Bienvenido a Perú
After a long journey from our home in Maui we made it to Peru. Our first time visiting South America together and we were so excited. This trip was with Ang’s family celebrating her sister’s 40th birthday. Traveling with family is so special and we couldn’t wait to explore a new country with our loved ones.
Sacred Valley
We unfortunately had to skip Lima on this trip and flew instead directly into Cusco. Flying from Maui to Cusco was a journey but was worth it when we arrived to our first destination and saw Ang’s family waiting for us.
Mountain View Experience
Our first night in Peru was at the beautiful Mountain View Experience property in the Sacred Valley. About an hour drive from Cusco is this gorgeous hotel which has individual yurts you stay in and llamas that roam the property. There is a stunning restaurant and bar that serves traditional Peruvian food and the staff was lovely. Sitting up on a hill the whole property has sweeping views of Peru’s Sacred Valley. This was one of the most unique hotel’s we’ve ever stayed at and was the perfect first stop on our Peruvian adventure.
The yurts that you stay in at this property are stunning! They have cozy beds with indoor and outdoor fireplaces and private hot tubs with beautiful views of the Sacred Valley.
One of the things Mountain View Experience is famous for is it’s llama hot tub experiences, where you can soak in your private hot tub, take in the view and feed the llamas that live on the property. Such a once in a lifetime experience!
We had the most wonderful time at Mountain View Experience. The next morning we got to ride horses in the Sacred Valley and it was so much fun! This property really lives up to it’s name because it’s more than a hotel it really is an experience. Perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to connect with the beauty of Peru, Mountain View Experience is the kind of place that creates unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
Ollantaytambo
The next stop on our trip was the small village of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is one of the most charming little towns in Peru, tucked into the Sacred Valley along the Urubamba River and surrounded by stunning mountains. It's best known for its incredible Inca ruins, which are perched on the hillside above town. It has beautiful cobblestone streets decorated with flags and colors with the water from the river flowing through small stone canals through the town. The town still has its original Inca layout, with narrow stone streets, adobe buildings, and so much history! We stayed here for 3 nights which was so nice, we got to relax and enjoy the town at a slower pace.
El Albergue Ollantaytambo
We absolutely loved staying at this family owned Boutique Hotel, El Alburgue. Located in the Ollantaytambo train station this hotel has beautifully designed rooms and ours even came with views of the Inca Ruins. We loved eating breakfast and watching the trains go by.
Favorites in Ollantaytambo
We are glad we had a few days to enjoy this beautiful small village. Ollantaytambo has some really great food options. Our favorite place was Chullpi Restaurant, where we had the best lomo saltado of the entire trip, which we ate while sipping on local craft beers.
For dinner one night we ate at Chuncho on the main plaza, they make delicious pisco sours and serve authentic Peruvian dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients, many which are grown in their own garden.
And one of our favorite hidden gems was Santuario, which we stumbled upon one evening and immediately loved for its cozy atmosphere, swing chairs, views of the ruins, great cocktails and firepit with music.
Ollantaytambo’s Inca ruins
Ollantaytambo’s Inca ruins are really incredible and one of those places that makes you stop and wonder how the Incas built something this massive without modern tools. You can see the ruins from anywhere in the town, the huge stone terraces that climb the mountainside. You can climb to the top of the ruins and see the ancient temples, stonework and incredible views over the Sacred Valley.
Pachamanca Experience at Hotel El Albergue
We also did the Pachamanca Experience at Hotel El Albergue, where a traditional Andean feast of meats, potatoes and fresh local vegetables was cooked underground in a stone-lined earth oven on their beautiful farm property. It was as much about the experience and setting as it was the food.
Machu Picchu
The Train to Aguas Calientes
From Ollantaytambo, we took the PeruRail train to Aguas Calientes, and the ride was an experience in itself! We had live music onboard as we passed towering mountains, lush green valleys, little villages and the Urubamba River rushing alongside us. The scenery gets more dramatic and changes to more of a jungle as you get closer to Machu Picchu. This train ride was an adventure and a great way to kick off your bucket list experience of visiting Machu Picchu.
