Inca Trail Alternatives: How to Reach Machu Picchu Without the Permit Lottery
Inca Trail permits sold out? Salkantay, Lares and the train to Machu Picchu: comparison, prices, difficulty and how to prepare for each alternative.
Peru Itinerary: 7, 14 and 21-Day Plans with Logistics and Prices
This article contains affiliate links. If you book something through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I use myself. Peru is a country that doesn’t fit into a single trip. The Andes, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Amazon rainforest, a desert oasis and one of…
What to Pack for Peru: A Packing List for Four Different Climates
What to pack for Peru: a packing list for Lima, the Andes, the Amazon and the Huacachina desert — altitude sickness meds, layering and Inca Trail essentials.
Altitude Sickness in Peru: How to Prepare, Recognise & Avoid It
My first night in Cusco. I’m lying in the hotel room, staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. My heart is beating faster than it should. My head aches — not badly, but constantly, as if someone had pulled a too-small hat over it. And that feeling that my lungs are too small —…
Peru Entry Requirements: Do You Need a Visa? (2026 Guide)
One of the most common questions I get about Peru is: do you need a visa? The short answer: NO. But there are a few things you really should know before the trip. And no, “my passport is valid” doesn’t yet mean you’ve sorted everything out. This article is for EU, UK and most Western…
A Trip to Peru: Machu Picchu, the Amazon & Practical Tips
Going to Peru was one of my biggest dreams, but I didn’t expect this country to exceed all my expectations. That life at altitude, breathing a completely different air, has a magical power. I merged with nature most of all in this country, because everything here revolves around nature: all the old Peruvian traditions, customs,…
Arequipa: What to See in Peru’s White City
I remember that first morning in Arequipa. I stood on my hotel roof with a cup of coffee in hand, and in front of me — the Misti volcano, lit by the first sun, and the whole city below me — white, white, white. In that moment I thought: “This really needs more than one…
Colca Canyon: Trek, Condors & Practical Tips
Colca Canyon (Cañón del Colca, or simply Colca Canyon as you’ll often find it in English) is one of the deepest canyons in the world. The numbers speak for themselves: about 3,270 m deep — twice as much as the US Grand Canyon (1,857 m). And yet several times fewer people know about it. That’s…
Lima, Peru: What to See in 1-2 Days on Your Own
Lima was the city where I only planned to spend the night. Fly in, sleep, catch a plane to Cusco in the morning. The classic “transit city” plan. But after the first portion of ceviche at the Miraflores market and the first sunset from the cliffs above the ocean, I realised I’d made a mistake.…
Machu Picchu: How to Get There Independently & Tickets
I’m standing on a terrace, an Inca city drowned in clouds below, and my heart is pounding not just from the altitude. Machu Picchu is one of those places that looks too beautiful to be real. But it is real. And reaching it on your own is entirely possible, if you know a few important…