I am so excited for all 2019 has to hold, and to share all of my travel and outdoor adventures! My big trip of the year is approaching quickly; in May I am flying from Houston to Peru for 8 days!
Houston to Peru
No, I am not going by myself… and I did not plan the entire trip myself either. The trip is G-Adventures 7 day Inca Trail trip. Follow the link to view the full itinerary for this trip and all the details about what is included. We chose to travel with G-Adventures because they support local businesses, partner with non-profits in the communities you visit, and are well know for their adventure-filled itineraries in countless international destinations.
Map from smartraveller
Photo by Evan Sanchez on Unsplash
The highlight of this trip for me is going to be hiking the Inca Trail from km 82 to Machu Picchu. The hike requires permits from the Peruvian Government. G-Adventures handled the permits for us. Be sure you have your hiking permit before you book your flights to Peru. My trip got pushed back by a day due to permit issues.
I booked flights on United Airlines, from Houston to Lima, Peru. Another affordable option was LATAM airlines, an American Airlines partner airline. Flights on less reputable airlines are available, however, I always recommend booking flights with well known airlines or their partner airlines to ensure the best travel experience.
An additional consideration when traveling to Peru, or any country outside the U.S., is health information. The CDC has traveler health resources, which gives loads information about considerations for the country you are traveling to. Here is the link for Peru.
Lima, Peru
I am excited to be spending an extra day exploring Lima by myself! While I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do, ideas include:
- Circuito Magico Del Agua at Parque de la Reserva
- exploring the Barranco District
- exploring the historic center of Lima (parks, palaces, basilicas, and catacumbas)
- bicycle along the coast near the Miraflores District
Let me know your recommendations in the comments, I would love to hear about everyone’s experiences!
Cusco, Peru
Hiking up to nearly 14,000 feet is no joke! So G-Adventures has a mandatory acclimation period in Cusco before backpacking the Inca Trail. While acclimating I will have an afternoon to explore the historic capital of the Inca Empire. G-Adventures offers optional activities for that afternoon in Cusco, including White Water Rafting!
The itinerary also includes Your G for Good Moment, which is a trip to the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, or Chicheria (a corn beer bar). I will blog about this when I get back from Peru, so keep an eye out.
The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Days 3 to 6 are backpacking! Day 6 is a guided tour exploring Machu Picchu. We’ll take the train back to Cusco for the afternoon before flying back to the U.S.
Posts: The Trail to Machu Picchu
Check out my other posts written prior to my trip: The Trail to Machu Picchu-History, and The Trail to Machu Picchu – Training, and keep an eye out for more when I get back!
Cool article. Tks for sharing all the links.
Thank you! The links always provide more information than I can pack into a post!
Awesome travel plan. Did you enjoy the hike? Did the Sacred Valley help you acclimate since it was at a lower altitude?
I would recommend spending some time in Cusco – it is at a higher elevation than Ollantaytambo, which is where you stay right before the hike. I have never suffered too terribly from altitude sickness, but if you are concerned about that, plan a few extra days in Cusco and do some of the other activities around there – Rainbow Mountain or the Salt Mines are both really cool!