Out There Post 4: 6 Weeks in Peru
We couldn’t plan a trip to South America without dedicating serious time to Peru. We’ve been hearing about the unique and gorgeous landscapes for years and were eager to see as much of the country as we could for ourselves! Our goal was to visit the big cities, prioritize time in more remote villages, and tackle some serious treks unlike anything we have to offer in the states.
Because we wanted to cover so much ground, we decided that Peru Hop would be the best bet for transportation. This hop-on-hop-off bus stops in several cities from Lima to Puno to Cusco and helps you to plan your itinerary in a safe and hassle-free way. Plus, they offer recommendations and discounts on lodging, tours, and restaurants at every stop, which helped us to save significant money and effort in planning our 6 weeks of adventure through Peru!
We traveled with Peru Hop from Lima, south to Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa, Puno, and Cusco. Before heading south, though, we also did a mini trip up north to Huanchaco and Huaraz, which ended up being a crazier adventure than we could have imagined involving a trip to the ER. More on that later, but for now, here is our basic itinerary for 6 weeks in Peru:
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Places we Visited & Stayed:
- Lima (Pool Paradise Lima): We cannot speak highly enough about Pool Paradise. Yes, the facilities were great, the onsite food was yummy, and the bar was fully stocked. But these are nothing compared to the AMAZING staff that quickly became friends. If you have the opportunity to spend some time there, you will be better for it! Plus, they have various room options to fit any budget. Keep in mind there is no kitchen here so you will have to eat out or purchase from their restaurant.
- Huanchaco (Atma Yoga & Hostel): We spent 4 restful days here and really enjoyed it. We had been traveling for a while, and it was nice to get out of the big cities and to somewhere with a small-town feel. Atma was great because they had a fully stocked kitchen, so we could purchase groceries at the local market and eat for super cheap. Plus, they have a rooftop area that has a gorgeous view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Keep in mind though that this area offers very little to do besides surfing and yoga, so it may not be for everyone!
- Huaraz (Aldos Guest House): Ugh, you guys, we were SO excited to finally do some serious trekking in Huaraz. Then we arrived and were struck with severe altitude sickness and food poisoning. We literally had to go to urgent care to get Jack an IV and therefore had to cancel our plans to venture into the Huaywash. Before retreating back to sea level though, the Aldos staff was so incredibly helpful. They got to us set up in a cute, quaint private room with private bathroom (which was, ahem, vital), and offered laundry services. Then, when we asked for help going to the hospital, he flagged us down a taxi, traveled with us there, and helped translate with the hospital staff to make sure we were taken care of. When you are severely dehydrated, in pain, and delirious, attempting to navigate medical care in a different language seems impossible. We are forever grateful to these people for going above and beyond to take care of us! If they are that attentive at our worst, just imagine how comforting this place would be when you’re not sick as a dog!! 11/10 would recommend.
- Lima (Pool Paradise Lima): After Huaraz, we had to get back to sea level and took a bus back as soon as we were well enough. Of course, we went right back to Pool Paradise where they supplied us with comfort, laughs, and enough ginger ale to settle even our stomachs. 12/10 would recommend.
- Paracas (Los Frayles): This was the first stop in our Peru Hop journey. While not a well-known destination, Paracas has so much to offer we ended up staying for 5 days. This region is known for its kitesurfing, which took up much of our time. Beyond that, this coastal beach town offers gorgeous views and awesome local beach markets. Not to mention the Ballista Islands (known as the poor man’s Galapagos), which we were able to tour via boat for only $10 each through Peru Hop! This was one of the few hotels we stayed in, which offered free breakfast, a pool, foosball table, and was about a block away from the beach, all at hostel prices thanks to Peru Hop!
- Huacachina (Wild Olive): Ah, Huacachina. A tiny oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by all the sand you can imagine. This was a super fun stop given the dune buggy rollercoaster ride and sandboarding, but one night there was enough for us! We stayed at the Wild Olive which offered cheap, cozy accommodations. We got a private room which was perfect for us. While there was a kitchen there, we didn’t have anywhere to buy groceries in town, so had to spend money on eating out. The free breakfast here also left something to be desired, but we are egg connoisseurs so struggle with less than perfect scrambled eggs. 7/10 it is what it is.
