The main selling point of Peru is visiting Machu Picchu, but there’s a lot more to see than this world wonder. Getting to Machu Picchu isn’t exactly the easiest, but with plenty to do in and around Cusco and Lima, you can make a full trip out of it. Here’s the ultimate 9 day Peru…
Dinner at Astrid y Gaston in Lima, Peru
One of the best parts of traveling is the food. Peruvian food is known for its Incan and Spanish influence and what better place to try it than Lima! I chose to have dinner at Astrid y Gaston in Lima due to its delicious looking menu, high-rated reviews, and ease of making a reservation. And…
How to Spend 2 Days in Lima, Peru
When visiting Peru, most people are going with the sole purpose of visiting Machu Picchu. Since flights generally connect through Lima, why not stop and check out the city on your way to or from Machu Picchu? Lima is a massive city with world-class dining and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Here’s how to…
Hotel Review: Hilton Lima Miraflores
I normally think of Hilton hotels as a reliable option usually in the business district of a city with not much creativity in terms of design. The Hilton Lima Miraflores blew this opinion out of the water! The hotel has a beautiful design, great location, and a standout executive lounge. Here’s my review of the…
How to Spend One Day in Peru’s Sacred Valley
Before we started our Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, we spent one day in Peru’s Sacred Valley. The Sacred or Urubamba Valley is a valley in the Andes about 12 miles from the former Inca capital of Cusco. Visiting the Sacred Valley is a must-do if you’re staying in Cusco. Here’s how to spend…
Hotel Review: JW Marriott Cusco
Before we headed off on our Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu, we stayed at the JW Marriott Cusco for two nights to acclimate to the higher altitude. We booked a third night at the JW Marriott Cusco after our trek before heading up to Lima. The hotel kindly stored the luggage that we didn’t…
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Alpaca Expeditions Review
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is truly a bucket list experience. The Inca Trail has been on my shortlist for the past five years or so. Last May I finally did it, and it was even better than expected! When booking an Inca Trail trek, you want to pick a tour provider that…
Planning a Trip to Peru and Machu Picchu on Points and Miles
I’ve been talking about going to Machu Picchu for years and finally pulled the trigger on planning this trip. The plan is to start in Cusco, hike the Inca Trail, and stopover in Lima before heading back to Boston. It’s tough fitting everything into just over a week but I’m pretty excited about how this…
Booking Flights with United’s Excursionist Perk
A few weeks ago, I sat down to start planning our trip to Peru for next spring. It can be tough booking award travel with my fiancé’s inflexible vacation schedule. For this trip, we needed to leave on a specific Friday in May after 5pm. I guess finding the best route with these limitations adds…