What is the first thing you think about when you hear “Peru”? Machu Picchu might be the cherry on the cake but the cake itself is big and tasty. So, how about a taste of southern Peru? A bit of coastal, highland, and jungle beauty, along with culture and history.
Let’s start with the capital. Its location beside the Pacific Ocean and pleasant weather made “the city of the Kings” the center of the Viceroyalty. The downtown is an exquisite gallery of the different architectural styles used over the years, well deserving the UNESCO title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The modern area boasts the most romantic view and fresh seafood courtesy of the ocean. What better place to try our national dish, ceviche, and toast to a great trip with the Peruvian cocktail, Pisco sour!
A short flight will take us to Arequipa. Its location at 2400 meters above sea level will help us acclimatize to the altitude, as we wander around its bright historical center where we can also get high-quality alpaca garments. No better souvenir!
In the next two days, we will enjoy the countryside atmosphere of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. A beautiful valley, picturesque towns, volcanoes, plateaus inhabited by Andean camelids, and the majestic condors, the largest flying birds in the world.
Having climbed to 4910 meters of elevation, we now start descending via pampas, villages, and flamingo-colored lagoons towards our next destination, the city of Puno. Here, the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, will fascinate us with the unique lifestyle of its islanders.
After a couple of days in Puno, we continue our journey, driving by impressive vistas of snow-capped mountains and archeological sites to finally reach the vibrant city of Cusco, the capital of the great Incan Empire.
Besides the historical treasures of the city, we will discover the beauty of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Urubamba river runs through here, beside mountains, archeological sites, traditional towns, and the railways of the train that will take us to Machu Picchu town.
Back down at 2000 meters above sea level, this charming cloud forest town is only a 30-minute bus ride from the world-famous citadel. As the prime example of Incan architecture and engineering, Machu Picchu will take your breath away.
Returning to Cusco, we will visit an alpaca farm and learn about the Andean camelids and ancestral weaving techniques. This is a good place to get the famous traditional handmade textiles!
Having absorbed the energy of Cusco, we now leave the dry highlands behind to take another short flight to the hot and humid Amazon rainforest at Puerto Maldonado. Three days of adventure, wildlife watching, jungle treks, boat rides, mysterious sunsets, and the most peaceful nights in the middle of nowhere will be the perfect ending to your trip.
Even though this southern portion of the country is only half the cake, I promise it will be a two-week trip full of memorable experiences.
Sincerely yours,
Travelizima