Peru Archives - Endless Roads Travel

How to Do a 24 Layover In Lima

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Lima is the busiest and often times most chaotic city in Peru. It is the capitol, and most highly populated, with a population of over 10 million. The only cities with more people in the Americas are Sao Paulo and Mexico City. It is loud, dusty and crumbling around the edges, very similar to Cairo. Being the largest city Lima International Airport is a major hub, so often times travelers will find they have a layover there when en route to Cusco, Machu Picchu, or even other countries in South America. If you find yourself with a layover in Lima rest assured there is plenty to do, here are a couple of highlights.

You can start by going to the Monastery of San Francisco in the Historic Center of Lima. This gorgeous monastery was built in the baroque style in 1673 and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also make sure to check out the convent’s library and catacombs. The catacombs were interesting because they placed the bones in geometric shapes, it felt pretty peaceful down there. Some 25,000 bodies were buried there.

If you have time you should also go to Parque de la Reserva and see the Cirquito Magico Del Agua. The Park of the Reserve is located in downtown Lima and has the incredible Magic Water Tour. This is the largest fountain complex in the world with a beautiful light show every night. It’s definitely worth seeing if you have the time.

Machu Picchu is the Incan’s Stunning Ancient Citadel Above the Andes

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Machu Picchu is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and often times the highest anticipated destination on many travelers first trip to South America. It started out that way for me too. It’s truly a gorgeous site, sitting 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level, elevation sickness can be a real concern. I suggest getting acclimated in Cusco before making the trek to Machu Picchu. Built around 1450, the ancient city was abandoned during the time of the Spanish Conquest, about a century later, and left virtually untouched. Luckily the Spanish didn’t know about it or they probably would have destroyed it. Should you plan on coming here it’s worth noting that you will be sharing the experience with 2500 other people. That’s how many people visit the site every day. That can get pretty uncomfortable on some of the narrow passageways and you can expect to spend a fairly good amount of time standing in lines. Also they cap it at 2500 people per day so it’s worth booking your entrance ticket in advance. However if you’re up for all that I think you will find the visit to be very rewarding!

Machu Picchu is about 80 km northwest of Cusco and the best way to get there is to take a train. From Cusco you can take a taxi to Poroy Station this takes about 25 minutes and costs around 13 USD. From Poroy you want to hop on a train to Aguas Calientes Station, this takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes and costs about 75 USD. From Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu you can take a shuttle bus for about 19 USD round trip. An entrance fee for Machu Picchu is 45 USD and should be bought in advance online, it would be terrible for you to make the journey only to find they were sold out. There are also other options for trekking the Inca trail which are probably more rewarding but if you are strapped for time like I was, the train is probably the best bet.

The ruins are definitely a magical place. It’s a bit of a journey to get there, and yes there will be an insane amount of tourists you have to share the experience with but in the end I think it’s all worth it.

I found it incredible that they decided to put their citadel in this beautiful and remote place sitting above the Cloud Forest and Urubama River. You can’t help but try to imagine what life would’ve been like when the Inca’s lived there.

After taking the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes I went to a traditional Peruvian restaurant and ordered the Alpaca. It was fantastic.

Even though you will spend a pretty large amount of time traveling and waiting in lines to get there I think you will find it all worth it in the end. I know I did.

Cusco is Spanish Colonial Charm and a Gateway to Machu Picchu

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Cusco is a gorgeous city. It used to be the capital of the Incan Empire until the Spanish Conquest of the 16th Century. It sits in the Andes mountains and is the gateway for many intrepid travelers en route to Machu Picchu. If you are looking for destinations in Peru, Cusco is an absolute must see. In fact it may be my favorite city i’ve been to in South America. The city sits at around 3400 meters (11,200 ft.). You feel the elevation as soon as you get off the plane, but fear not, they sell plenty of remedies for elevation sickness right there in the airport.

Accommodations in Cusco were very affordable, I paid around 18 USD per night and I was right in the middle of the city. In an attempt to further alleviate your elevation sickness the hotel offered coca leaves to chew on or make tea with.

There are some interesting sites to see in Cusco. The first place you should go is the Qorikancha Temple. This was the religious and political center of the Incan people. Qorikancha roughly translates to golden courtyard and during the time of the Incas the walls were covered in gold sheets that were eventually ransacked by the Spanish. After the Spanish conquest the temples were destroyed and they built the Convent of Santo Domingo on top of the ruins.

If you dig history like I do, the next place you should go is Sacsaywaman. This is an Incan citadel on the northern outskirts of Cusco. The earliest people living there were around 900 CE. They built some interesting walls, cutting the stones to fit tightly without mortar, creating a zig zag fortification proving useful for defense. This place is gorgeous, I was there in July and it was around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny.

The next place you should go is Plaza de Armas. This is Cusco’s main square, right in the middle of the city. It’s beautiful square lined with shops and restaurants and a great place to experience the culture of the city. This is a wonderful place to go; day or night, it’s always buzzing with activity. I loved the vibe here, it felt very laid back, and the Spanish colonial architecture was fantastic. If you only have time for one place in Cusco make sure to go here! There are plenty of restaurants here, but I chose to go a Peruvian one, because I like to try the local cuisine. The restaurant I went to served Alpaca with salad, rice, peppers and mashed potato and it was delicious.

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