Peru

I have to admit I never gave Peru much thought to explore, my only desire was seeing Machu Picchu, which was high on my list of must see places.  Frankly, I was unprepared with how beautiful and magnificent Peru is.  The culture of Peru is by far one of the most diverse in South America.  Thanks to the Andes mountains to the West and the Amazon River, Peruvians have been successful at preserving the culture of Peru for thousands of years.  Even after the invasion by the Spanish Conquistadors, the ancient culture of Peru is still prominent today.

Peru has an interesting blend of both Inca and Spanish influences with it's art.  Music within Peru dates back literally thousands of years, preserved by the local community, and the sounds are just magical.  The culture of Peru is also diverse in the way of festivities.  Peru celebrates many festivities a year, most of which are related to the Christian religion that was brought over by the Spanish Conquistadors, however, some ancient Inca celebrations are also still practiced.  This blend of Christianity and the ancient beliefs are yet another example of the diversity of Peru.

First stop, Lima.  The architecture in Lima is stunning.  When coming here you must see Plaza de Armas.  Once considered the heart of old Lima, this grand plaza features many important architectural monuments and buildings including a magnificent bronze fountain dating from 1650, the Archbishop's Palace and the Government Palace dating from 1924.  Another place to see is Miraflores, it is one of the top tourist districts of Lima.  The main hotels in this beautiful city are located by the Pacific ocean.  Miraflores offers several amenities such as fine cuisine, fast food, casinos, handcrafts, antiques flea markets, cinemas, and much more.  If like to shop you must go to Larcomar area, which is a mall that overlooks the ocean, offering a relaxing sunset.

Of course one comes to Peru for Machu Picchu.  So next stop, Cusco.  I loved it here.  One of the best cities I have ever been too.  Beauty balanced with charm in this almost fairy tale like town.  Machu Picchu left me breathless and in awe.  I was astound by the sites and history.  In Cusco you will find a wide range of different tourist services such as hotels, restaurants, handicraft centers, bars and anything you want.  Cusco is quite charming so spend a few nights here, you will not regret it.  Cusco was much more enjoyable compared to Lima, just my opinion and I think you will agree also.

The way to get to Machu Picchu is by train from Cusco.  The journey last about 4 hours until you reach Aguas Calientes, this is where you depart and have to take a bus that will take you to Machu Picchu, the addition ride is another 20 minutes.   After sites seeing in Machu Picchu make some time to relax in Aguas Calientes before heading back.  This is a lovely town with lots of outdoor vendors and restaurants.

When going to Machu Picchu book your train ticket and your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu in advance.  They sell out fast during high-peak season.  I went right before the high-peak season so I had no worries, but even at that, it was selling out fast, both train and entrance.  Don’t take a chance, book it way before you leave on your trip to avoid the disappointment of coming to Peru and not seeing Machu Picchu.  Book your rail thru Peru Rail at www.perurail.com and your Machu Picchu tickets at the official site at http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/.  I hope this helps your planning to visit Peru.  Enjoy the ride :-)))