If you’re heading to Cusco, you probably know that it’s at high altitude – 11,200 feet, or 3,400 m. Not Mt. Everest-type high, but enough that perhaps 50% of people will feel some altitude sickness symptoms if they arrive in Cusco without spending a few days (or more) at intermediate altitudes to let their bodies acclimatize! So what is altitude sickness? In Cusco, for most people, it’s just a headache — maybe a nasty one[…]
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How to get to Machu Picchu?
Once you’ve decided to go to Machu Picchu and bought your permit (do this at least several months in advance, as they sell out!), you just need to figure out how to get there! First, you need to get to Cusco, as all of the transportation options to Machu Picchu start from there. Fortunately, getting to Cusco is easy and cheap – if you are starting from Lima, you can fly in about an hour[…]
Read moreWhat to Bring to Machu Picchu (and what to leave behind)
So you’re off to Machu Picchu. You’ve got your train (or your Inca Trail trek) booked, you’ve bought your entry ticket, and now you just need to prepare for the day trip. What should be on your Machu Picchu packing list, and what should you leave behind in Aguas Calientes? We’ve got you covered! What to bring to Machu Picchu: Shuttle ticket Okay, so you can walk to Machu Picchu. But we wouldn’t recommend it.[…]
Read moreRestaurants in Lima, Peru (for vegetarians and everyone else!)
Lima is well-known for its fine dining, but you don’t have to blow your travel budget to experience the best of what this city has to offer. Likewise, Lima restaurants are famous for their seafood and ceviche, but there are plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans as well. Many restaurants are used to accommodating vegetarians and vegans, and they will clearly mark the relevant dishes on their menus. Read on to find out about[…]
Read moreLima, Peru: Is it safe?
If you’re planning a trip to Lima, or to Machu Picchu and thinking about stopping over in Lima, you might be wondering: is it safe? Like always with this question, it’s tough to answer definitively. On the one hand, Peru in general has lower crime rates than its neighbors Colombia and Brazil; on the other, crime is much more frequent in Peruvian cities than in the United States or Europe. We have had a great[…]
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