10 soles. A taxi driver tells us that he offers us for 20 soles, así that we told you what isáWe were willing to pay and that's ití I appearedó Don Freddy (you can contact him on whatsapp +51-974-545-157), a señor taxi that offers us to take the tour 12 soles.
the journey was medium, not very long, in a city where it has its partsérticas, and its urban contrasts. Several small businesses and restaurantsños, así that a trálight and you feel a peace. That peace that is not totally of the people, but it is not a stress eitherés of city. Upon reaching the street of our B&B several stairs are presented, and we know that we have to climb all that to arrive, that's very youípeak of houses built in colonial style. to finally enter, we find a house típica, very cute, where there is a coffee shop in the centeríat and at the entrance there are two doors where we will beíwe love hosting. By not realizing the check-in time, we areáwe were leaving very early, así who help us by keeping our suitcases locked so we can start our tour of the city.
You can see this accommodation hereí: https://www.airbnb.com.ec/rooms/23436474
first día: Cusco
Afterés to descend all that grade againíO, we started to go to the center of Cusco, through narrow streets, high walls and stone alleys that immediately begin to transport you back in time. The closer we gotábamos, each alley began to get more crowdedón, with tourists everywhere, and with street vendors offering everything from plastic toysástico for niños, even a Peruvian woman with her t-suitípeak with a baby alpaca for an unparalleled photo. Suddenly, when leaving one of the alleys the center of the city opens up in the background, with its majestic cathedrals and a crowded square. Habíwe have arrived in celebrationón del Corpus Christi, a celebrationón catófaces, in which several religious acts of Cusco took place right in the central square.
Approaching to take photos, a tour seller approached usó to ask us if we wantíwe love taking the city tour bus, once the price has been negotiated, He told us where to go to continue with the tour. ÉWe were a group of approximately 10 tourists, among Chileans, Mexicans and Colombians, and our touríThere was a girl who explained to us the history of the central cathedral.
Then we walked towards the temple of Qoricancha and finally he took usó al tour bus. The bus startedó to go through the main streets of the city, where the universities were observed, roundabouts and colorful sculptures until we start to leave the city. we ascended, on a small roadñwhere the desert landscape was accentuatedó until you pass by a ruin and see agricultural fieldsícolas.
Our first stop was a farmhouse converted into a local diner where we offeredícorn with cheese (the corn kernels, almost half a centímeter each, the Más biggest I have ever seen) and a fresh cheese with a slightly rubbery texture and very good flavor. Ahí we were introduced to a shaman, who invokedó a los espírituals of nature to cleanse ourselves and attract fortune in love, work and money. The surrounding landscape, it was impressive, many mountsñas verdes, but in the background always the mountain range with its snow peaks.
when returning, we pass through Jesusús that takes care of the city of Cusco, with the explanationón that it was a gift from the Palestinian community to the city. It is a viewpoint to appreciate the ásurrounding green area.
Upon returning to the city many local people were gathered in the central square, where the Corpus Christi celebrations continued, since the traditionón dictates that the saints of the entire town have to gather in the main square, a celebrationócolorful n, village bands and all of Cusqueñthose gathered for this celebrationón.
When deciding dówhere to have dinner, Cusco has large and small restaurantsñfor all tastes and pockets. we wantíwe love to go to one that told usíhave recommended Peruvian friends and since we were already closing, they recommended usó que fuéwe went to another, called mouth. The place is very nice, wood details and incredible customer serviceíble. Since we are what is known as “foodies” he wantsíWe love to order foodísink of Perú and we ventured with a chicken to the huancaína and an alpaca burger (don't hate us, solo wantíwe love to try).
Back to the hotel, a room was waiting for usón beautiful, A childña living room with a sofaá y un closet, and a roomón with a large bed and a bathroomñthe private and a welcome coca tea. The dueñor the place always asked us what time íwe were going out on díto next, to be able to leave us breakfast in a kraft paper bag.
Cusco, second día: TRAIN STILL RAIL – HOT WATERS
Height
3.339 meters
Equipment
C clothesómoda, light jacketáeasy to store, rashóflexible excursionón, shoes for trekking, hat and sunglasses, sunscreen, papel sweaténico, coca leaves or candies (optional), money, and small bottleñwater and passport.
