#Pinkuylluna

[manessha545]

Pinkuylluna, Inca storehouses, Ollantaytambo, Peru: The Incas built several storehouses or qullqas out of fieldstones on the hills surrounding Ollantaytambo. Their location at high altitudes, where more wind and lower temperatures occur, defended their contents against decay. To enhance this effect, the Ollantaytambo qullqas feature ventilation systems. They are thought to have been used to store the production of the agricultural terraces built around the site. Grain would be poured in the windows on the uphill side of each building, then emptied out through the downhill side window. Wikipedia

[conformi]

Incan granaries, Pinkuylluna, Peru, 15th century VS Tita Carloni, Balmelli House, Rovio, Switzerland, 1956

[salkantay-trek]

This list of archaeological sites should keep you more than busy and you’ll learn a great deal about the vast and fascinating history of Peru. Visit as many as possible, and of course, don’t forget about Machu Picchu!

[fushoots]

Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Cusco . . 2. On the way to the Pinkuylluna archeological site at Ollantaytambo. . . #peru #pinkuylluna #sacredvalley #machupicchu #discoversouthamerica #cusco #visitperu #travelperu #perutravel #travelgram #letsguide #wanderlust #southamerica #fushoots #yourshotphotographer #bbctravel #globeshotz #roamtheplanet #earthcapture #travelingourplanet #EarthFocus (at Pinkuylluna - Ollantaytambo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwnQlweHc7-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nlwcl1uyhqi9

[xime81]

Pinkuylluna #sitioarqueologico #pinkuylluna #urubamba #ollantaytambo #Cusco #perú #archeologicalsite #쿠스코 #페루 (en Pinkuylluna - Ollantaytambo)

[meggyfin]

Before we headed off to Machu Picchu, we took the morning to explore #Ollantaytambo. My favorite ruins were the #Pinkuylluna Incan Storehouses. (You can see them up in the steep hillside in pics 1 & 2.) My glee was palpable as we got to scamper inside and all around them. But it also gave us a great view of the terraces across the valley. Our @experiencemlp guide told us that there’s a theory that the terraces were built in the shape of a llama. Keep swiping for a helpful drawing to help you see the llama! #incanruins #experiencemlp #thedashanddineperu #travelblogger #marriedchristmasperu #peru #peruvian #llama #incanterraces (at Ollantaytambo)

[polyglottraveler]

My favorite places in Peru

Arequipa: this city is my favorite. It’s a very pretty city, a lot calmer than Cusco, and the contrast between the traditional andean buildings and the catholic constructions is beautiful. My favorite place there is the Santa Catalina monastery: I spent a whole morning there walking in the streets of this city inside the city. I also loved the Alpaca museum: I went there on my birthday I spend a whole hour feeding and petting the alpacas and it was the best birthday ever :)

Laguna 69 (Huaraz): the picture below is an unedited picture I took at Laguna 69. Yes the water is really that blue and I think that says it all! (The hike is not easy and you may suffer from altitude sickness. Only go there if you’re in a good physical condition and after spending at least one full day in Huaraz to get use to the altitude). The hike and especially the laguna at the end are absolutely beautiful and I really recommend it :) It’s a bit far the traditional touristic destinations so it makes it even better!

Cusco: for me Cusco is an absolute gem. There’s just so much to see and discover that you could spend a whole week just in the city and not do everything! Some things you can’t miss are Saqsayhuaman, the best ruins in Cusco, the plaza mayor which is absolutely beautiful, and the neighbourhood of San Blas and its little pittoresque streets. I really recommend buying the tourist tickets that gives you access to many sites in the Sacred Valley: you get access to 14 sites in Cusco and its surroundings (including Ollantaytambo, Pisac ans Saqsayhuaman) and it also gives you access to some museums in Cusco. My favorite museums were the Inka museum, the chocolate museum, and if you have time you can also give a look to the Coca museum and the coffee museum which are nice too. I’ll make a post about what to do in Cusco because there’s so much more to see: ruins, local markets, churches, traditional textiles, live shows... 

Machu Picchu: you can’t go to Peru without visiting the Machu Picchu. The site is one of the World Wonders, Peru’s number one attraction, and a must-stop for all tourists in Peru. Getting there is exhaustive if you’re doing it the backpacker way, quite expensive to very expensive depending on how you do it and it can be a bit overhelming because of the number of tourists there and the fact that the village below the ruins, Aguas Calientes, feels like a small Disneyland. I personnaly didn’t like Aguas Calientes and recommend spending the less time possible there.  Getting to see the Machu Picchu was one of the best days of my life. When I got there at dawn I was so moved I even cried a little. Seeing the sunrise over the ruins is one of the best moments of my trip.  I’ll make a more detalled post about how to visit the Machu Picchu the backpacker way because it’s not easy and I have some tips to share, but as you already know, going there is definitely more than worth it :)