Visiting Machu Picchu
We did it! We checked Machu Picchu off our bucket list. We secured our tickets far in advance and chose the 6:00am entry for Circuit 2, which takes you through the classic route and many of the most iconic parts of the ancient city. We also hired a guide at the entrance who accompanied us through the ruins. When we reached the classic viewpoint, it was raining and the entire mountain was completely socked in with clouds. We were SO disappointed. We had come all this way and couldn’t even see the famous view! Then, miraculously, about 30 minutes later, the clouds started to lift, and suddenly Machu Picchu appeared in front of us. It was one of those surreal travel moments that brought tears to all of our eyes. A moment we will never forget!
Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century and sits 8,000 feet above sea level, tucked into the mountains between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon rainforest. Circuit 2 is considered the classic route and takes you through the lower and upper terraces, the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, Intiwatana, Sacred Rock, the Water Mirrors and Temple of the Condor, giving you a really great overview of the ancient Inca city. If you pick one route and come in only one day this is a great circuit to choose.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
We stayed at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. The property is tucked into 12 acres of lush cloud forest, with winding stone paths, waterfalls, tropical greenery and beautiful whitewashed casitas scattered throughout the gardens. The pool is surrounded by vines and greenery, with hot-spring-style hot tubs that were perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring Machu Picchu. The hotel is a quick walk into town and to the bus station for Machu Picchu.
One of our favorite experiences was the lantern nature walk, which felt straight out of a dream. Our guide led us through the jungle by lantern light, stopping along the way to point out plants and wildlife and share stories about the surrounding ecosystem, before leading us to a beautiful waterfall. It was such a magical way to experience the jungle after dark and one of the most memorable parts of our stay.
Hiking Huayna Picchu
The next day, we decided to visit Machu Picchu again, this time to hike Huayna Picchu. You need the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Circuit 3 ticket for this hike, and it takes about 2 hours round trip. During this hike you will go up the mountain and up 500 steep ancient Inca stone steps. These steps are nicknamed “The Stairs of Death.”
Angela is pretty scared of heights, so there were a few moments where she was definitely nervous, especially with the steep drop-offs. But making it all the way to the top was SO rewarding. The view of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu gives you a completely different perspective of the ruins, surrounded by massive green mountains, and seeing it from above made every scary step completely worth it.
Cusco
Antigua Casona San Blas
After our time exploring Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, we took the train back to Ollantaytambo, then hopped into a private van for the drive back to Cusco. It ended up being the longest travel day of the trip, so we were very happy to finally arrive at our hotel, Antigua Casona San Blas. Located right in the heart of Cusco’s historic center, it was the perfect place to settle in and relax.
The hotel was beautiful and cozy, with gorgeous colonial-style architecture, comfortable rooms and a gorgeous courtyard. We especially loved the breakfast, which the perfect way to start the day. The location was also fantastic, putting us within easy walking distance of the Plaza de Armas, restaurants, shops and everything we wanted to see around Cusco. It was such a lovely home base for our last few nights.
Exploring Cusco
We spent our last days wandering around Cusco. We visited the Plaza de Armas, where we happened to catch a local parade with music and dancing. We wandered through the colorful San Blas neighborhood, winding our way uphill to Mirador de San Cristóbal for one of the best views over the city. We also explored Mercado San Blas, eating at the local food stalls.
We also visited the Museo de Arte Precolombino, which has an incredible collection of ancient Peruvian objects dating from around 1250 B.C. to 1532 A.D. We also stopped to see the famous Twelve-Angled Stone, a cool example of the precise Inca stonework that Cusco is known for right in the middle of town.
Favorite Food in Cusco
Cusco has an incredible food, coffee, and cocktail scene! This city is packed with hidden gems, and even after several days here, we felt like we only scratched the surface.
One of our favorite dinners was at Cicciolina, where the trout tiradito ended up being one of the best bites of the entire trip. We also loved Oculto, where we paired local natural wines with small plates for a fun dining experience. On our last night, we ate at Local, where their wood-fired pizzas hit the spot.
For lunch, Kusykay was a great find right off the main square, serving colorful, fresh, local dishes. And when it came to pisco, our favorite was at The Museum of Pisco, which offers a huge variety of flavors and tastings to try.
One of the coolest hidden gems we discovered was Xapiri Ground, a coffee shop & art gallery that was one of our favorite finds in the city.
There are so many amazing restaurants, bars, cafes, and local spots throughout Cusco. We’ll definitely be coming back one day to eat more delicious food here!
We had the most wonderful bucket-list trip to Peru! It was so special being able to visit one of the wonders of the world as a family. Memories we will never forget!
