The Peruvian Dream

Star Peru is the only discount airline with a ticket office in the Lima airport. The much more expensive LAN also has a ticket counter. TACA's office is in downtown Lima.

In retrospect, this is the most beautiful village in Peru. Cobblestone roads, well kept stone buildings, temples and ruins flanking both sides of the village, cute little shops, delicious restaurants. The guidebooks don't give it enough credit. The Ollantaytambo ruins cost quite a bit to visit, but the ruins on the other side of the town are free (so far). Great views of the sunset over Ollantaytambo from the free ruins. We arrived in Ollantay. in the afternoon, and left early the next day. We saw it all, but it would have been relaxing to spend more time there.

Tasty and affordable options for this vegetarian and for her omnivore friend. Sit on the patio in the plaza de armas. Kids, cats, and dogs come over for a visit. So do the artists. The profits go to children's programs in the region.

Like they say, it's cheaper to take the train from Ollantaytambo to get to Machu Picchu / Aguas Caliente. (We took a bus and a collectivo, from Cuzco through Urubamba, to get to Ollantaytambo.) From Ollantay you get to M.P. earlier and have a shot at getting in-line for tickets to climb Huayna Picchu. Share the ride with hundreds of groggy backpackers at 5 a.m.

You'll hear it's tourist hell. But it's tourist heaven when you've spent a long day in Machu Picchu and just need a place to sleep. Shop around. Haggle a price. You'll be surprised. Probably your best assortment of Peruvian trinkets, weavings, or other souvenirs in the market.

Night bus from Cuzco to Arequipa. Bring sleeping pills, face mask, earplugs, and a comfortable pillow, if sleeping in the budget seats. They feed you. You also play Bingo with a chance to win a return ticket. We also used the company to ride from Arequipa to Tacna. Good price, value. Didn't have any safety issues.

The White City because of its sillar buildings and Spanish ancestors. Beautiful city. Clean. Quite Spanish in influence. Spent two days here. Used it as a base point for our Colca Canyon tour. One of those cities with not that much to see in particular, but it leaves you feeling great. Second to Ollantaytambo.

Great hostel. Good price. Comfortable. Clean. Hot water. Panoramic view of the city from its upper balcony. You can even see inside the Monasterio de Santa Catalina. They also kept our stuff while we were off on our Colca Canyon tour.

Took a guided bus tour with Colonial Tours (out of Arequipa). A tour was a good choice. Learned a lot that we wouldn't have otherwise.
Drove through the Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca (saw many vicunas and llamas). Slept in Chivay. Stopped in Yanque for the morning dance in the village square (children raising money for their high school dance). Stopped in Maca. Spent a long time in the Cruz del Condor. Hiked the maintained trail along the edge of the canyon. Saw buzzards and the condors. The breadth of the canyon is astounding. Brings a tear to your eye.
Careful on your way from Arequipa to the canyon. The altitude reaches above 4,000 metres / 13,000 feet above sea level. You'll get dizzy.