Ollantaytambo: one of my favorite ruins in Peru. It’s crazy how close the ruins are to the village of Ollantaytambo, you really get to see the fact that the people who live there are still very close to their roots and their traditions. Visiting these ruins is a good preparation before you go to the Machu Picchu :) A small tip: while you’re in Ollantaytambo, you can also visit the ruins of Pinkuylluna, which face Ollantaytambo ruins on the opposite mountain. It’s totally free, it’s a great hike and definitely worth it because of the incredible view you will get upon the village and upon the ruins of Ollataytambo. (You can visit Ollantaytambo and Pinkuylluna on the same day, each visit won’t take you more than a few hours)

The sacred valley: all of the sacred valley is absolutely beautiful. I already mentioned Cusco, the Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo but there are so many more incredible sites to discover. Pisac and its ruins is one of my personal favorite, and I also really recommend visiting Chinchero for the textiles, as well as Moray which is known for its agricultural ruins. 

Lake Titicaca:��the Lake Titicaca is a magical place, full of history, myths and tradition. I really recommend reading about the history of the lake and the myths surrounding it before you go, it’s very interesting. You can also learn a few Quechua words before you go, the people you will meet will appreciate it :) I visited the Uros islands (the famous islands made of reed) which I liked but it was very touristic and felt very unatural. I prefered Taquile island and even more Amantani island, which are more traditional. I spent a night with a family in Amantani and I loved meeting them and the whole experience. I got to clim to the top of the Pachamama temple and the view from there was stunning.  But my favorite place at Lake Titicaca is Llachon, a small village of farmers and fishermen. I spent two nights there in the house of an amazing family and absolutely loved it :)

Salinas de Maras: this salted mine feels sureal, I had never seen anything like that before! The site is huge and the colors so pretty. I wish we could walk more inside the mines but I guess it’s forbidden to preserve the site, which I understand because it’s definitely worth preserving this beautiful place (and the jobs that go with it because a lot of families sell the salt of the mines for a living) :)

Rainbow Mountain: opinions vary a lot about this hike but I personally loved it, the view is stunning and it’s probalby the most beautiful hike I’ve ever done. Don’t do it for the viewpoint on the rainbow mountain at the end of the hike but for the all the beautfiul views on the valley you will discover while walking there.  Most people who hated the hike complain about the fact that it was too hard, too cold, and that they didn’t get to see the colors very well. The end of the hike is at 5200m above sea level so obviously it will be hard, obviously it can be cold and yes, it may rain or snow so it can be hard to see the colors, but it’s all worth it. What I recommend is to do the hike during the dry season if you can, and to try to get to the top as early as possible before it starts raining. When I was there, it snowed a bit and there was a lot of fog but I still got to the the colors anyway and I was super happy :)  The picture below is an unedited and unfiltered picture I took so that you can see how it really looks:

Huacachina: I have some mixed feelings about Huacachina. The place is stunning, the sunsets are incredibles, sandboarding was a lot of fun and I absolutely loved riding a dunebuggy in the desert. It was my first time seeing a desert in my life so I was really impressed and excited by it and it’s a moment I will never forget. However, it’s super touristic, the only locals there are the people working in the tourism industry, and I did not really like the ambiance there, I don’t really know how to explain it but it just felt weird. If you want to see a desert and to ride down some dunes you will have the time of your life (I did), but if not, don’t bother going to Huacachina. 

BONUS: Chicama and Huanchaco: If you’re not into surfing, don’t bother reading this paragraph, as there is next to nothing to do in these little towns besides surfing. But as a surfer I really loved both places and I really hope to go back there soon. Huanchaco is a small surf town with waves for all levels: really relaxed atmosphere, waves everyday, great bars, basically everything you need to have a great time :) Chicama is a little less developped in terms of tourism but it is known for having the longest wave in the world which is incredible. It’s the best spot I’ve ever seen and I’ve taken the best waves of my life there. When I remember the waves I catched there it almost feels unreal. If you love surfing and ever come to Peru, please do not miss Chicama (which can be a day trip from Trujillo), because you will have the time of your life!

I absolutely loved Peru, its culture, its people and its beautiful towns and landscapes, and I want to go back there as soon as possible! I’m sharing a few posts about Peru because I want people to know more about this incredible country which really deserves to be known :) It’s already been 2 months since I left Peru but I still think about it and miss it and my friends there every day... 

