A tour of Peru will take you through one of the most diverse lands on Earth: from the tropical rainforest to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, from bustling colonial towns to centuries-old Inca ruins, waterfalls, deserts and paradise beaches, from the world wonder of Machu Picchu to Bolivia bordering Lake Titicaca. And do not forget: The many fluffy llamas and alpacas you meet on the way!
For ten days I was traveling with Intrepid Travel in Peru and was able to experience the highlights of this magnificent country. In this article, I introduce you to my favorite places and give you valuable tips on the hand, so that your Peru tour is a unique experience of which you will tell your grandchildren at some point.
# 1 Amazon Rainforest
Already from the plane that brings us from Lima into the jungle, just before the Bolivian border, we have a fantastic view of the river landscape of the Amazon region. Like a snake, the many tributaries of the Amazon wind their way through the lush greenery.
During the two-hour boat trip to Puerto Maldonado we have enough time to get used to the humid and warm climate. On the shore, we can already spot ducks of water in the sun, brightly colored parrots and caimans.
After the first night in a rustic jungle hut, we are awakened by the loud roar of the monkeys. We get to know our guide Frank, who leads us on foot through the rainforest. Before it starts, he lubricates us a reddish brown mass of crushed plants in the face. He calls jungle protection that. We can use that, I think. After all, there should be huge anacondas and monster spiders in the Amazon and I'm not keen to meet them.
In single file we trudge after Frank. Again and again we stop to see the exotic flora and fauna up close. Fortunately, our encounters are limited to monkeys, caimans, colorful birds and all sorts of insects.
An anaconda, which by the way can grow up to nine meters long, we do not see, even when we get on a boat and slide at a snail's pace over the brown water surface of a lake. "Usually they lie here and sun themselves," explains Frank. Today it is too shady in the Amazon. It is winter and many animals are hiding. Lucky.
# 2 Inca Trail
My second big highlight of the Peru tour is the short Inca Trail, also called Camino Del Inca. Unfortunately, our short time is not sufficient for the complete four-day hike from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. Instead, we take the last day's stage of the trail.
On 13 adventurous kilometers, the path leads us through the fascinating mountains of the Andes. Through tropical forests, past waterfalls and deep gorges, we fight our way up for vertical meters - breathtaking views always included! I find the Winay Wayna ruins, which are terraced on a hillside, and which we pass during the hike, particularly impressive.
Completely out of breath (the last part is a very steep climb), we reach in the late afternoon, the sun gate Inti Punku, which is located at 2,750 meters altitude and, so to speak, as the gateway to the ruins of Machu Picchu applies. We lay down on the stones warmed by the sun, look down on the Inca city and enjoy the magnificent view. Even the summit of Huayna Picchu is wonderful to see from here.
It is about half an hour walk from Sonnentor until we finally reach Machu Picchu. At this time of day, the wonder of the world is completely overrun. Countless tourists push their way across the narrow grassy areas and fight with selfie sticks for the best photo spots. Today I can not quite win the atmosphere of Machu Picchu so much. Luckily we are here again the next morning.
# 3 Machu Picchu
Although Machu Picchu is the most touristic place of the Peru round trip, the legendary ruins of the Inca are surprisingly my biggest highlight. Although there is now a paved serpentine road on which busses every 5 minutes on and off to cart the crowds to the wonder of the world, the seclusion of this place most of all impresses me.
We also take the bus from Aguas Caliente early in the morning, look for a quiet corner, away from the crowds, and watch with trepidation how thick mists of mist cover the Peruvian Andes peaks. The view changes every second. Finally we experience the true magic Machu Picchus! We sit on our rain ponchos for a while on the ground and watch the spectacle. This experience burns forever in my memory and I am infinitely grateful for it.
Incidentally, Machu Picchu lies on a ridge at an altitude of 2,430 meters in the middle of the Andes and was allegedly built in the 15th century by the Incas. Considering the modest means available to man at the time to build such grandiose structures in the middle of nowhere, Machu Picchu's history alone is bound to a wonder of the world. Even after my visit to the ruined city, it is incomprehensible to me how the Incas did it.
# 4 Cusco
Cusco means in the language of the Inca as much as "the navel of the world" and was for a long time the center of the fabled Inca Empire. The Andean city is located in the Peruvian highlands at 3,416 meters altitude and is considered the tourist center of the country.
Even today, the heritage of the Incas in Cusco is omnipresent and miraculously mingles with the remnants of the Spanish colonial era. For example, in the Plaza de Armas, the main square of Cusco, where you can admire magnificent churches and pretty arched arches next to ancient Inca walls. We probably owe it to UNESCO that the city center has remained largely unchanged and still exudes a lot of charm today.
# 5 Salineras de Maras & the sacred valley of the Inca
Since a visit to the Salineras de Maras is not part of our group tour with Intrepid Travel, Jana and I take a private excursion to the spectacular salt terraces that you should definitely plan on your Peru tour. By taxi we drive 1.5 hours from Cusco, past the most beautiful landscapes of Peru, to the Sacred Valley of the Inca.
Already from the gravel road, above the Salineras, we have a gigantic view of the terraced salt pans. I have never expected that they have such proportions! Over 3,000 pools nestle in the rust-colored mountains. What a sight!
Depending on the time of day and the light, the Salineras de Maras shine in the most beautiful pink tones. Previously, the salt obtained here was called white gold of the Andes and sold at high prices. Today, the salt farmers earn little enough to live off it.
