Welcome to Part 2 of my Peru Travel Guide.
This is where I give my list of essential tips that I learned while traveling through
Lima and the Cusco region of Peru.
Number 1: WHEN SHOULD YOU GO TO PERU?
So before you even book your tickets, research what the weather is like.
December through March is the rainy season, but it’s also less crowded.
And then dry season is from May to September, but that's when it's really really crowded.
We decided to go in April, right in between dry season and wet season, and it ended up
working out perfectly for us.
Number 2: BOOK THOSE MACHU PICCHU TICKETS IN ADVANCE.
Before you even book your plane ticket, you need to make sure there are even tickets available
to get into Machu Picchu, because there's only a handful of tickets that are available.
Now, once you book your tickets to Machu Picchu and the day you get to Machu Picchu, you need
to make sure that is not the day you decide to leave your passport in your hotel room.
You have to present your passport in order to get through the entrance.
Number 3: IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIMA, MAKE RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE
Ok if you are a foodie, your inner fat kid is going to be doing somersaults.
Ok because Lima is known for its amazing cuisine.
And it's not really a place you want to be too spontaneous.
You're going to want to do your research in advance to find out where all the best restaurants
are.
For example, Central is the #4 best restaurant in the world.
And we ran into a couple tourists who said they made reservations for Central 3 months
in advance.
Number 4: WHAT TO WEAR IN PERU
Ok this one's easy.
Layers, layers, layers!
Ok, in Lima, it was warm, it was sunny, it was beautiful.
When we got to Cusco, the weather varied quite a bit.
Like sometimes it was wet, sometimes it was dry.
Sometimes it was cool, sometimes it was really warm.
So you're going to want to dress in layers to prepare for all of that.
Now I got by without a poncho but I highly recommend bringing one.
Now as far as footwear, you're going to want to be as comfortable as possible.
Especially in the Cusco region with all those beautiful little cobblestone streets that
you're going to be walking down.
Wear sneakers.
Comfort is key here.
Number 5: PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN
Do not let that cool, cloudy weather fool you guys ok.
The sun is intense so you're going to want to protect yourself with sunblock, with a
hat, and sunglasses.
Number 6: HOW TO DEAL WITH ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Because it is a real thing.
Trust me guys.
My first day in Cusco City, I got altitude sickness.
I started feeling dizzy all of a sudden and the hotel ended up giving me an oxygen tank
to help me out which worked temporarily, until an hour later when I ended up at a restaurant
and I started feeling sick again.
And that's when I threw up all in that restaurant's bathroom.
But that's when I learned the secret to curing altitude sickness and preventing it really
which is coca tea.
AKA mate de coca, which they serve all throughout Peru at all the restaurants.
The locals swear by it and guys I had it every single day on the trip and I never had another
issue.
So I also have additional tips for dealing with altitude sickness.
So in addition to drinking the mate de coca, you can also chew on coca leaves, you should
also take it slow your first day and really get adjusted to the altitude.
You should be drinking plenty of water, ok, stay hydrated guys.
You can also eat a lot of carbs.
They also say to avoid drinking alcohol, but I had a Peruvian Pisco Sour my 2nd night and
I was just fine.
And also you can look into buying altitude sickness pills before you go to Peru.
My friend ordered some online and she never got sick the entire trip so it's possible
that those altitude sickness pills helped her.
Number 7: LEAVE THE COCA IN PERU…
Ok, I was surprised by how many people were actually trying to sell coca leaves as souvenirs,
and it made me wonder how many people actually bought them thinking that it was ok.
It's NOT.
It's actually illegal ok.
The mere possibility that you be extracting cocaine from those coca leaves is going to
get you in trouble.
So don't do it.
Number 8: DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET PAPER IN PERU
There are going to be alot of times where you can't flush it down the toilet and there
won't always be signs that make that clear.
But the way you'll know: there'll be a trash bin right next to the toilet.
And that's where you toss it after you wipe it.
I know.
It might seem awkward, but just go with the flow.
Number 9: PACK EXTRA TISSUE AND HAND SANITIZER
Because especially out in the rural areas, there's going to be a lot of instances where
there's no toilet paper and there's not soap so make sure you pack that so you can whip
it out whenever you need it.
Number 10: LEARN BASIC SPANISH.
Thankfully we knew enough Spanish to get us by because there weren't a lot of places that
actually spoke English, so if you don't know a lot of Spanish, I suggest you start learning.
And also download some kind of translation app to help you out while you're there.
Number 11: PROTECT YOUR SHIT.
Now not once did I ever feel unsafe in Peru.
In fact, there was one time when I walked back to my hotel at night by myself.
But I don't recommend doing that.
See we went during off peak season so there weren't a lot of tourists around, but I imagine
if you go during a time when there are a lot of tourists around, you're going to be more
of a target.
You see, bag snatching is a real thing so don't just carelessly carry your camera or
your bag on your shoulder.
You're going to want to do everything cross-body style.
And if you have a backpack, consider wearing it in front of you.
And if you do wear it behind you, maybe invest in a small lock.
They're not very expensive.
Also one other tip is to wear a money belt.
Number 12: EXPLORE LOCAL CULTURE.
That's a big one for me, because that's what this blog is about.
Getting off the beaten path and exploring local culture.
And Peruvian culture is so beautiful guys so don't get so caught up in the major hotspots
that you forget to really get out there and immerse yourself in the local Peruvian culture.
For example, when I was in Cusco City, I went to the Center of Traditional Textiles and
it was a great experience, watching Peruvian women traditionally weaving fabric right in
front of me.
So that's it!
That's all I got.
Those are my essential tips for traveling through Peru.
Make sure you tune in for Part 3 of my Peru Guide where I tell you all the cool places
that I went to in Cusco.
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