Approximate time
3 hours by busús, 5 hours to and from the mountainña
The biggestíOne of the excursions that are outside of Cusco starts early in the morning.ñhe, Don Freddy and his taxi, they waited for us at 4 am on the street to move around 45 mins to a city near the stationóPoroy train number. the stationón was already full with several tourists who alsoéThey were going to Aguas Calientes.
When boarding the train, We realized that we will travel on what Inca Rail calls the panor trainámonkey, It has windows on the roof where you can see the mountain landscapes.ñgoing bears.
Afterés one hour trip, there was a “Service on board” where was a breakfast with a muffin, café, té or water in the middle of beautiful mountain landscapes.
The journey continuedó for about another hour, when there was another service on board, this time with cookies, dried fruits and the same selectionón of drinks previously offered.
Almost at the arrival of the third hour, the train stops at a dam, where you can already hear that we are minutes away from arriving at the stationóno. of Aguas Calientes.
hot waters
When leaving the stationótrain number, there is a craft market on the outskirts, and descending and crossing one of the bridges that connect to the city, a little one is foundñor wooden stand where bus tickets to Macchu Picchu are sold. The ticket costs approx. $25 dóhomes, and there are several buses that leave as soon as one shows the entrance to the park (that alsoécan't be bought thereí) and the bus ticket. The tour lasts más the least 20 minutes and it is a dizzying climb of at least 12 sharp turns.
Arriving, There is a huge entrance where several guíThey offer their services and it is the final entrance to Macchu Picchu. All the land is dirt and césped, It is advisable to wear shoesóways and eagerness to go up and down steps. the place is awesome, from the beginning I knewímasters what to takeíat least 3 hours to go through everything below, there is a section at the top that you have to pay an extra to ascend.
the weather was perfect, ni tan cácool nor so coldíor make we decide first to go for photos in the middle part where several are taken áangles to be able to see the majesty of the ruins in all their glory.
Afteréwe went down, and it was passages of what used to be houses and rooms. It is a constructionón impressive one cannot think that at the top of the mountainñto and without technologyíTo date they have built such a complex of terraces, houses and ácommunal areas so long ago and with so much detail.
Lo máit's beautiful, It is when between the ups and downs one meets the animals típeaks of that area, the alpacas that are very friendly to the púwar and some even ask visitors to pet them.
The ruins are a set of several rooms, where do you see your gutters, with their ágreen areas and with windows towards a beautiful setting with mountainsñas and to the bottom of ridingñthe snowfall.
At the exit of the visit, there is a simple roof with a table, where you can put the Macchu Picchu visit stamp in your passport, a very original memory.
When going down again to Aguas Calientes, we visited the central square, where the atmosphere is like being lost in the middle of the mountainsñas, little oneñthe restaurants, little oneñas stores, a church and a monument of welcome to Macchu Picchu, for the Inca who madeó the constructionón Pachacútec.
Our train leavesíback at 2:30 when, it is advertised in the smallñat stationón train that there was a derailment like thatí that is not knowníto whaté time to beía el prónext train and we take it calmly until it arrives… así that with a table and a Cusqueñwe wait patiently for 4 hours…
upon return, our train tookó 3 hours más, así that Don Freddy waited for us until almost 10pm to return us for two more hoursás back to Cusco and help us book the next tour to the mountainsña of colors the díto next.
Cusco, third día: MONTAÑA OF COLORS
Height
5.200 meters
Equipment
Warm clothing, thick jacket, thick sweater/jacket, rashóNo. of excursionón (if it is impossible waterproof), double pair of tights, shoes for trekking, winter hat and gloves, Sunglasses, sunscreen, papel sweaténico, coca leaves or candies, money, and small bottleña of water (if possible a change of screenón).
Approximate time
3 hours by busús, 5 hours to and from the mountainña
Once máitsáWe were outside on the street ready at 4am to board the bus that would take usíto the mountainña of colors, in a trip of approx. 3 hours. Once más incredible customer serviceíble, They did not provide blankets to sleep during the trip.
waking up, we arrived at a house in the middle of the mountainsñas, but this time he rides themñthey were red in color, yellow with snow-capped peaks. We haveíA walking tour has been sold 2 hours, However, unguíto rideñexperienced us confessíbecause it was two to three climbs where we will reach 5,200 meters high. Afterés a delicious breakfast rich in heatíso helpíeven with the promotions, the bus took us 15 minutes más inside the mountñto start our excursionón.
