I went to Peru. 4 flights. 2 trains. 2 buses. 26 Ubers. Lima. Cusco. Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu. Huacachina. I hiked Machu Picchu mountain. I drove an ATV through the sand dunes of one of the only desert oases in South America. I ate Guinea Pig. I saw one of the Seven Wonders of the world. I walked up the same stairs the Incas used. I bargained with vendors on the street. I tried lucuma ice cream. I tried a Peruvian fruit called Chirimoya. I visited museums, markets, and cathedrals. I touched and walked 8 sites of Incan ruins. The list could go on and on.
When Baylie and I told our family and friends we were taking a trip to Peru, they were all terrified. We were 20 years old at the time and this was our first time outside of the US with just the two of us!
They said no—we booked the flights anyway!
Peru was life-changing.
What if we had listened? What if we didn’t go? Who would I be? What perspective would I have missed out on? What experiences would I have never had?
Here’s what I learned:
*Be flexible. plans do not always work out
—We had a few flight delays in the Cusco airport with Peruvian Airlines. WARNING: flight delays and gate changes are extremely common in Peru airports. Pro tip: Pay attention to your flight number and listen for changes because there will without a doubt be flight changes.
Moray
*stay positive
—I accidentally spent 60 soles on a SIM card that only needed to cost about 25 soles. I spent so much because of a communication error due to a bit of a language barrier. There will be mishaps, but a negative attitude isn’t helping anyone. Therefore, I encourage you all to remain positive when problems arise.
*this is a beautiful world
—Peru is of course different from my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. In Peru, Dogs roam the streets like squirrels and Guinea Pig is a traditional food. Travel exposes you to new cultures, to new perspectives, to new experiences. Enjoy the journey.
Advice for a successful trip to Peru!
Get a boleto turistico in Cusco This allows you to visit a majority of the Inca ruin sites and a few museums. My favorite places were Saccsaywoman, Moray, and las Salinas
Baylie, Edar, and I arriving at Salinas Del Maras! We had been driving all day!
Stay in a nice Airbnb
Prices in Peru are decently cheap! So, splurge on a nice Airbnb. I promise it’s worth it. I recommend this one—the host was incredibly accommodating and helped us plan out our entire trip in Cusco.
Only do the hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes if you are in shape.
If you don’t feel like you can walk up a steep incline for an hour, take the bus up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. The bus is only around 20 Soles ($6 in US dollars).
Eat at La Lucha Sangucheria Criolla
I think my best friend Baylie and I can both agree this was one of our favorite places we ate at in Peru. It is a chain sandwich/burger joint. You can pretty much find them all over Lima. Let me tell you, it was SO GOOD! I also still race that I got the best milkshake I’ve ever had in my life here!
Try new foods!
I tried several fruits that do not exist in the United States. I recommend going to a local market like Mercado San Pedro in Cusco and bargaining for some fresh goodies!
Be cautious!
Peruvians can easily spot people who aren’t from Peru! You can be taken advantage of if you
aren’t careful. Be sure to ask a lot of questions. Also, keep your money close!
Don’t drink the water
Self-explanatory. If you drink the water, you might get sick! Just buy bottles of water every day. They are only about 1 sole at local stores.
Bargain.
You can always change the price of things. As mentioned before, vendors are aware you are not from the country and will overprice items.
Make your own breakfast
While I encourage you to try many new foods, I also encourage you to buy some simple breakfast items and to make them at the hostel or Airbnb you stay at. The majority of the breakfasts are the same at any restaurant anyway.