If you’re interesting in more posts like this one, you can check out my blog, all about traveling in Latin America and learning Spanish and Portuguese :)

[hojasdecaya]

📷 2014, apu pinkuylluna (en Ollantaytambo - Cuzco) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO4ltMJLbtQ/?igshid=xz1wcwg78z6d

[allovertheworldblog]

Ollyantaytambo

[dayexpeditions]

Datos interesantes 😱 sobre el sitio arqueológico de Ollantaytambo En el recinto de Ollantaytambo se enfrentaron los incas rebeldes con los conquistadores españoles en 1537. ‘Ollanta’ sirvió de fortaleza y cuartel principal del ejército inca rebelde liderad por Manco Inca. En las laderas del cerro Pinkuylluna (frente a la Ciudadela de Ollantaytambo) los incas edificaron depósitos de provisiones también conocidos como ‘colcas’. Actualmente, el punto de partida hacia el Camino Inca a Machu Picchu se ubica a solo 15 kilómetros del sitio arqueológico de Ollantaytambo. A finales de junio se celebra en Ollantaytambo el ‘Ollantay Raymi’, una escenificación del drama ‘Ollantay’. Según una investigación, Ollantaytambo está alineado geográficamente con otros importantes sitios arqueológicos del mundo como Machu Picchu, la Isla de Pascua (Chile), las Pirámides de Giza (Egipto) y otros más. Si estás interesado en visitar el mágico lugar escríbenos 📩dayexpeditionscusco@gmail.com 📲 +51 991 134 356 📲 +51 968 172 019 Comunícate con nuestros asesores de venta 👤 Use#dayexpeditionscusco . . . . #travelling #ollantaytambo #bestmoments #ollantaytamboperu #sacredvalleyperu #instagood #perutravel (en Ollantaytambo - Vale Sagrado Cusco) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ATIe7JbKR/?igshid=q8be0123dtgx

[viajeslauchas-blog]

Perú, (Valle Sagrado) En Ollantaytambo se enfrentaron los incas rebeldes con los conquistadores españoles en 1537. ‘Ollanta’ sirvió de fortaleza y cuartel principal del ejército inca rebelde liderad por Manco Inca.En las laderas del cerro Pinkuylluna (frente a la Ciudadela de Ollantaytambo) los incas edificaron depósitos de provisiones también conocidos como ‘colcas’.Actualmente, el punto de partida hacia el Camino Inca a Machu Picchu se ubica a solo 15 kilómetros del sitio arqueológico de Ollantaytambo.A finales de junio se celebra en Ollantaytambo el ‘Ollantay Raymi’, una escenificación del drama ‘Ollantay’.Según una investigación, Ollantaytambo está alineado geográficamente con otros importantes sitios arqueológicos del mundo��como Machu Picchu, la Isla de Pascua (Chile), las Pirámides de Giza (Egipto) y otros más . Peru, (Sacred Valley) In Ollantaytambo the rebel Incas fought against the Spanish conquerors in 1537. 'Ollanta' served as a fortress and main barracks of the rebel Inca army led by Manco Inca. On the slopes of Cerro Pinkuylluna (in front of the Ciudadela de Ollantaytambo) the Incas built of supplies also known as' colcas'.Currently, the starting point to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is located just 15 kilometers from the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. At the end of June the 'Ollantay Raymi', a staging, is celebrated in Ollantaytambo. of the drama 'Ollantay'. According to a research, Ollantaytambo is geographically aligned with other important archaeological sites of the world such as Machu Picchu, Easter Isla. . . . . . Ver mas, este y otros destinos en YouTube: @ViajesLauchas See more, this and other destinations on YouTube: #ViajesLauchas . . . . . #Peru #ollantaytambo #VIAJESLAUCHAS #laucheando #turismo #Argenviajerosporelmundo #inca #youtubechannel #fun #forever #girl #tagforlikes #instagram #hot #restaurant #goodday #love #night #instagood #photooftheday #instalike #instafood #amazing #saturdaynight #cute #happy #beautiful #travelphotography #vl #viajerosporelmundo . Ver mas en Youtube: viajes lauchas See more on Youtube: viajes lauchas Te esperamos / We will wait for you Gracias y Saludos Eternos/ Thanks and Eternal Regards ; ) (en Ollantaytambo - Valle Sagrado de los Incas) https://www.instagram.com/viajeslauchas/p/Bywr1NYh-EB/?igshid=1iz6k62cmuo6o

[yourworldmyworldourworld-blog1]

My trip around the land of the Incas and much more

After spending over two weeks in Ecuador’s amazing sceneries I headed back to Peru. In September 2016, I headed to Cusco and it’s amazing secret valley. I spent just under 10 days there and loved it. This time round I decided to do the coastal areas of Peru. With these two trips I managed to cover quite a bit of Peru; just the jungle remaining. Therefore, I outline below these two trips and their itineraries. Any questions just ask!

Cusco, the Secret Valley and Machupicchu

Arrival day: We flew straight to Cusco. We landed late at night and made our way to our hostel Cuscopackers. We then headed to Morena, this amazing restaurant just by the main square. We ate ceviche and a piece to complement - truly a must! It was then time for bed as we were truly exhausted.

