Most people I’ve met through my Spanish language school AMAUTA are travellers. They come to Buenos Aires, mostly at the start of their journey, to learn or improve their Spanish and after a few weeks they move on to explore other parts of Argentina and some even the rest of Latin America.
I am more of a go-to-somewhere-new-and-hang-out-there-for-a-while kind of girl. I wanted to write my first book here and therefore I arranged for a place to stay for four months because whenever I travel, I get distracted and distraction was not what I thought I needed.
But being among travellers does something to you. It has to do with the remarkable stories, splendid facebook pictures and the sparkle in their eyes when they talk about their adventures. Some of my friends went on extended weekends to the Iguazu waterfalls and/or Uruguay during their time at Amauta and came back beaming. ‘I am here to stay’, I thought at first. ‘No need to leave and get all worked up about a World Heritage Site (Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay) or the most magnificent cascades of the southern hemisphere.’ But it didn’t last. I succumbed. ‘A trip or two won’t harm me’, I told myself when I booked my trip to Iguazu. And of course it didn’t.
Cusco is often called the “Navel of the World”; at least it was to the Inca’s, who made it their capital from where the four regions of their empire stretched for 1000 of miles. Richard Nisbet, an expat, author and Cusco connoisseur also calls it his home. Ever since he first visited Cusco back in 1975 he has been in an ongoing love affair with this extraordinary city. Nowadays, he only returns to the United States to visit family and friends from time to time.
Recently he wrote a book, ‘Cusco Tales’, which narrates his life story and adventures in this magical city that never seems to stop surprising you. You can purchase his book online on Amazon.com or over the counter at Paddy’s Pub, Jack’s Café, the Santa Catalina bookshop or the South American Explorers’ Club, all located in Cusco.
I started the interview by asking Richard about his Cusco favorites, and he didn’t hesitate enthusiastically share his recommendations. His new favorite restaurant is Limo, with some outstanding if unusual Peruvian – Japanese fusion meals overlooking the main Plaza de Armas. His favorite bar is Paddy’s Pub (good chance you will find him there if you like to have a chat). As for pizzerias, his pick is Mayupata in the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo, which is also his favorite nearby city escape. Another destination he likes is Tipon, home to an archeological site where the Inca’s worshipped the water abundant in this National Park.
Everyone who visits Peru will soon be faced with the opportunity to sample one of Peru’s most controversial Andean delicacies (at least to tourists), the notorious guinea pig known as ‘Cuy’.
The exact history of the guinea pig as an important dietary source has been hard to decipher, perhaps due to the small size of their bones, but some archaeologists claim that domestication of these small rodents may have begun as early as 10,000 BC in the Altiplano region of Southern Peru.
Apparently, cuy are very adaptable to their environment though highly vulnerable to drastic changes in climate. This probably is the reason that they particularly enjoy the comforts of living indoors, most often in the kitchen where they are given leftovers, although they prefer and thrive on alfalfa. Quite some families will have as many as 20 cuy and treat them much the same as chickens.
If you want to come and visit Latin America, for sure you are interested in ancient cultures, amazing nature and you also want to be a responsible Traveler that does not cause any harm.
Here are some tips; please follow the following guidelines both before and during your visit. By doing this you can be a responsible trekker and traveler!
- Prepare Beforehand:
- Interact with the Locals:
Start by learning about Latin America before you travel! Read up on the culture, traditions, religion, history and politics. This will give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive in the country and also help you dress and act accordingly. It’s also a good idea to buy a Spanish phrase book or take Spanish classes so that you can interact with the local people. This is a good website for Spanish Lessons all over LatinAmerica: www.studyspanishlatinamerica.com
Look for situations for cultural exchange. Getting to know the person sitting next to you on the local bus or the person cooking your food is often a rewarding experience for both people involved. It is also a great opportunity to practice your Spanish language skills! The local people in Latin America are especially friendly and open to getting to know travelers!
If you want to do the famous inca Trail in Peru, you need to know you have to book this between 2 – 4 month before arrival, according to the time of year. If you don’t, you are likely to discover that the Inca Trail Trek is completely sold out by the time you want to arrange the trek. Do NOT panic! Even though you cannot trek the Classic Inca Trail, there are still plenty of scenic and adventurous options for visiting Machu Picchu and doing some trekking. Here are the most popular alternatives to the Inca Trail Trek:
One option is to take the train to Machu Picchu! There are three different train services that run to Machu Picchu: the Backpacker Train, the Vistadome Train, and the Hiram Bingham Train. Each train service is priced differently to fit the budgets of different travelers. Train tours to Machu Picchu are usually one day tours, but can be combined with an extra night in Aguas Calientes if you want to spend more time visiting the ruins.
The Backpacker Train
This is the cheapest service but still a comfortable mode of travel to Machu Picchu.
The Vistadome Train
This is a faster and more comfortable way of getting to Machu Picchu. Each train carriage has enlarged side, front, and overhead windows providing panoramic views of the mountain terrain on all sides. This is also a more scenic way of getting to Machu Picchu.
