There are few places in the world that actually live up to the hype, and Machu Picchu is one of them. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Standing there, surrounded by misty mountains and ancient stonework, you instantly understand why it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Naturally, visiting Machu Picchu was a top priority during…
Huacachina is one of the most unique places in Peru and that’s saying a lot considering this country is home to Machu Picchu, the Amazon, and the Andes. But Huacachina stands out. It’s the only natural desert oasis in all of South America, and the tiny village surrounded by huge sand dunes really does feel…
When I was planning out my 5 days in Cusco Peru before hiking Machu Picchu, I wasn’t totally sure how I wanted to spend my time—but Rainbow Mountain had been popping up on my Instagram feed for at least a year. The colors looked unreal, the alpacas were adorable, and honestly, the FOMO was setting…
Arequipa is, after Cusco, my favorite city in Peru. I really liked the colonial architecture, the great food and coffee scene, and overall just thought it was a super chill place to hang out for a few days. Most people come here for the adventures around it, especially the Colca Canyon, which I think is…
Let me say this right off the bat, if there’s one country where it really pays to do your packing research, I’d say it’s Peru. You’ve probably already got a rough idea of how rugged and diverse Peru is (and if you’ve read any of my other guides, you know it’s my #1 country to…
I’ve said this in pretty much every article I’ve ever written about Peru and I’ll say it again: Peru is my number one country to travel to. If anyone ever asks me, “What’s your favorite country?” or “Where should I go if I can only pick one place?” then I always say Peru. And here’s…
Before this most recent trip to Peru, Carae and I had already been to Cusco once before. On both visits—first in 2022 and then again in 2025—we made sure to stay at least a week, the first time almost two. That gave us plenty of time to explore different areas, try a ridiculous number of…
Cusco is probably—no, definitely—the city where I’ve had some of the best food of my life. And honestly, that shouldn’t be surprising. Peruvian food is next level and probably the best in South America (just look at Lima with all its Michelin-star restaurants). I ended up spending about three weeks in Cusco across two trips….
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve planned a trip, searched for itineraries, and found plenty of ideas—but none that fit exactly how I wanted to travel. Maybe it was too rushed, too slow, or just not my style. That’s why I’m putting together this Peru travel itinerary planner—not just a copy-paste itinerary, but…
One of my favorite colonial cities in Peru is Arequipa, but I’ve always felt like it gets way less attention than Cusco. Fair enough—Arequipa doesn’t have massive tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, the Sacred Valley, or Rainbow Mountain. But after spending over a week there, I can confidently say that Arequipa is…