- Arequipa (Flying Dog): Arequipa is a beautiful city!!! Surrounded by volcanoes, many of the buildings are also built out of white volcanic stone to help prevent damage from earthquakes, which is why this area is also known as The White City. Flying Dog was an awesome hostel, we got a huge private room for super cheap, and they had a fully stocked kitchen that we gratefully relied upon for our time there. Plus, they have a couple of hostel cats and one hostel dog that made it extra cozy.
- Cusco (Flying Dog, Airbnb): We spent a lot of time in Cusco because it is awesome and there is a lot to do. We originally stayed in an Airbnb in San Blas while we attended Spanish school. We cannot stress enough how perfect this was, the host was so kind and helpful, and the views overlooking Cusco were unreal. Be warned though – the elevation is no joke and there were about 4,000 stairs to climb to get there. Then we transitioned to another Flying Dog location, which was cozy and nearby. They stored our luggage while we did a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu for free, which was so helpful. We opted for a 4-bed dorm while there and had the whole room to ourselves the entire time. Plus, they have free breakfast and a large kitchen, always a bonus for budget travelers!
- Puno (Suite Independencia): Puno was our last stop with Peru Hop. We arrived at about 5 AM and had to wait at our hostel until 9 for our room, which was a bit of a bummer. They did have comfy couches to hang out on though, and we ended up killing about an hour getting breakfast down the road. We had a nice private room and received a discounted price with Peru Hop. However, there was no kitchen (it seemed to be under construction so this may have changed), and the area was a bit run down. Then, when we tried to check out no one was at the front desk and we had to leave a note with our contact info to pay so we didn’t miss our bus. Lake Titicaca and the Uros floating islands are a must though, so maybe investigate other hostel options in the area if this doesn’t seem like a great fit!
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Budget Saving Tips:
- Peru
Hop:
- As we mentioned, Peru Hop ended up saving us a bunch of money and hassle! You can book tours (usually at a discounted rate) right on the bus, which when you don’t speak the language is extremely helpful. Plus, they had recommendations on safe, comfortable hostels and hotels at every stop, and offer a significantly discounted rate even on private rooms. Another bonus was that some restaurants offered discounts to Peru Hop passengers (although these only applied if you were paying with cash). Keep in mind the up-front expense of this is large (about $250 each), but it was worth it for all the other savings and peace of mind it afforded.
- Cooking
at “home”:
- This is obvious but deserves to be re-stated, eating and drinking at restaurants is a HUGE expense when traveling. We have found that restaurants tend to cater to tourists with a corresponding price tag, while grocery stores tend to serve the community and are much less expensive. Some of our favorite meal options in Peru included classics like gluten-free pasta and scrambled eggs, as well as some new staples like nachos and various sandwiches (Cusco had a huge selection of gluten-free bread, which was such a treat!!). Plus, a bottle or box of wine to enjoy at home is like the price of a single cocktail. Spend wisely!
- Airbnb:
- We were surprised to find that Airbnb’s were often cheaper than private rooms and even than 2 dorm beds! Plus, having our own apartment with a full kitchen allowed us to cook and hang out at home instead of going out and spending money for something to do.
- Looking
for deals:
- There were a ton of stores with sales going on while we were traveling, which allowed us to purchase a couple of essentials that we will take on our adventures for years to come! Sales are great for more commercial stores/purchases, but what about the local markets?
- We found the most effective techniques to lower costs were to 1) haggle and 2) bring the exact amount of cash we wanted to spend. We understand it can feel uncomfortable to try and talk a price down but be prepared to respond with a number 10-15% lower than the initial offer. Plus, if you have the exact change for what you are wanting to spend venders are more likely to accept the offered price. For example, at the town outside of Machu Picchu we got 2 alpaca sweaters for 100 Soles instead of the 60 soles each price initially offered because we had a 100-bill ready.
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Peru was everything we hoped it would be. We are still blown away at the variety of landscapes, from oceans to cities to deserts to mountains and jungles. There is truly something for everyone, and for us 6 weeks was the perfect amount of time to get a taste. We already have plans for a return trip in the future!
We hope this helps anyone else interested in getting out there to Peru and welcome any questions/comments/thoughts!
Happy Traveling, friends!
Summer & Jackson
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