Day 1. The next day before heading out on any tour we bought the Boleto Turistico that includes entry to 16 archaeological and cultural sites - S/130  (£31), valid for 10 days. We bought this at Avenida el Sol 103, office next to iPeru office, or you can buy it at entries to the sites. We then booked our tours with Hotel Ruinas agency before doing a Free Walking Tour (http://www.inkanmilkyway.com/free-city-tour-cusco-10-am) which started at Plaza Regocijo/Kusipata, in front of The City Hall (look for The FTF logo on the Yellow Vest). These leave at 10am/1pm/3.30pm and last 2.5-3 hours.

Cusco City Centre

Followed by lunch at Jack’s Cafe. In the afternoon of this first day we did: the Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, Tambomachay, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, and Pucapucara. The tour included transportation and group guide, entrance to the cathedral and Qoricancha; Quoricancha and Sacsyhuaman. That evening we went to the Pisco Museum for some Pisces and antichurro.

Day 2. On our second day we did: Pisac, Urubamba then to Ollantaytambo. We climbed the ruins in Ollantaytambo and then, on our own, Pinkuylluna Mountain granaries (Qollqa). This is free, and it closes at 4pm. It is more or less 2 hour round trip. It is a steep climb but with a great view of Ollantaytambo. The entry is a bit hidden; it’s through small door on Lare Street up some narrow steps. That evening we ate at one of the restaurants by the main square some Cuy.

Day 3. We spent two nights in Ollantaytambo so on the first full day, our third day of travel, in Ollantaytambo we booked a taxi that took up to Moray and Maras - also a must! We ended the day at Chinchero; a town full of textiles.

Sacred Valley 

Day 4. The following day we had booked ourselves on an early train to Machu Picchu that arrived at 9am into Aguas Calientes (the town of Macchu Picchu). I will advise you now to book your Machu Picchu entrance tickets and the train early on (we booked it two months in advance). We got to Aguas Calientes around 9am and headed up on the bus. Quick tip: buy the tickets for both days right there and then at the booth on the side of the road as the queues get big unless you think you will climb up there. We did the Sun Gate and the Inca bridge on this first day. We also stayed until the park’s closing the sunset was truly incredible.

Machu Picchu

Day 5. The second day in Machu Picchu started really early - aim for 3am queuing. That second day we left on the last train to Cusco so we trekked WaynaPicchu at 11am but would recommend booking an earlier slot as the longer route closes if you go later. We just managed to get there in time and sweet talked one of the guards to let us through. We enjoyed the rest of the day and headed back down before our train. We chilled at La Boulangerie de Paris; this amazing cafe on the other side of the river to the train station that is run by this French guy. Amazing stuff. Also before getting to Cusco that evening ask you hostal or hotel or arrange a taxi to pick you up as the Cusco station is far from the city centre. We then headed to our hostel - Millhouse, which is great and super well located. We stayed two nights.

WaynaPicchu 

Day 6. The next day we took it easy and walked around San Blas area; Mercado San Pedro; and went to a few of the museums included in the Boleto Turistico.

Day 7. On the Friday, we climbed Rainbow Mountain...in the snow, rain, hail, fog, and freezing cold. Quick tip: Rainbow Mountain should be done last as its the highest you will get to (5,009m). To celebrate getting to the top despite all odds we had dinner at Uchu Peruvian steak, which was super yummy! We then headed to Prisco Museum for some pisco sours. They had their anniversary that evening and were doing 2 for 1 deals which is a recipe for disaster and a great night. We then left the next day around 12.

SACRED VALLEY CRIBSHEET…for those not interested in the essay above or those with little time...

For Restaurants:

Cusco: Morena; Jacks cafe; Nuna Raymi; and definitely Uchu Peruvian steak. There is also: Greens Organic; Qucharitas icecream; Cioccilina; Restaurant cafe bar pucara; The meeting place - waffles; Cafe loco.

Ollantaytambo: any on the square;

Aguas Calientes: all quite expensive but a must is La Boulangerie de Paris.

For Hostels/Hotels:

Cusco try and book Millhouse. On our first two nights in Cuzco Millhouse was booked out so we stayed at Cuscopackers which is good but a bit far from the centre. There is also Ruinas Hotel for those with a roomier budget.

Ollantaytambo: El Bosque Backpackers which is good and super close to the train station which is a bonus in the morning.

Aguas Calientes: Taypikala Boutique hotel. Make sure you contact them for someone to come and grab your bags at the station so you can head straight to Machu Picchu without having to detour to the hotel.

Travel:

PeruRail sells the trains to Aguas Calientes.

