Today we speak to our colleague Ana, who will explain details of her recent trip to Peru. She visited the country on a scouting trip to discover new locations and returned thoroughly pleased with the experience. In the interview below, we ask her about her impressions, and she reveals details of the trip and some of its distinctive features.
How many days did you spend travelling in Peru?
I spent about 2 weeks touring the country, some of those days as a guest of the Tourist Office of Peru, staying in the country’s best hotels and discovering first-hand why Peruvian cuisine is world-famous. I enjoyed excellent food in some of the finest restaurants.
This has been my first trip to Peru And I can say I was pleasantly surprised. I hope to return soon. I liked how well organised tourism is. There are so many different places to visit!
How did you plan your trip, Ana?
After years of working on the destination on paper and staying in constant contact with our team there, I needed to experience Peru for myself. Curiously, almost everything I visited was just as I had imagined it; it all felt familiar to some extent. Working with the Peru Tourist Office made planning and finalising the trip very easy.
After a few first days of travel I continued several days on my own, but I had no problem visiting the places I proposed. The country's infrastructure is good and, as I say, it's very well equipped.
You probably know a good number of countries in South America.
Not really… I’ve travelled to Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador… and in Central America I know Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Cuba… I like Caribbean warmth!
What was the best thing about the trip to Peru you remember?
No doubt the Sacred Valley was what I liked most. I loved the small towns and the peace of that mystical place, so full of history. I was also pleasantly surprised by the landscape of the immense Colca Valley, the cultivated terraces, the impressive mountains enclosing the canyon…
I must also mention the feeling of peace and stillness while taking in the spectacular views of the Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable in the world) at sunset, from the town of Sillustani.
Did any unexpected problems arise during the trip?
Just a little altitude sickness, or soroche, at almost 5,000 metres. It happened while crossing the chain of volcanoes after leaving Chivay towards the Colca Valley. It can happen at such high altitudes: we are not used to it! With herbal infusions and coca leaves to chew throughout the day, I gradually improved. It is a price we sometimes pay — though it does not affect everyone — to discover these places.
Tell us an anecdote from your Peru trip.
The day before my visit to Machu Picchu, the citadel was closed because Sacred Valley workers were on strike over rumours that local tourism services would be privatised. This caused chaos as visitors had to be moved to unplanned accommodation, with train seats and archaeological site tickets rearranged for the following day, alongside existing bookings.
The day after my visit to Machu Picchu, a landslide in the Sacred Valley derailed one of the trains to Machu Picchu (without injuries), closing the railway line completely.
In both cases, I narrowly avoided getting into serious trouble.
What did you pack for a trip like that?
Comfortable shoes, tablets for altitude sickness, a good anorak (although I arrived at the start of the Peruvian summer, temperatures high in the Andes are very low) and a map of the country — I love maps!
What do you always remember to pack?
I never leave without my MP3 player packed with music. It always travels with me and was essential for making the long flights, bus journeys and airport waits more bearable: I took 9 flights on this trip.
Discover our full range of trips to Peru here.