I must admit, I tagged on Quito, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands onto this trip which took me over the edge in terms of 10 or less days out of office. I suppose I used 14 days because I carried over a bunch from my first 2 years at my old company. Regardless, this is a good itinerary to see a lot of Peru in a short amount of time. I just cut the trip off when I flew to Ecuador and my friend flew back to the US. So hey! It works 😉

This trip is a blast from the past in 2014. It was the first time I have ever gone abroad without a large group or family, first time I stayed in a hostel, and a gateway to all of the travel I have done today and plan to do.

Hopefully the Pariwana is just as amazing as it was back then, the tour company I used is still great, and the tips are still useful!

Days OOO: 7

Budget Style: Backpacker

Day 1: Travel to Lima

Washington DC (IAD) Wed, 24 Sep 2014, 10:10	Panama, Panama (PTY) Wed, 24 Sep 2014, 14:00	CM   357  Copa
Panama, Panama (PTY) Wed, 24 Sep 2014, 15:46	Lima, Peru (LIM) Wed, 24 Sep 2014, 19:18	CM   493  Copa

Accommodations: Pariwana Lima

Day 2: Explore Lima

Visit colonial center of Lima (Cathedral, Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco -catacombs, Plaza Mayor)

Sandwich from Sangucheria La Lucha

Night at Pariwana Lima

Day 3: Explore Lima

Explore Miraflores (Boardwalk El Parque del Amor), late lunch or early dinner at La Mar

Night at Pariwana Lima

Day 4: Travel to Cusco

Lima, Peru (LIM) Sat, 27 Sep 2014, 07:05

Cusco, Peru (CUZ) Sat, 27 Sep 2014, 08:25

LA2019 LAN

The historical center has everything you need within walking distance. Amazing architecture to explore.

Accommodations: Pariwana Cusco

Day 5: Explore Cusco

Go to the markets and stock up on Alpaca everything! Make sure you bargain.

We ate at a Chifa restaurant since it is so quintessentially Peruvian in experience. Yum!

Night at Pariwana Cusco

Day 6: Travel to Aguas Calientes

Day in Aguas Calientes – didn’t do to the springs because we heard they were a little gross. Walking around and having an Inca cola with a view was enough for us!

Night at Imperio Machu Picchu

http://www.greenperuadventures.com

Day 7: Machu Picchu

Make sure you get in line early enough to be on the first or second bus. Don’t forget to bring your passport to get stamped. Hiking up is cool but there is a holding area at the top that everyone stops at anyway. Enjoy the sunrise and llamas!

Night at Pariwana Cusco

Day 8: Travel to Lima

Cusco, Peru (CUZ) Wed, 01 Oct 2014, 14:50

Lima, Peru (LIM) Wed, 01 Oct 2014, 16:15

LA2030 LAN

Night at Pariwana Lima

Day 9: Travel home