To do:

Cusco: walking tour and museums; the Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, Tambomachay, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, and Pucapucara

Pisac; Urubamba; Ollantaytambo (same day)

Moray and Maras (same day)

Must eats:

Savoury:

Ceviche: diced fish with lime with onion, chilli, sweet potato, corn and sometimes seafood

Anticuchos: grilled skewed meat, street food,often cattle hearth

Cuy: guinea pig

Salchipapa with sausages and potatoes

Lomo Saltado:  stir fried beef

Papa Rellena: stuffed potato

Aji de Gallina: chilli chicken

Chicarrones: pork served with fried sweet potatoes

Rocotto Relleno: stuffed peppers super typical of Arequipa

Chupe de camarones: shrimp soup super typical of Arequipa as well

Chifa: Peruvian version of Cantonese-Chinese food

Sweet:

Alfajores - baked pastry

Turron - anise and honey nougat

Lucuma - cooked fruit in dessert - popular in juice, ice cream, shakes

Mazamorra - jelly with purple maize

Picarones - sweet friter, pumpkin and molasses

Tejas - candy filled with manjar blanco or choc

Suspiro Limeno - milk, egg white, port, cinammon

Drinks:

Pisco sour - pisco, limes, sugar, alcoholic

Chicha de Jora - yellow maize, alcoholic

Inca Kola - yellow soda

Chicha Morada - purple maize, sweet, non alcoholic

Now onto my second time in Peru - the coast!

Lima, Huaraz, Paracas, Huacacchina, Arequipa & Puno

Day 1. From Cuenca, Ecuador I got on the night bus (the company I got was Azuay) to Chiclayo, Peru. We arrived on the border within 4 hours into the trip. The border crossing took two hours. You go through the Ecuadorian side then back on the bus and then out of the bus and through the Peru side. Then onwards past Mancora and Piura to end at Chiclayo around 11am ish. I went straight to the main bus station (make sure to grab a yellow taxi and no other and agree on the price before jumping in) to find a ticket to Lima. I left on the same day to Lima with Allinbus at 6pm but there are earlier buses. I arrived in Lima at 6am. Again a 12 hour ride. Be warned that there is nothing to do in Chiclayo and it is not safe so if you can fly to Lima. When you get to Lima then think about getting to Huaraz as this seemed to be the easiest and quickest way around.

Day 2. After arriving in Lima at 6am I grabbed an Uber and made my way to Catalina’s place (friend of a friend). Remember to get out at La Victoria stop if you are staying near Miraflores which I recommend. I then went to Claro to get a sim (S/35 for sim plus 30 days of 3gig plus unlimited whatsapp and calls). From there I went to Huaca Pucllana which is an awesome archaeological site and from there to AMANO museum of textiles. My day ended walking at the malecon. I also ate at Punto Marisko (good priced ceviche and they have them around the city).

Day 3. Today the day started early at 9am in the centre of Lima. I grabbed an Uber which cost me USD4 approx., which is more recommended and cheaper than any taxi on the street. I got to plaza mayor and walked to the Convento de Santo Domingo followed by the Basilica and Convento of San Francisco and did the tour of the catacombs. The entrance is S/15 and you have a tour guide for 45 minutes. The Arab inspired dome and the courtyard is absolutely stunning. Pity no pictures are allowed inside whatsoever. From there I walked to the Church of San Pedro and then the Torre Tagle Palace. I did not manage to get inside the Tagle Palace as its only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and if that happens to you just look up and admire its amazing balconies from outside.

If you end up doing all of this by lunch time you must eat at L’eau Vive del Peru which is in front of the Torre Tagle Palace. This is a house that was renovated and now the sisters of the household open its doors for lunch and dinner (lunch from 12:30 to 3pm and dinner from 7:30 to 09:30 pm). The proceeds of the meals goes to serving food to the poor. The meals are well served and although they have a la carte options the meal of the day is a three course for S/19. I then walked down Jirón de la Union street which is a pedestrianised road and arrived at Plaza San Martin where I went inside the Gran Hotel Bolivar Lima, which once hosted presidents and very important people; it was one of the first luxury hotels in the area. Also walk a bit further on to admire the Club National a members’ only club with astonishing architecture.

If by this point you are a bit tired and want a sit down and/or a desert please make your way to Pastelería San Martin (Portal de Gonzales 991) on the opposite side of the Plaza to the Hotel and order their Turrón de Dona Peppa. It’s absolutely delicious and a Lima thing. From there I walked down to the Museum of Art of Lima (the MALI). The entrance is S/30 and you can and should download the MALI App from your App Store (just search “MALI App”) and there you can see each room and listen to the explanation of various paintings and sections of the museum. The museum itself is not enormous but you can expect to spend around 1-2 hours there. The MALI also has an adorable cafe and sitting areas so make most of it plus it gives out to quite a nice park. By then it was 4pm and so I headed home by taxi.

