Peru was the first South American destination I have had the opportunity to explore.My mother, sister, and I booked a Peruvian expedition girls vacation with the goal to hike Machu Picchu. During our time in Peru, we explored the cities of Pisac, Cusco, and Lima. After several flights from Boston, we finally arrived in Pisac, where we took a train into the Andes to see The Sacred Valley of the ancient Inca Empire. Known for its maize production and coca leaves, the Sacred Valley is the heart of the Incan Empire. In the valley, we watched local women weave gorgeous tapestries from yarn of every color, and were allowed to feed some of the alpacas!
After learning about the history of alpaca weaving and watching townspeople create beautiful works of art, we headed to the town Ollantaytambo for lunch. We settled in for the night at our hotel in Cusco, awaiting our 5:30 a.m. wake up call for hiking Machu Picchu.
Half way up Machu Picchu lies the abandoned Incan city. The area is accessible by bus, shuttling in thousands of tourists each day to explore the ancient citadel. Named one of the 7 Wonders of the World, this symbol of the Incan Empire was built around 1450 – and remains to this day about 75% original infrastructure. It is one of the most well preserved archaeological sites of its time. When the Spanish invaded Peru in the 15th century, they destroyed most of what was already built – tearing down Incan construction and building Catholic Churches in its place. There is evidence that the Incans, as they abandoned the lost mountain city, buried or hid some of the paths so that the Spanish would never find it.
We spent a few hours wandering through the ancient remains, and hanging out with more alpacas, it was time to begin hiking. In order to hike to the top of the mountain, you need to purchase a ticket in advance. Only 400 hikers are allowed onto the trails each day- and the hiker must be on the path before 11:00 a.m. If the stair-master is your choice of cardio, then hiking Machu Picchu is the activity for you. At no point of the hike does the path even out to flat ground. The journey took my sister and I an hour and a half to reach the peak, and an hour to get back to the ground.
Tips for Hiking:
- – BE IN SHAPE. Seems obvious, but really: this hike is not for the faint of heart. The elevation difference can seriously affect people who are not used to it! If you have any medical conditions, are pregnant, or even have a swollen ankle- the trek up Machu Picchu is not for you. My sister and I are early 20’s, in perfect health and great shape and the overall trip took us 2.5 hours with many stops with an oxygen tank.
- – Bring plenty of water and a snack for the top of the mountain.
- – Wear comfortable, breathable, athletic clothing.
- *The peak of Machu Picchu mountain closes at noon, so all people must be off the mountain top by 1:30 for weather purposes, so make sure to start out early.*
- – Become acclimated to the elevation difference. The lost city sits at 7,000 ft high. No matter how in-shape you are, you will feel a difference in the air.
When you’re finished hiking, head into town for some well deserved refreshments. You earned it! A drink I frequently ordered, the infamous Pisco Sour, is the signature drink of Peru. A Peruvian version of the Whiskey Sour, the modernized drink was created in the 1920s- adding Angostura bitters and egg white to the recipe.
INGREDIENTS:
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 tablespoon pasteurized egg white
- 2 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste
- 1/4 cup crushed ice
- 2 ounces Peruvian pisco (1/4 cup)
- Angostura bitters
In my opinion, the drink tastes exactly like a classic Whiskey Sour, but you get a little flair. Overall- definitely a must-try when traveling in Peru!
Obviously, I ordered pizza! As someone who has never been exposed to Southern American cultures, and unfortunately has a very sensitive stomach, I struggled with eating Peruvian food. Many dishes feature ingredients I would never order on a typical day; such as the purple dates shown on the pizza. When vacationing in Peru, be ready to try a variety of new foods. They all smell incredible!
