Peru - Arequipa, Sacred Valley, Condor Crossing, Cusco, many ruins including Machu Picchu
In April a couple of years ago my wife, Debbie, and I spent three weeks in Peru. The first two weeks we were on our own and for the last week we joined an REI tour of the ruins and other sites from Cusco to Machu Picchu. (Highly recommended!) We landed in Lima, flew to Arequipa and stayed around there for a few days doing our own walking tours as well as a couple of short guided tours. Some say Arequipa is Peru's most beautiful city. We took a bus from there to Puno for a day tour of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands. (Hint: The folks there don't make the wares they sell.)
We then took a beautiful bus drive to Cusco but along the way we did a side tour of a fine hot springs and stopped for some delicious food in a very scenic farming area. Cusco is where we joined REI but we spent a couple of days wandering around on our own. Cusco is very interesting and as was all of Peru, it felt truly like another world. There are many photos here but if you're thinking of seeing Peru you might get some ideas of where to go beyond Machu Picchu.
In April a couple of years ago my wife, Debbie, and I spent three weeks in Peru. The first two weeks we were on our own and for the last week we joined an REI tour of the ruins and other sites from Cusco to Machu Picchu. (Highly recommended!) We landed in Lima, flew to Arequipa and stayed around there for a few days doing our own walking tours as well as a couple of short guided tours. Some say Arequipa is Peru's most beautiful city. We took a bus from there to Puno for a day tour of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands. (Hint: The folks there don't make the wares they sell.)
We then took a beautiful bus drive to Cusco but along the way we did a side tour of a fine hot springs and stopped for some delicious food in a very scenic farming area. Cusco is where we joined REI but we spent a couple of days wandering around on our own. Cusco is very interesting and as was all of Peru, it felt truly like another world. There are many photos here but if you're thinking of seeing Peru you might get some ideas of where to go beyond Machu Picchu.