MALI

Day 4. On my third day in Lima, I went for a morning walk to the street Petit Thouars where all the artisan markets are. I would recommend you walk all the way past the electronics retail shop called Hiraoka and then enter the Indian Market Miraflores. Then you can walk around this market then down the road as there are many others although this is the largest. Plus you want to figure out where you have the best prices. Baby alpaca numbers range from S/100 to S/200. Then you have your alpaca jumpers at S/40 to S/50. You can also find silver of all kinds. You can find rings at S/50 with very nice stones to small earrings at S/20. Then you have everything in between. I would recommend you look around before buying anything. If however you are going to Cusco then stuff there is slightly cheaper. This took me around 2 - 3 hours. Then at 1pm we headed for lunch at a buffet called Chifa Internacional on Av República de Panama. It’s an all you can eat with Peruvian food and Chinese food. Worth it!

Day 5. Trip to Huaraz. I would recommend that you leave your stuff at your hostal/hotel in Lima so you can travel light to Huaraz. I bought the overnight bus to Huaraz leaving from Javier Prado (which is much closer than the Terminal Norte especially if you are staying in the Miraflores area which I recommend). I chose to leave on a Wednesday night, arriving at 6am in Huaraz on Thursday and returning at 10pm on Saturday night, arriving in Lima at 6am on Sunday. The bus company is called Cruz del Sul and each way cost me S/90. This a bit more pricey than other providers but they have a really good rating and plus you would spend twice as much getting to Terminal Norte (where most providers leave from) than Javier Prado. The hostal I booked was Alpes Huaraz which is very well located and super well priced. I then booked my day tours with the hostal themselves which is much cheaper than anywhere else - S/35 max each. As I arrived on the bus at 6am and the tour to Chavin left at 9am so I was out of the door just before 9am and spent my day out at the archeological site which is incredible. Chavin was a civilization more than 3,000 years ago. Definitely a good choice to climate to the Altitude and honestly an impressive site. Once back I went to get some food at the market just down the road.

Day 6. On my second day in Huaraz I headed to Laguna 69 (it's name comes from some counting of seismic movements and earthquakes in the region). The trek is through beautiful forests, sights of far away waterfalls and a couple of smaller lagoons so it's beautiful. However, don't be fooled. The trek is 8km each way nd most of which, apart from the first 40 minutes or so and a bit in the middle, is a steady incline. So it's flat, up (zigzagged), a bit flat ish, then zigzag. I made it in 2 hours and there were about 7 other people up there with me. Everyone else arrived between 2.5 and 3 hours. I managed to then chill for over an hour and made my descend in 1hr40 ish. So although beautiful and totally worth it, be warned. I had no issues with the altitude but some did. You go from 3,870m to 4,604m in 2 hours. Double breath in and one out helps me just make sure you don't hyperventilate. I also took coca tea in my flask, gatorade, water, snacks and lunch.. Make sure you take water and food for lunch so the night before I bought all of this. The trek can take anything from 2 to 3 and a bit hours. The trek is demanding and fairly uphill but simply beautiful.

Laguna 69

Day 7. Today wake up at 8pm for 9pm leaving for Pastoruri Glacier. We stopped at a few places to see the lakes as well as the puyhual rumondi plant that grows here. The trek up was the last thing we did. Started around 12:45noon and we had 2 hours to be back. I made it in 49 mins and in comparison to Laguna 69 it's really easy. It's beautiful. We were back for 6 ish. Shower and bus back to Lima at 10pm.

Day 8. Arrived back in Lima at 6am. I then went into town to speak to PeruHop (this company that does bus routes and I would super recommend it!). I then went to visit the Malecon, then the Barranco District (unfortunately the Pedro de Osma museum was closed but even the outside was worth seeing it) then Chorrillos and El Olivar Forest to end the tour at this amazing café - lá Bonbonniere (http://www.labonbonniere.pe/carta/postres/). So yum! If you go order Guarguero and the hot chocolate!

Day 9. Today I headed out early and was at Museo del Larco at 9am. This is an amazing museum. It is near the archeological museum but I was so taken by it that I spent nearly three hours there. The actual collection is not huge but super interesting. A lot of Nazca (1-800 AC south) and Mochica (1-800 AC but north) stuff as well as Chimu (1300-1532 AC) with amazing gold stuff. The gardens are stunning and one could just sit and chill there forever. In the afternoon the sun came out so I off to the malecón for a walk!

Day 10. I had bought the PeruHop route from Lima to La Paz with first pick up at 6:30am at the Dazzler Hotel on Prado. You can get picked up in various spots in Lima, which is super awesome. The bus is clean and there are all sorts of travellers on. Backpackers, more luxury and everything in between.

