Peru

I decided to take myself to Peru for my 28th birthday! I booked a 12-day Contiki tour called the Inca Panorama. Some of the stops on our trip were: Lima, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Aguas Caliente, and last but not least the Machu Picchu. I really had no expectation of this trip except to reach the mecca to see Machu Picchu. But WOW every part of this trip was amazing!!!! From properly preparing and chewing coca leaves to zip-lining upside down over Colca Canyon as well as seeing the Colca Canyon... EVERYTHING was absolutely breath taking!!! Seeing the, anciently worshiped, Andean Condor was a HUGE highlight of this trip! We bathed in a spring with the an awesome mountain view. Stayed at some really adorable hotels with spectacular views. As well as rode on Lake Titicaca. I spent my birthday exploring this spectacular lake, learning about the untouched culture, and exploring the Taquille and Uros Islands. I can officially check off the Peru to do list of eating Chuy. My favorite hotels I stayed at on the tour were: Hotel La Casa de Mi Abuela, Tunupa Lodge Ollantaytambo, and MamaSara Hotel. I initially was not going to hike the Inca Trail but I had decided last minute that I would and I HIGHLY suggest doing it if physically capable. We took the trail to kilometer 104 where we walked the trail. It took us about 2.5 hours and was amazing! I was taken from walking through different terranes it is amazing! The view you get once reaching Sungate is so overwhelming and the hike gives you such a rewarding feeling of getting a glimpse of the Inca's perspective on walking up to Machu Picchu. I cannot speak highly enough of this trip I would do it again in a heart beat!