Just go, C!
I'm Charity, a proud auntie, wine lover, semi-nerd, and dreamer who can't stay in one place for too long.
Peru - what a country!! I'm wrapping up my last few days in Peru hanging out in Cusco. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it, but mostly I am supremely grateful that I had the opportunity to explore as much of this country as I did. I still feel like I barely scratched the surface, but the rest will have to wait for another time. I thought I would share an overview of the places I visited while I was here, and summarize my thoughts on the last several months. And, I want to share what's next for me. First Stop: Trujillo Trujillo was my introduction to Peru. As I'd mentioned in my post about Lima, I didn't jive too well with Trujillo. I felt like the energy was really low and the place was fairly run-down. Now that I've had the chance to visit other places in Peru, my opinion of the city has lightened somewhat, but it's still not a place I'd jump at the chance to return to. That being said, one thing I really enjoyed about Trujillo was the access to the archeological sites nearby. The ancient city of Chan Chan is a must-see if you were to visit which gave a glimpse into the powerful civilizations that preceded the Incas. I also enjoyed Huaca de la Luna and Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Moon and Sun, respectively). There are also some really good historical museums worth visiting in Trujillo. All in all, I'd say if you wanted to add Trujillo to your itinerary for the history lessons (which I would certainly encourage one to do), then 2-3 days would likely be sufficient. You could see everything worth seeing within that timeframe. Six weeks was a little much for me. Another plus about staying in Trujillo was that it was a fairly short distance to one of my favorite cities in Peru - Cajamarca. There is also a ton of history to be seen in Cajamarca, and it's higher up in the Andean high plains, so it's prettier, too. And, the colonial architecture is certainly worth admiring. Next Stop: Lima I wrote a full blog post on Lima so I won't spend a lot of time delving into it here, but Lima totally surprised me how much I ended up really enjoying it. There is something there to do for everyone. It's a great mix of archeology, fantastic museums, world-class food, and modern comforts. I'd recommend at least a week in Lima as there are tons of things to see and do, but if you've only got a few days, my blog post about Lima gives you some suggested itineraries. I'd highly recommend that you visit while you're in Peru! Next Stop: Arequipa Personally, I think Arequipa is a little underrated when it comes to where tourists tend to visit in Peru. I understand most people have a limited span of time in the country and most of that time is spent probably in Cusco, Machu Picchu, and maybe a tiny bit in Lima, but if you have some extra time in your itinerary, it's worth putting Arequipa on your list. One thing I love about the city is that it's flanked by 3 major volcanoes, with Misti being the grandest. I was there during rainy season so I didn't get to see them as often as I would have liked, but when I did get to see them, it was completely jaw-dropping. Arequipa's Plaza de Armas is one of my favorites, 2nd maybe to Lima's. The main cathedral in all its gothic glory stands tall in the plaza and commands your attention. My favorite touristic site in the city was the Santa Catalina Monastery which is basically like a small city within a city. It's really beautiful inside with plenty of Insta-photo worthy opportunities around every corner! I'd recommend booking a tour around the city if you visit, as it usually takes you to the hot spots within a day. You could probably do fine by spending 2-3 days within this city, as well. Next Stop: Puno and Lake Titicaca I definitely struggled for a couple of days in Puno because of the high altitude (it's about 12,500 ft) but once I had a couple of days to adjust, I very much enjoyed my time in this city. Puno is actually much larger than I thought it would be. It's a significant city to Peruvians who call it the "folkloric capital" of Peru. I had the fortune of being there during Carnaval season, so every day there was a parade that happened around the Plaza de Armas. It was a great way to get a sense of the local customs and traditions. And the main reason why people usually come to Puno is for Lake Titicaca, and I'll assure you that it does not disappoint. It is officially the highest navigable body of water. There are tons of tour companies that operate along the lake, so you'll have no shortage of choices, and you really don't even need to book anything in advance - wait until you arrive and decide what you want to do. I did a tour to the Uros Islands which I loved, and also a tour to Taquile Island, which was pretty magical. The area actually reminds me a lot of the Mediterranean. And again, there were some celebrations going on for Carnaval so it was a treat to be there for that. If you add Puno to your itinerary and you have a limited amount of time, again, 2-3 days should be enough to cover the popular tourist things-to-do. Just make sure you plan for the high altitude if you haven't been to any of the other high-elevation cities in Peru! Final Stop: Cusco Most tourists in Peru come for Machu Picchu and stay in Cusco, so you will definitely be in good company should you decide to make the trip. The city is very popular with both tourists and expats because of the availability of all our creature comforts. Even spending a full month in Cusco, I feel like I have only discovered a sliver of what there is to see and do here. You can always find something to do. There are beautiful cathedrals, many of which are open for tours, but most of them don't allow photos inside so please be mindful of that. Also, you are spoiled for choice in terms of the archeological sites that are nearby. I would recommend buying a tourist ticket from the office of tourism near the main square which is good for 10 days (assuming you'll be here that long) and find a tour