The first leg of the route was to Paracas but we first stopped at Pachacamac or more like drove slowly past it. Then the Chincha Tunnels. This place is beautiful but the tunnels built for slave black market are terrible. From there another hour to Paracas. In Paracas we had lunch at the Paracas Restaurant - on the top floor where there are some amazing views. As a PeruHop traveller you get 20% off the food there although food is a bit pricey (s/31 for ceviche with discount). Then we went to the national parks in buggies and watched the sunset. Then I was back at the hostal for late afternoon. I stayed at Kokopelli Paracas hostal (s/32 for 4 bed dorm - PeruHop also gets discount there and s/32 was the discounted price) and then dinner at Misk'i - I had the quinoa and avocado salad which was well served and super nice (at s/20). The food at the hostal is cheaper for sure.

Paracas National Park

Day 11. We set off at 10:45am from Paracas to the national park (you also have the option to do the islands (Islas Ballestas) but if you have done Galapagos it is not really worth it). We then headed to Huacachina arriving around 2pm. At 3:30pm we were booked in for the buggy rides and sandboarding. If you want a driver that is a bit crazier ask for adventure and tip well. We then watched the sunset at the top of the dunes. Followed by dinner. Absolutely amazing day!

Huacacchina

Day 12. I decided to do the Pisco tour which isn't that worth it. Maybe should have gone with the guys to Nazca for the flight. When back chilled by the pool then had drinks with the guys and waved them off. I then moved hostel from Bamboo to Carola Hostal. This is more party but has a pool and my 10 bed dorm only has four people with me.

Day 13. We headed out early to Nazca, and after two hours we arrive in Nazca. We then waited another two hours for our flight. Definitely worth it if you have the time and the cash (USD60). We then waited until 6pm so four hours to the overnight bus to Arequipa. Here we go!

Day 14. Arrived in Arequipa at 6am after a hectic trip. There were heavy winds and issues on the roads. We arrived at the Dragonfly hostal not much later, dropped our bags, had breakfast and made it to the free walking tour of the city that left at 9:30am. The meeting point was by the Chicha restaurant near the Monastery. The tour took 2.5hrs. It was good but the tour guide’s English wasn't great. The other option was to wait until 10am in the same spot and do the Inka Milky tour (which also does a 3pm slot). After that I checked in, showered and went for a walk. I grabbed some food first at La Lúcha sandwich (the traditional which I highly recommend) near plaza de armas then some Queso helado and then bed.

Arequipa

Day 15. Wake up at 7am for breakfast and some admin. At 9 I headed to the Museo Andino just round the corner to see juanita (this frozen child from inca times) named after the American who found her. The tour is over an hour and super worth going with a guide (tip basis). Afterwards back at the hostal for some downtime until 11 ish when I headed out to Yanahuara district to see their church and the viewing point. I walked all the way there and the walk itself is a nice chilled walk - about 20 mins. Afterwards it was lunchtime and I headed to a picanteria called La Nueva Palomino with great food. Then uber back to the market to get some fruit. This was already 2pm. Around 3pm I headed to the Monastery. I would also recommend getting a guide here (I paid s/20). If you are in Arequipa on Tuesday or Wednesday do both day and night at the Monastery - meant to be amazing at night as well. I was looking forward to dinner at La Trattoria de la Monasteria just outside the Monastery but it was closed -  next time.

Day 16. Early wake up for the bus to Puno. After leaving Arequipa at 5am we stopped for breakfast at 11am then again at the highest lake in Peru for pictures a bit later. We made it to Puno for 13:00.  Once arriving in Puno in the afternoon I had a quick lunch then headed to the 2 hour tour of the Urus islands. You can a 2 hour tour, or a full day, or two days with a home stay. I found that the two hour was interesting and we saw the islands and the people. Perhaps a full day would mean you see a bit more.

PERU COAST CRIBSHEET...…for those not interested in the essay above or those with little time...

Restaurants:

Lima: Punto Marisco; L’eau Vive del Peru; La Bonbonniere; Pastelería San Martin (Turrón de Dona Peppa); Chifa Internacional on Av República de Panama

Huaraz: street food (by the supermarket)

Arequipa: Monasterio, La Lucha,

Hostals:

Huaraz : Alpes Huaraz Hostal

Paracas : Kokopelli Backpackers Hostal (where I stayed); Los Frayles Hotel; Paracas Backpackers Hostal (all of which have discount with PeruHop)

Huacachina: La Casa de Bamboo (where I first stayed and also has PeruHop discount); Carola Lodge (where I also stayed); Bananas looked pretty good too. Be warned that Carola is more a party hostal. Bamboo has no pool.

