Peru

February 2024
A 8-day adventure by Mary Kieran Gap Year Read more

List of countries

  • Peru
Categories
Bus, Couple, Culture, Hiking, Sightseeing, Wilderness
  • 1.0kkilometers traveled
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  • 7footprints
  • 8days
  • 88photos
  • 15likes
  • Day 1

    Day 35: Lake Titicaca & Bus to Peru

    February 14, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Maintaining our bad Valentines Day record (minus Norway, shout-out Laura) we mistakenly selected a 14 hour day bus to travel from La Paz, Bolivia into Cusco, Peru.

    We enjoyed seeing Lake Titicaca which is the highest freshwater lake in the world, and shared between both countries.

    For Valentines Day Dinner, we had lamb leg and potatoes from a bag where the driver stopped to let us go to the bathroom. Either way, wonderful day sightseeing, listening to Adventure zone, and talking about how terrible Stranger Things is. Happy Valentines Day to this sweet boi.

    Hotel: Hotel Valle Andino
    Restaurant: Kankacho Ayavireño

    Food:
    Lamb Leg
    Potatoes
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  • Day 2

    Day 36: Saqsaywaman Park, Cusco

    February 15, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    We started the day perusing central Cusco and enjoying the local architecture. Made our way up to the ancient Incan city of Saqsaywaman and saw several ruins, llamas, and spiders.

    You can’t visit Peru without having Pollo a La Brasa (Peruvian Chicken); Kieran gained the attention of locals when he exclaimed, “fuck me” after a bite of the chicken wing. He said he can never go back to eating Peruvian Chicken in America.

    We ended the day bussing and training to Aguas Calientes for the next modern wonder of the world…

    Hostel: Paititi Classic
    Restaurant: Los Toldos Pollos

    Food:
    Trout Ceviche
    Peruvian Chicken
    Inka Cola

    Spots:
    Cuzco Main Square
    Sapantiana Aqueduct
    Saqsaywaman
    San Pedro Central Market
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  • Day 3

    Day 37: Machu Picchu

    February 16, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Very special day at one of New 7 Wonders of the World Machu Picchu!

    We woke up at 5:30 for our entrance time at 7am. With it being the rainy season, there was a chance that the fog and rain clouds wouldn’t clear. We didn’t get to see the epic and most famous shot at altitude, but our guide Ramiro we met on the street walked us down the ruins and beat the the crowd.

    We then hiked down from the park on the Camino Peatonal Trail and enjoyed empanadas, beer, and the Inca Museum. After walking back to Aguas Calientes, we took a long nap.

    For dinner, found an amazing craft brew house that makes beer in Aguas Calientes and made the first Sour Beer in Peru. We finally tried alpaca and guinea pig and claimed today as true Valentines Day.

    Restaurant: Mapacho’s Craft Beer and Restaurant

    Food:
    Alpaca Loin steak
    Fried Guinea Pig (delicious)
    Empanadas

    Spots:
    Machu Picchu
    Aguas Calientes
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  • Day 4

    Day 38: Vilma’s Mansion

    February 17, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    We had a relaxing Saturday taking the train back from Aguas Calientes to Cusco. The train takes you through more Inca ruins and a hydro electrical damn that cleans the water for the local villages.

    Once in Cusco, we headed to our host Vilma who owns a beautiful mansion that is quietly hidden behind a gate in a super busy intersection. She loves hosting since her kids graduated and was the sweetest person. We got some delicious wood oven pizza and watched two fútbol teams from Cusco duke it out on the tv with Vilma’s husband. His team got two red cards and lost the game unfortunately!

    Homestay: Residential Bell Maison
    Restaurant: Donatelo Pizzeria
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  • Day 5

    Day 39: Lima Miraflores Neighborhood

    February 18, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    We flew from Cusco to Lima, Peru’s major city and capital. Similar to San Diego, Lima has a beautiful Pacific coastline, warm sunny weather, and desert vibes.

    We loved the street art, viewing the ocean from the cliffs, and visiting Kennedy Park which is a park for stray cats. We ended the night with delicious ceviche and seafood.

    One struggle is our hostel room has no air conditioning and on a major street so sleeping pills it was!

    Hostel: Selina Miraflores Lima & Coworker
    Restaurant: Barra Maretazo

    Food:
    Pisco Sour
    Mixed Ceviche
    Chilcano de Pescado
    Arroz con Pollo

    Spots:
    Miraflores Neighborhood
    Kennedy Park
    Costa verde Miraflores
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  • Day 6

    Day 40: Lima Old Town

    February 19, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Today we started our adventure with an argument on blinds and heat transfer vs ventilation and blocking airflow. In the end, the correct answer was we needed to keep our blinds shut all day AND get a fan for the bedroom if we wanted to sleep better.

    Once that was settled, we attended a free walking tour of Lima old town and enjoyed buildings from the golden, colonial, and modern era. We learned a lot about how much Peru hates Chile and how many Peruvian statues, artifacts, and naval ships have been stolen by Chile.

    We also learned that many Chinese immigrants came to Peru and how there are Chinese Peruvian fusion restaurants called Chifa. On our walking tour, we met Carolina from Spain and spent the rest of the evening sitting in a park with her and walking down town. Eventually we hit a Chifa restaurant and enjoyed the fusion food.

    Also Mary finally found tomato juice, which hasn’t been located since Santiago.

    Restaurant: Wa Lok
    Food:
    Pollo Chijaukay
    Arroz con Especial
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  • Day 7

    Day 41: Beach Day

    February 20, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Last full day in Lima we enjoyed the local beach. The waves were super high and the spot is known for its surfing; there is no sand so just smooth rocks.

    Kieran got a bit burnt, but he will survive. Took a big nap and then ended the evening with more ceviche, soup, beer, and a bag of chocolate milk.Read more