Machu Picchu - Inka Flow!!

Inevitably, my first post has to be about PERU. For those of you who don't know , this is the place where I was born and raised most of my life. I go back every year but this last time I made it to the magical Inka city of Machu Picchu. Cuzco is not my home town but through out the years I've seen Machu Picchu  become a major tourist attraction (being named one of the 7 wonders of the world has helped). And let me tell you, very rightfully so! Things are more organized since I last visited (5 years ago). The city is very safe and you can have an incredible experience doing it  backpacker style or the luxurious way. In my last visit I stayed in a hostel for $10/night but there are many elegant resorts were you can have a superior holistic experience, yoga classes, detox cleanses and much more. Have you heard about Ayahuasca?

 

 

I'm a big hiking fanatic so I will absolutely recommend that you do the Inka trail. Go all out and do the 7 day trail - camp in the open - get in touch with your inner Inka! This will be the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises you'll ever see. The air is pure and crisp. The sound of nature will wispers in your ear as a you try to fall sleep. Simply BREATHTAKING. The mix of smells from all kinds of different flowers will accelerate your heart (oh yea, and also the alttitude). Drink/chew an excessive amount of coca leaves ( they do help). Prepare in advance if possible but most importantly meditate, breath and enjoy this magical experience. Take it all in.

Besides the absolute must do - Macchu Picchu - here are some other places I enjoyed and other tips you may find useful while visiting Cuzco:

Please note that I have friends who are locals so many times you will be introduced to new spots not catered just to tourists...

 

If you are an adventure seeker - besides the Inka Trail, you should make an appointment in advance , to climb up the Huayna Picchu. It's a shorter hike up the hill on top of the ruins but it gets pretty busy so I suggest you book this a few days in advance (depending on the season even over a week). And bring your passport so you can get a pretty cool stamp of the Inka city entrance on it. Also, if you have over a week in Cuzco (which you should) there is time to try zip lining ( this will take a full day), water rafting and exploring parts of the jungle. This two last activities can also be built into another 5 days camping in the wild (with a guide of course). In this area you will enjoy the freshest, most delicious fruits and you will have the opportunity to try  exotic foods (like monkeys and frogs). Prepare your palate!

 

Speaking of food - you absolutely have to try this place called "Limo cocina Peruana & Pisco Bar". It's located in "La Plaza de Armas" or main square. Go there for lunch, the view is fantastic and their selection of authentic dishes is generous. If you are feeling eager to learn something new then try the alpaca (I don't recommend it if you expect it to taste like steak). The seafood rice, quinoa risotto, causa and their unique sushi rolls were my favorite. The perfect supplement to this delicious meal would be a refreshing Cuzquena (the local beer) and/or their incomparable Pisco Sours.

If you are looking for the ultimate local spot - try el Mercado central de "San Pedro" . This flea/fresh market is located just 10 minutes away from the center (walking). Here you will find an infinite variety of local food, street snacks and incredibly cheap souvenirs. My absolute favorite is "choclo con queso"; for under $1 this magnificent corn is like something you never had before. Extremely healthy yet delicious the corn in this area is huge! Not sweet, not salty it's served with fresh local cheese which is the perfect complement for an unbelievable taste. You have to try it! Best value meal ever. It's the equivalent of a Mac Donald's run of the Inkas lol
If you are a fruit lover and you are looking for your smoothie fix; the San Pedro Market will offer you the lowest prices for the freshest local fruits like "tuna" - or prickly pear. It's healthy from the area and the best way to start your day.

 

 I'm not big into night life in Cuzco as you will need all of your energy to complete the physical activities that this trip entails. Many tours start super early in the morning and they last ALL day. But if you absolutely must get your groove on then I would recommend Mama Africa (the club to be). It's been around for ever, they play a good mix of music and it's pretty spacious. In my opinion, Cuzco offers a better variety of bars than clubs. Most of them start earlier and they have live bands (playing rock en espanol) or classics from all over the world. You can seat and play cards with someone from England  or start Karaoke with someone from Argentina. The mix of locals and foreigners give the bars in Cuzco a very interesting spice. Is hard to describe the vibe here but it's vey enjoyable. My favorite bar in the historic center was "The Cross Keys Pub" - it was like walking into a joint in London except you were in Cuzco. They have their regulars who seem to know every single one of their friendly staff. We spend our time playing drinking games, dancing to music and chatting with complete strangers. Cool experience for sure.

What can I tell you? This will be on of the best trips of your life. Give yourselves enough time to get accustomed to the altitude, explore the magnificent hiking/biking trails and wonder around the historic center. People that stay for under a week always claim they needed more time there. I have to agree with this statement. I'm already planning to come back to do all the extreme sports I didn't have time for. Your body will need a couple extra days to recover so you can fully enjoy this extraordinary destination.