Arequipa: Dragonfly Hostal (where I stayed); Casa de Avila; Flying Dog; Wild Rover (party hostal) (all of which have discount with PeruHop)

To do:

Huaraz: Laguna 69; Chavin; Pastoruri Glacier; and various other walks

Lima: AMANO museum; MALI museum; Huaca Pucllana;  Convento de Santo Domingo; Basilica and Convento of San Francisco; Church of San Pedro; Torre Tagle Palace; Plaza San Martin; Malecon; Barranco District (Pedro de Osma museum); Chorrillos and El Olivar Forest

Paracas: National Park

Huacacchina: Oasis (sandboarding and buggy)

Nazca: Nazca lines

Arequipa: free walking tour; Monastery; Museo Andino

Puno: Uros islands

Thank you Peru!

Your world. My world. Our world.

[salkantay-trek]

One of the most magical places in the Sacred Valley is Ollantaytambo, the living Inca town. Feeling the warm climate that this beautiful place has, you will love to walk its Inca streets, the spectacular archaeological centers and learn more about its traditions.

Visit Ollantantaymbo and recharge yourself with all its energy!

[mpleclai-blog]

Peru: Blog Post 2

Machu Picchu and Cuzco

As we journeyed from Lima to Cuzco some interesting differences were made evident and some new adventures made for some fun learning experiences.

Ollantaytambo 

Visiting Ollantaytambo was a very interesting experience.  Unlike Lima, this town still displays a lot of the original Incan architecture, including the original water systems as can be seen above.  In addition to this there are ancient structures like the Pinkuylluna mountain granaries that can be seen from the city and also reached by climbing the stairs up the mountainside. 

Although it was likely due to Lima being such a large city, I felt like another contrast between these two locations was the amount of tourists in the area.  It seemed to me that in Ollantaytambo ( and also Aguas Calientes) there were a lot more non-Peruvians than I had seen elsewhere in Peru.  There were also a lot of places to buy souvenirs here, likely due to this being such a popular tourist spot.  I also found that the prices here were much lower than those in Lima and thus, did the majority of my gift shopping here.  

Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)

Machu Picchu Pueblo seemed to me to be even more tourist-oriented than Ollantaytambo.  Many of the vendors spoke English to us as we were walking down the street, and I found that the prices for things like food in the area were much higher than what I had gotten used to paying at other restaurants in Peru.

Machu Picchu

On Friday I was given the opportunity to visit one of the seven wonders of the modern world.  This day trip to Machu Picchu was an amazing experience.  To see the architecture of the Inca people still standing and in an area of such stunning natural beauty was both historically fascinating and incredibly breathtaking.  Along with seeing the classic ruins with the mountain behind them, Erin, Dana and I traveled in a group of three to see the Sun Gate, which took us about 2.5 hours there and back and made me wish I had brought with more water.  In addition to this, we also went to see the Inka bridge, and I braved my fear of heights and narrow edges in order to make it to the end and check out the ancient bridge.  All in all, it was an incredible experience that I wish more people could have the opportunity to enjoy, of course while still maintaining the condition of the ruins.

Cuzco City

One of the interesting things Danny told us about Cuzco was that the bases for a lot of the buildings were parts of the original Inca architecture.  Personally, I did find it pretty sad that so many of these Inca buildings were destroyed in order to put in churches for the cause of Christianity.  The churches were very pretty and had beautiful architecture, but I would have liked to see some more things of relevance to the Inca people rather than what seemed to be things that were destroyed and replaced so that the Spanish could assert their dominance over the natives.  On a different note, I had noticed while in Cuzco that the people had darker skin and likely had more indigenous ancestry.  This high population of people indigenous ancestry is likely the reason that so many of the indigenous flags could be seen throughout the city.  Cuzco also seemed to be very tourist-friendly, with many of the businesses bearing names in English rather than in Spanish, and many other things, like menus, accommodating multiple languages as well.

During our stay in Cuzco, there were also many parades happening.  During these parades I noticed that, along with the dancers and musicians,  there were many people with masks.  I thought the masks with the big noses were interesting and the people wearing them seemed very spirited.  When I got back home, I asked Felix about the masks and he said that in order to hide their identity from the Spanish, the people would wear these masks, and that there are different costumes for people from different places.

[backpackways]

View of pinkuylluna hill from the main square of Ollantaytambo. #travelphotography #travelpic #travelgram #travel #traveler #traveltheworld #traveling #travelling #traveller #travelingram #travelpics #viajes #viajar #voyager #explorer #globetrotter #ollantaytambo #perú #peru #photooftheday #photo #photograph #photography #picoftheday #pictures #pic #solotravel #solotraveler #travellingalone #passionpassport @experienceperu @perutravelteam @perutripadvisors_ (at Ollantaytambo - Cuzco)

[theindefinitejourney]

Pinkuylluna and Ollantaytambo Ruins – The Sacred Valley

Pinkuylluna and Ollantaytambo ruins were some wonderful ruins to see.  Ollantaytambo is a small village of only around 700-1000 inhabitants in the south of Peru.  Its located in the Sacred Valley not too far from Machu Picchu.  The draw of this small town is that there is actually a ruin that is free to visit […]

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