PERU, just us two.

We decided on an organized tour for this one, mostly out of convenience and I really wanted to stay with a host family but didn't know how to arrange that on my own.

Day 1: Flew to Lima. March 24th.

Day 2: Checked into our hotel then headed to La Mar to eat Tiradito style food (Japanese Peruvian fusion). It was AMAZING

Then we did a Lima City Tour. We visited the historic center of Lima, Miraflores and Los Olivos (Love park) and the San Francisco Monastery. The catacombs were incredibly eerie, google it for photos because we weren’t allowed to take any.

Day 3: We flew straight into the High Andes of Puno at 13,000ft above sea level. In retrospect, this wasn’t such a great idea because I did not adjust well to high altitude. I wish we had done Cusco (11,000ft) first then Puno. But oh well! I’ve also concluded that I’m not built for mountains, my Filipino blood thrives in the tropics! I experienced migraines, nausea and vomiting with no relief from coca leaves or modern medicine.

Day 4: Floating Uros Island Trip: We spent time learning from the Uro tribe who live on the islands, some made of floating reeds. We learned about their self-sustainable way of life that’s been preserved from pre-Incan time! We stayed with a local family on Amantani Island who spoke mostly Quechua and some Spanish. We learned that tourism allows them to send their children to school and their young son treks an hour each way up a mountainous terrain just to get to school daily. We attempted the same trek, but since I was so altitude sick, I had to return to the house. Angel continued and reached 14,000ft above sea level and saw the Temples of the Pachamama and Pachatata.

In the evening, our host family dressed us in traditional clothing and played live music and we danced. My head was throbbing but I really wanted to enjoy this so I pushed through.

Day 5: We took another boat ride to Taquile Island and had the most delicious rainbow then headed back to Puno.

Day 6: Took an 8 hour bus ride to Cusco with the most lovely stops. I also felt 100% better as we entered a lower altitude. We stopped at Sicuani Town, Pukara Museun, La Raya Pass, Raqchi Archeological Site and Andahuaylillas Church.

Day 7: Sacred Valley Tour- Ollantaytambo, Salt Mines of Maras, Moray and Chinchero Textile Center

Day 8: Spent the morning on the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, roamed around and enjoyed a hot bath in the natural springs.

Day 9: MACHU PICCHU! Got up around 4am to ride the first bus up to catch the sunrise. We hiked through fog and waited for it to clear revealing the majestic Machu Picchu. This totally lived up to all the hype and then some.

Day 10: Home