Peruse Peru

We’ve had many travelers ask about Peru, we’ve posted on hiking and this is a reminder that if you have hiking Machu Picchu on your list of must go to locations, advance planning is essential. If you are content to ride the luxurious train to the Sacred Valley, planning is also important, but not as critical as reserving the trekking passes.

HIR-05Here are a few notes on traveling to Peru/Machu Picchu.  We recommend a marvelous collection of hotels in Peru, as well as the luxurious Hiram Bingham train which runs from Cusco Poroy Station to Aguas Caliente at the base of Machu Picchu. Full guiding and reservations are offered.

In particular, we have seen an increase in families traveling to Peru to share the amazing experience of Machu Picchu but also discovering many other family-fun activities along the way.  Primarily, in the Sacred Valley, there are many great options for families including hiking, horse back riding, ATV riding, fishing, and rafting.

Arrival into Lima from USA/International – 1 or 2 nights. Stay at one of our favorite hotels, the Belmond Miraflores Park (there is a great culinary scene in Lima so worth spending a night or two). Take some time to explore the city: from museums, galleries and archaeological sites to its colorful markets and cutting-edge restaurants. RSG-EXT-09Morning flight to Cusco and transfer to the Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado – where the altitude is about 9,500 feet.  Overnight 1 or 2 nights.  Located  in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, among verdant fields and towering mountains, lies Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado. Set on the banks of the rushing Urubamba River, this luxury hotel is built of natural materials to resemble an authentic Andean village.  Situated at a lower altitude than nearby Cusco, the hotel provides the perfect environment in which to acclimatize, and is an ideal base to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Savor fresh produce in the restaurant, enjoy a local Sacred Valley massage or spend a few soothing minutes feeding the hotel’s baby alpacas. Slip into the spirit of Peruvian life.

Midday, board the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Caliente/Machu Picchu – Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude at around 8,000 feet. Overnight 1 or 2 nights at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. The hotel is the only property adjacent to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It offers its guests exceptionally easy access from early morning to late afternoon, when most of the day visitors and buses have left.

Relax on the delightful terrace and revel in the exotic Peruvian cuisine prepared with produce grown in the Lodge’s own garden plot; this delightful hideaway is the ultimate place to de-stress and unwind in the shadow of the Lost City.  The magnificent gardens at the Lodge boast stunning views across Machu Picchu, are teeming with a near-countless variety of flowers and birds that populate the region.

Evening return to Cusco on the Belmond Hiram Bingham train – transfer from Poroy Station to the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco. Overnight 1-2 nights.  Note that Palacio Nazarenas has oxygen pumped into all rooms through the ventilation system to help with the altitude adjustment.  In Cusco, you are at 11,000 feet and this additional oxygen really helps the body to adjust.  Set in a tranquil plaza behind Cusco’s main square, this former palace and convent emerged from years of restoration to become one of the city’s most exclusive hotels.NAZ-EXT-008This intimate urban retreat has just 55 suites, each enriched with oxygen and with its own private bar where guests can create drinks accented with fresh ingredients grown at and around the hotel.

Step past walls of Inca stones and into a cloistered courtyard with an ancient fountain at its heart. Then be surprised as contemporary Cusco comes to the fore: the Trainulous spa, the city’s first outdoor pool and stylish restaurants serving cutting-edge local cuisine.

By starting your time in the Sacred Valley, where it is a bit easier to acclimate, then going to Cusco at the end, the body is better able to handle the 11,000+ feet of the Cusco area.

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
Peru is a large country with many climates which is why it would be difficult to define a good time to visit several places. However, we believe that the best season is from June to September. For the tour to Machu Picchu, the warmest time is from November to March but also corresponds to the rainy season. We think it is nice to have a sunny day but cold instead of a hot day but rainy. That is why it is preferable between April and October. Rain and fog is possible, but you have the best possibility to appreciate all its beauty at the fullest. Machu Picchu is open every day of the year (7 days a week, including holidays).

If you want to have the opportunity of see a glimpse of one of the Seven Wonders of the World as it is in the photographs, then you will have to travel during the dry season. You will be able to see all the variety of green areas and orchids in its all splendor.

The busiest time runs from June to August. In this period of the year there are crowds of tourists making it a little harder to move around in some parts of the Sanctuary, even large lines are formed at the entrance. Most of the travelers choose the hardest, and at the same time, the most exciting path to get to Machu Picchu by the Inca Trail hike.

The rainy season is from November to March. At this time rains almost a minimum of 3 days a week, and the Inca trail path is closed. February is excluded because the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.

April, November and December, a good balance between a warm temperature and a pleasant climate. May and October, offer a pleasant climate with fresh temperatures. The best time to trek is from April to October; however it is possible for rain at any time of the year.

Lima Restaurants:

Central Always at the top of the foodie lists!  http://www.centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/default.html

Malabar http://malabar.com.pe/

Amaz run by Pedro Schiaffino, Malabar was his first restaurant, is ranked in the 100 of the world’s best restaurants and at Amaz he focuses entirely on Amazonian food. http://amaz.com.pe/

Astrid Y Gaston http://www.astridygaston.com/

Maido Fusion cuisine – Peruvian and Japanese cuisine is not a novel idea. In 1899, the first Japanese migrants sailed to Peru and soon created their first restaurants. http://www.maido.pe/en/

Sonia‘s http://www.restaurantsonia.com/en/index.php