The first is a flat trekking, The landscape is greatly appreciated and the colors of the mountains are visible.ñace around, you pass through the main entrance and through the único bañor in the entire walk that are four improvised wooden doors, and a hole in the ground.
Next is a climb, that has más minus a durationón of 20 minutes, and it's ohí where height begins to affect and has been úuseful coca leaves, that as a clarificationóIt's not something natural, nothing processed, It's not a hallucinationógene and helps a lot to give energyíto the body.
on the second climb, obviously height affects a lot más, You are beginning to see the people left behind, especially those that live at sea level and are notánot used to these heights, It must be emphasized that the less height, the moleséox cellsígeno isán más scattered, for which it becomes más difícil breathe. It's always good to take breaks, así be for short periods of time to be able to give the heartón a smallñthe rest.
In the úlast upload, startedó the nevar, It was a thin but extensive snow, it was no longer possibleíto see the surroundings very well, and the red and yellow colors of the mountainñbecoming iban becoming ráask for all white. One of our guías nos recomendó do not attempt the next climb (and neither íwe were going to continue due to fatigue) así that there is añor selling food ahí in the weather.
We decided to eat what éhe called “Chicharrón with potatoes” envés fried trout with a coffeeé, since the frío it is windy and húI fear the snow. It really was one of the best decisions to regain strength and energy.íwhat do i needáwe were going back.
Coming back, the descents did become slippery due to the snow, which stopped, but upon his returnía más wind, más cold and less visibility. The snow was falling in love with our backpack, in our shoes and on our screenón, así that all the exposed clothes were wet (it depends a lot on the season, but the locals indicate that it is not known when it may snow, it's unpredictable weather).
QuizáWe can't see much of the colors of the mountainña, we didn't even reach the top, but also from the beginning of the walk the natural scenes are impressive, and I am satisfied… not to mention the snow… I love snow …
When returning to the busús, todos isáwe were wet, a few más that others and it is ahí where the extra move helps. We stopped again at the same house where we had breakfast for a lunch tíearth peak, delicious and organic foodáonly harvested and prepared by locals, for laterés take the bus one more time 3 hours back to Cusco.
The arrival in Cusco was approximately at 7:40 pm where we went to visit the craft market of the city, a place with many colors and perfect for buying souvenirs and home accessories.
Right across one of the main streets, habíto a parade of several boys and girls dressed in típica and colorful that danced to the rhythm of the bands that followed themían. A spectáunexpected ass, which caused a bit of chaos in the traácool but it doesn't seem to anyoneíto disturb.
At dinner's time, We decided to go for somethingípeak and we arrive at the Pisco Museum, and cozy place with wooden tables and Peruvian customer service. Pisco is served in various ways, with fruits, with other liquors, with purple chicha… the options are endless. Además, there is a food menu, in which we decided on the chopped that were exquisite.
fourth día: LIMA
Returning to Ecuador, we had 8 hours in Lima, where we take the opportunity to take the Lima Airport Express and go to the Miraflores neighborhood. Lima tends to be cloudy, and apparently we arrived in winter. Miraflores, It is modern with stunning buildings a large park overlooking the sea.
We had breakfast, in a restaurant with an ocean view to continue our walking tour of the área, where we arrived by chance at a park whereía ¡Gatos! Cats everywhere, of all colors and sizesños, the pooríhave been abandoned in the park or arrived thereí of the city streets.
It's a good time to take a break, sit on the floor and relieve stressés with caresses to these animals. In the middle of the parkíto a kiosk where you caníto donate money to buy food and maintain these animals.
Following through the streets, inígreat churches, large squares and shopping centers of well-known brands such as Ripley, Falabella or Cencosud supermarkets. Así same, US brands like Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, GAP, and many más in this same área.
It was a voyage of discovery, and of surprises, of rich and unusual food in cuáWe are left to meetún máI know what it is áarea of Perú it can offer. I hope in the future to be able to return to complete all the pending visits.
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