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.

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.

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.

The Gaucho
A staple of Argentine history is that of the gaucho, the classic Argentine cowboy that endlessly roamed the plains and pampas. Gauchos are known for their honor, horsemanship, and traditions, and they are intricately familiar with the land and the animals. Today, gauchos still exist, although fewer in number than in the 1600s, and today’s gauchos still spend the majority of their day on horses roaming the countryside.

In the 1600s, gauchos were known for causing trouble, slaughtering cattle at their whim. Their fearless image also helped draw the attention of the government, which actually employed them instead of the army as a way of keeping order in the rural areas.

Estancias
The breathtaking Argentine countryside, known as the Pampas, remains the gaucho’s playground. Traditionally residing on estancias (gorgeous colonial ranches), the gaucho raised and produced the highest quality meat in the world. Today, meat is a national Argentina obsession and the country continues to generate some of the best meat globally.

Looking to live in a livable city?
Look no further. According to the 2010 World Ranking of Mercer’s Quality of Life, Buenos Aires ranks as the 78th most livable city in the world! Mercer’s Quality of Life index measures ten key categories, including: political, social, and economic environment, medical and health considerations, public services, transport, housing, recreation, education, and ecological quality (waste removal, water availability and cleanliness, etc.). Vienna, Italy takes the number one ranking.

So, when you book your trip to Argentina, make sure to delegate ample time to get to know Buenos Aires and its culture. You never know, one day you may want to live in such an amazing city!

For those traveling to Argentina, a visit to the Cuyo region is a must. Argentina’s Cuyo region is known as the “wine region”, and it produces approximately 80% of all of the country’s wines. Its diverse scenery and lovely, sunny weather characterizes it from other Argentine regions. The surrounding views of snow-capped mountains perfectly accompany a glass of Merlot and carne asada day or night.

In addition to its world-renowned wines, its landscape is breathtaking. From beautiful, green flat land to the ridged Andes Mountains, this region possesses a diverse countryside giving you the opportunity to plan numerous outdoor activities and excursions. Hike the challenging Aconcagua Mountain, ski the mountain slopes of Las Lenas and Los Penitentes, or finally partake in that paragliding or rafting adventure you have been dreaming about!

Visiting the wineries of Cuyo.

With over 100 bodegas open to tourists in Mendoza alone, most people book an organized tour (a bodega tour). However, renting a bicycle and visiting wineries on your own is also a popular alternative.

Bodega tours are typically done in small groups and consist of visiting various wineries. You will learn about each bodega’s wine making process, partake in wine tastings, and tour the vineyards on foot, horseback, or carriage. Tours can typically be tailored to the interests of the group, and to get you started on your bodega tour, here are three excellent wine making areas of the Cuyo region.

As a student, knowing what food will get you through your studies is essential. Perhaps you remember late nights slumped over a computer chowing down on a cold piece of pizza. Or, perhaps twinkies were more your style. Whatever was your handy side-kick, we all know that we probably would not have made it through high school, college, etc. without it.

In this series, we will discuss essential foods to help you through your Spanish language courses. The first is the oh-so-delicious Argentinean alfajor (pronounced ‘all-fah-hor’). Actually, alfajores are found in multiple Latin American countries, but Argentina’s alfajores are spectacular! No trip to Argentina would be complete without sinking your teeth into one (or twelve) of these sweets.

Picture this – two layers of sweet biscuits glued together by a rich layer of thick caramel sauce (called “dulce de leche”) then coated with chocolate. Mmmmm! There are many variations, and this is just one of them.

Argentinean wine is world-renown, and in particular, Mendoza stakes claim to being the reason for its recognition. Mendoza is known for its Malbec wines and is situated in a desert region, which means it gets more than 300 days of sun annually. It is also near the mountains, which protect the plants from the Pacific Ocean moisture. Thus, its climate is perfect for cultivating this type of grape.

Mendoza Malbec wines are full-bodied, rich red wines, which is ideal for pairing with fattier cuts of meat. Um – hello – can things get any more perfect?! Argentina is FAMOUS for its asadas and bife (grilled meats). If your mouth isn’t watering by now, well, you must not eat meat or drink wine.

The good news is that once you find yourself in Argentina, you can easily book a wine tour. Many wine schools offer such tours and excursions, and Monique van Dalen (Netherlands) did just that. She booked a tour with a wine school in Buenos Aires and she set out for a weekend to experience all that Mendoza had to offer. Here is her experience…

Peru is a country rich with fascinating history. Tales of the Incas continue to capture the imaginations of thousands, as hordes upon hordes of people travel from far and wide to explore the countless ruins of this ancient empire.

Peruvians are extremely proud of their ancestors, and you will undoubtedly learn a lot of intriguing information about Incan history during your time in Peru. Here are a few interesting facts to get you started…

Health Insurance:
Be well informed as to exactly what your health insurance covers for your trip here in Peru.
It is highly recommended that you choose a policy that covers emergency evacuation in case, for example, you react badly to the altitude and need to depart immediately.
Not all local travel agencies have good insurances, it is very important you have a good insurance from your home country.

Buses:
The Peruvian bus network covers almost every destination in the country, with some exceptions in cities in the Amazon Rainforest. The fares vary depending on the level of comfort you wish to have, and also how direct the route is. One of the best most reputable bus companies in Peru is “Cruz Del Sur”.