or two that visits those locations. Examples of Inca sites include Sacsayhuaman (pronounced kinda like "sexy woman" which is basically what I call it, anyway), Q'enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay. It also helps you get into attractions that are outside of Cusco but still very much worth seeing like Korikancha, the ruins at Pisac, and the ruins at Ollantaytambo. Pisac and Ollantaytambo are absolutely must-sees as far as I'm concerned. There are also lots of great restaurants and cafes for the foodies in the audience. One challenge is that the wifi is generally poor, but that seems to be the case throughout the country. Just something to keep in mind if you require strong wifi for work, etc. You can throw a rock anywhere and hit a tour agency, so you can be a bit selective about who you go through. Make sure to do your due diligence with research and if your Spanish isn't too hot, it's a good idea to make sure that the tour company offers guides who speak English. It will save you a lot of frustration, I assure you. One thing I will warn you about Cusco is that the shopping opportunities are PLENTIFUL and you will be tempted to buy ALL the things while you're here. I normally hate shopping, but here, I had to constantly remind myself that I wasn't made out of money and I needed to be a little more mindful of my spending habits. Despite that, I still had to purchase a 2nd suitcase solely for the purpose of dragging my Cusco haul back to the States. Don't say I didn't warn you! And then, of course, there is the granddaddy of them all: Machu Picchu. Looking back, I'm kinda glad that I basically saved Machu Picchu for the end of my time in Peru. I had the opportunity to learn a TON about Inca culture and history by visiting all of the other places in Peru, so I think it helped me to appreciate Machu Picchu even more. I would definitely recommend that if you only come to Peru for a short time, do yourself a favor and study up a bit, or watch some documentaries, about the Incas. I've been impressed with nearly everything I've learned about this civilization. I've also been impressed with the cultures that preceded them. Peru is extremely proud of its ancient heritage, and most Peruvians, especially in the Andean areas, still speak at least two langauages - Spanish and Quechua, which was the language of the Incas. I'm what the doctors would call "not in the best shape" so I opted to take a train to and from Machu Picchu, but eventually I'd like to do one of the 3-5 day treks to get there, either the Inca trail or the Salkantay trek. If you are in better shape than me (which isn't too difficult), then I'd definitely recommend that you opt for one of those treks. By all accounts I've read and seen from those who have completed the treks, it can be an inspiring, life-changing experience, with Machu Picchu just being the icing on the cake. While I might regret not being in better shape, I still thoroughly enjoyed the train ride I took to and from Aguas Calientes. I chose PeruRail's Vistadome option which gives nearly panoramic views of the Sacred Valley from its large windows. Definitely worth the little extra cost for the upgrade! I ended up getting a tour guide for Machu Picchu, but she only spoke Spanish so I missed out on a good chunk of what she told me, but I felt good supporting a local and it was a great opportunity to practice my Spanish (what little of it there is to practice). I don't think you necessarily need a tour guide, but I only say that if you plan to do research ahead of time into Machu Picchu and all of the things there are to see there. There are some incredibly important features that you wouldn't want to miss. It's great for taking pictures and all, but in my opinion, in order to fully appreciate it, you need to have a better understanding of the story (and theories) behind it, and all of the work that went into it. So now that I've tackled Peru, what's next for me?
I've decided to hang up my hiking boots for a while and I've secured an apartment near Ft. Worth, TX, to be near my sister and her family. I've been a nomad for a good 2 1/2 years now, so I am very proud of what I've accomplished and thrilled at how many places I've seen and people I've been able to meet during that time. It's a chapter of my life that I'll always be fond of and has undoubtedly changed me for the better. However, I feel that my priorities have shifted a bit and I've come to realize how important my family is to me, and how important human connections and relationships matter. Even someone who is as independent and often introverted as I am knows that I can't go through life completely on my own. I crave closeness, community, and camaraderie. I'm hoping to fill that void a bit when I return to the U.S. Don't get me wrong, traveling will still be a big part of my life. I've already got a couple trips in the works for later this year. What can I say? It's in my blood. I am just seeking a little more of a balance between being a nomad and being a good sister, auntie, and friend. With that, I want to thank every single one of you who has been reading my blog for the past 2.5 years and given me the support I've often needed to keep going. I hope I can one day return the favor to you. Thank you for following along on my adventures, and if you ever need a traveling buddy or just some advice, you know who to call!
4 Comments
Charity
4/8/2019 04:01:25 pm
Aww, thank you!! And yes, I should keep this updated with all my U.S. travels, too. I can't wait to bump into you again soon!! #jasonsok
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LaMuriel Lewis
3/24/2022 10:25:35 pm
Hi I love your pictures, it had to be fun, thanks for sharing.
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Charity
6/4/2022 04:51:41 pm
Thank you kindly for stopping by, Lamuriel!
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AuthorHi! I'm Charity. I'm from Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I quit my job in October 2016 to travel the world. Archives
June 2022
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