The Hiram Bingham Train
This is a luxury train ride and is for those travelers who want to make the most out of their excursion to Machu Picchu. Breakfast, snacks, cocktails, and a lovely dinner with live music are served onboard this exquisite train. Enjoy an afternoon tea at the famous Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located at the entrance to the ruins. A professional guide will be with you during the whole trip, including the train journey. This is a luxurious, yet pricey way of getting to Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks of Latin America and takes you in 4 breathtaking days to the amazing Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, in Peru.
Unfortunately many people who visit Peru miss the opportunity to do this trek, because the booking rules are a bit complicated.
Not anymore for you with our Five Step Stress-Free guide.
Step 1: Decide which Inca Trail Trek is right for you. The Classic Inca Trail Trek lasts 4 days and 3 nights and the Short Inca Trail Trek lasts 2 days and 1 night. It is also important to note that this trek involves a lot less trekking and camping. Which trek do you have time for and how much trekking do you really feel like doing? For more alternative options read our article So the Inca Trail Trek is Sold Out… Now What?
Step 2: Check for availability. We recommend booking your Inca Trail Trek approximately three months in advance, especially for the high season (from June through August). This is also the dry season so the weather is nicer for trekking! The Inca Trail is closed during February for maintenance every year. You can only book the trek “ last minute” (this is about 6 weeks in advance), if you are booking for the very low season, which lasts from November through January. The Peruvian government limits the number of people, including trekkers, guides, porters, etc., that are allowed on the trail to 500 per day. To check the number of spaces available on any given day, visit the official Peruvian Ministry of Culture website: www.machupicchu.gob.pe or send an e-mail to us at infodosmanos@dosmanosperu.com. Inmportant: if the trail is sold out at one travel agency it is really sold out everywhere and there is no chance of booking with a different travel agency. Don’t waste your time contacting every travel agency in Cusco! It is also not possible to book your trek after another trekker has cancelled because individual passport numbers are used to book spaces on the trail.
Although Machu Picchu is the main attraction of Cusco and probably, of Peru, there are so many other interesting historical and cultural sights to see! In this blog a short list of some other things to do in Cusco before or after your visit to Machu Picchu.
The Cusco City Tour is a must for travelers with some time to spend in Cusco! This five hour tour starts in the center of Cusco at the impressive Colonial Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas that contains over 400 paintings from the Cusquenan School. After that the tour visits the Qoricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, which was a religious center for the Incas dedicated to the Sun. According to history, the walls of this temple were entirely covered with gold at one point. From here the tour travels by bus to visit the four ruins located less than 8 km from Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, famous for its enormous carved rocks, Q´enqo, and Tambomachay.
In Quechua, the local language of the Andean people, this name means Young Peak. The peak of Huayna Picchu, or Wayna Picchu, rises approximately 360 meters higher than that of Machu Picchu (Cusco, Peru), known as the lost city of the Incas, and takes approximately an hour to climb.
During the time of the Incas, there was a trail leading to the peak where there were temples and terraces. This is where the high priest and the virgins lived. This high priest would climb down Huayna Picchu every morning before sunrise in order to reach Machu Picchu in time to welcome the new day.
You can really feel the magic of the ancient Inca civilization that fills this space when you finally reach the top of Huayna Picchu and gaze down over the Machu Picchu ruins.
If you have booked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, chances are you have been preparing somehow for your trip to Peru. Travel takes some preparation and we want you to be perfectly prepared for your Inca Trail trek!
Here are our eleven essential items to pack for the Inca Trail:
- Backpack: This might seem obvious, but it is so important to have a good backpack for this trek. You want something that is small, but big enough to fit everything you need. It should also be comfortable and fit your body correctly. If you do not have a backpack already there are plenty of shops selling them and other trekking gear right here in Cusco!
- Passport: You will need this to get into the ruins when you finally reach Machu Picchu. You also need to bring your International Student Identity Card (ISIC) if you have one for the student discount. Make sure to bring the originals of these documents because copies are not accepted and you DO NOT want to miss out on Machu Picchu after trekking all that way.
- Hiking Shoes and Clothes: You definitely want to pack some sturdy hiking shoes. We recommend boots. You also want a variety of clothes, but especially warm ones because it can get very cold camping in the mountains at night. We recommend packing a sweater, fleece, and jacket and extra socks are a must! Always dress in layers because the weather is constantly changing.
The majestic town of Tigre is located on the Parana Delta only 28km north of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina and it is easily accessible by both train and bus. This scenic town, which was founded in 1820, actually sits on an island! The name Tigre is a result of the jaguars, which were hunted in this same area in the very beginning of the town’s history.
The town was founded and settled by European farmers and quickly became a lively port town, specializing in the transportation of fruit and wood up and down the Parana River.
Nowadays, Tigre is known for being a naturally beautiful resort town, which has a lot to offer tourists who are interested in sightseeing and shopping! Tourists can choose to tour the rivers and streams of the Parana Delta by motorboat or commuter launch.
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