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On the way back, the sun is already deep and bathes the sleepy villages along the way, the wheat fields and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes in golden light. Fortunately, our taxi driver is happy to stop for this wonderful evening atmosphere and lets us take pictures in peace.
Extra tip: A taxi from Cusco costs about 200 Peruvian soles, which is the equivalent of 50 Sol . With our driver we were able to negotiate that he would wait for us for an hour at the Salineras and bring us back to Cusco. Alternatively, you can book a guided day tour, which also includes other attractions such as the Moray terraces of the Inca are visited. The bus tours start only in the morning and you should schedule a full day for it. For the individual visit of the Salineras de Maras by taxi an afternoon is enough. Just before the salt terraces close, the area empties and you have the salt pools in a beautiful light almost for you alone.
# 6 Lake Titicaca
As we leave the airport building in Puno, I breathe in and out carefully. We are now 3,827 meters above sea level. The air here is a lot thinner than in the last days. My heart beats faster and I feel slightly dizzy.
Puno, the capital of this province, is the starting point for our visit to Lake Titicaca. The huge lake (13 x larger than Lake Constance!) Is partly in Peru and partly in Bolivia and is considered the highest navigable waters in the world. By boat we chug through the deep blue water for half an eternity to the place Llachon, where we spend the night today. At the jetty we are welcomed by a local family who let us stay at home for one night.
In the home stay we are spoiled by the Peruvian women with local delicacies. They all wear colorful skirts in thick layers and have braided their black hair into long braids. My absolute favorite dish served this evening: the vegan quinoa soup. You should definitely try them on your Peru tour!
Related Post: Top 5 Best Hikes Around Cusco!As we lie snuggled in thick blankets in the beds of our tiny mud house, an icy wind whistles over the roof and through the window slot. I review the day and cannot realize at all that I'm actually in a hut on Lake Titicaca at this moment. Too absurd is this idea!
The next morning, we let the first sunbeams warm us up and look at the calm, deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca. In the distance we already recognize the mountains of Bolivia.
What I do not like at Lake Titicaca is our next stop: the floating reed islands of the Uros. The Uros are an ethnic group, which today still counts about 2,000 people. According to legend, they fled with small boats on the lake and hid from the attacks of the Incas in the high reeds. As their boats threatened to sink, they came up with the ingenious idea of putting dried reeds under the rotten boats. That's how the floating islands came to be.
The majority of Urus now lives on the mainland. For tourists, however, they come here every morning dressed in Peruvian costumes to perform dances, to sell souvenirs or to put their reed-built houses on display.
The origin of the reed islands remains fascinating, especially considering that they have to be rebuilt every two years because otherwise the reeds will rot away from below. Nevertheless, I feel in this place as in Phantasialand and can not necessarily recommend a visit to the reed islands.
Valuable tips for your Peru round trip
As I have received so many questions about Peru in the last weeks after the trip, I would now like to focus on the most important points:
Which tour operator did you visit in Peru?
My Peru tour was organized by Intrepid Travel . The company offers authentic travel in small groups worldwide and strives to make travel as sustainable as possible. That in the tourism industry alone because of the long distances is almost impossible, I know from personal experience. Nevertheless, Intrepid Tavel is strongly committed to compensate for the largest CO2 components of a journey with compensation payments. In addition, only local guides are booked at fair prices, and accommodation is always in small, local-owned accommodation whenever possible.
How much time should I plan for a Peru round trip?
For the journey, as we have done, you should plan at least ten days on site. That's the absolute minimum. We were only able to visit a few selected highlights of the country in ten days and had to miss many sites, such as the Rainbow Mountains, the Cola Canyon, the Misti Volcano, the Humantay Lagoon or the Ausangate. To really get to know the country and its people, you should plan at least four weeks for a Peru round trip. As always, the more time, the better.
When is the best time to go to Peru?
Since there are different climatic zones in Peru due to the differences in altitude, it is difficult to determine the best travel time. If you want a beach holiday on the Pacific coast, especially the months from December to April are suitable. From May to September there is dry and winter time in Peru. These are the best months for hiking in the Andes and thus for visiting Machu Picchu.
The Peruvian summer time is from November to March. In the Andes as well as in the Amazon region this means rainy season. You should expect heavy rains, but also have a wonderful lush vegetation and higher chances of animal sightings in the rainforest. The tourist high season for a Peru round trip is between June and August. During this time, most Europeans travel to Peru.
What did you like less in Peru?
Lima, the capital of Peru, I did not like it and is therefore not listed in my highlights of the trip. To be fair, I have to say that we were not in the beautiful bohemian district of Barranco, which is described by many travelers as very charming and worth seeing. I would definitely look at my next visit.
How do I avoid the altitude sickness?
Many places you will visit during your Peru tour are over 3,000 meters. Here the altitude sickness can strike. You cannot avoid them. However, to get used to the altitude, you should always give your body enough time to acclimatize, drink enough water and not rush things. By that I mean simple stair climbing. Go slowly, to prevent dizziness, tachycardia and nausea. You will soon realize how thin the air is.
In restaurants and hotels, the famous coca tea is often offered, which you should absolutely try on your Peru tour anyway. Chewing coca leaves and drinking coca tea is a centuries-old tradition in the Andes. It is intended to suppress hunger and tiredness and also act against the altitude sickness due to the increased oxygen uptake. Try it!
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