The lush greenery of the southern coast provided more stunning vistas at every turn with dozens of waterfalls cascading from the cliffs above. While this part of the country is known for hordes of tourists, and we did deal with some, we also found a few magical places to enjoy in peace.
A little over a year ago much of this area was ravaged by fire, but now the rains have come and life has returned full force in a dramatic way. While these areas are often baked brown, we had the privilege to witness the hills in green and golden splendor. Walking through the hills surrounded by wildflowers that were often taller than us and watching butterflies flit about was magical.
Stunning! This area was like Ha Long Bay on land, but without the pollution and a fraction of the tourists.
It is exhilarating to be right on the edge, totally alone, with millions of people below you.
We went to the Sacred Valley, experienced a local festival, hiked the mountains, explored the streets and markets of Cusco, took an amazing trek to Machu Picchu, toured the citadel, and spent a couple days in the capital. (14 day trip)
This secret ancient citadel hiding in the clouds is a wonder, the only problem is it isn’t so secret anymore.
The Salkantay Trek is an amazing way to get to Machu Picchu. This trek takes you from the majesty of glacial snow capped mountains to the tropics within a few days and the view of Machu Picchu at sunrise is unforgettable.
A historic town in the Sacred Valley with lots of character, dazzling festivals, sites, and many hiking options. Also a great place to acclimatize to the altitude.
There are a few options but this free hike is great for thrill seekers who want to be right out on the cliff edge. You get a panoramic view of the town and pyramid, while traversing steep narrow trails to several ruins.
This is a massive ruin where you can to spend anywhere from an hour to a day. See stonework comparable to Machu Picchu, in a beautiful setting, with a fraction of the crowd.