I've always been fascinated by ancient civilizations like the Mayans, Incas and Egyptians. Watching countless documentaries, Machu Picchu stood out to me as a must-see destination, and it had been on my bucket list for years.
So, when the opportunity finally came to fulfil this dream, I was thrilled - especially because I’d be sharing the experience with my daughter. With Amanda’s expert advice, drawn from her own travels, we planned an unforgettable 12-day journey.
After a couple of setbacks, first due to COVID and then civil unrest throughout 2023, we finally made it to Peru in May 2024.
Our journey started with a flight from Birmingham to Amsterdam’s Schiphol, and then on to Lima with KLM. Though we had a bit of a scare with long delays at Birmingham security, a fast-track request saved us from missing our flight. We also had two internal flights with LATAM in Peru, both of which were excellent.
Upon arrival in Lima, we were warmly greeted by a representative from our tour operator, Latin Routes, who escorted us to our hotel conveniently located just across the road.
Over the next few days, we explored some of Peru’s most iconic locations: Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, the Sacred Valley, and of course, the breathtaking Machu Picchu. The scenery, especially as we travelled through the Andes, was absolutely stunning.
While some areas of the country appeared quite impoverished, the locals were incredibly welcoming and always eager to help. However, Jen found the abundance of street dogs a bit distressing. ☹️
Accommodation throughout our trip was excellent, but our favourite was undoubtedly the Aranwa in the Sacred Valley. Nestled in beautiful surroundings, it was a peaceful and relaxing retreat with a lovely pool. We indulged in a massage during our stay and dined in the on-site restaurant - everything was simply amazing. The service, staff, and accommodation were all faultless!
We felt truly spoiled and well taken care of throughout the entire trip. Every step of the way, a Latin Routes rep was there to escort us to our next destination. Each evening at 6:30, we received a message confirming our arrangements for the following day - the organisation was absolutely amazing!
We had two standout guides who made our trip even more special. Freddie at Machu Picchu impressed us with his incredible knowledge and kindly took lots of pictures for us. And then there was Fernando, who guided us on a city tour of Arequipa and even escorted us to the airport, making sure we were all checked in. Both were so friendly and eager to help - it was so appreciated.
With me being a vegetarian and Jen being vegan, we didn’t sample much of the local cuisine since it was predominantly meat and fish. However, we had no trouble finding alternatives, like Italian and Mexican options. Our favourite spot was a Peruvian Chinese restaurant in Cusco called Kion - it was absolutely delicious!
We booked all our excursions in advance, and each one was incredibly informative and interesting, led by exceptionally knowledgeable guides.
Our excursions included:
Machu Picchu
Sacred Valley
Lake Titicaca
Belmond Andean Explorer train
Hiram Bingham train
City tours of Cusco, Arequipa and Lima
Our top two experiences were undoubtedly visiting Machu Picchu and spending three unforgettable days on the Belmond Andean Explorer train.
The staff and accommodation on the train were exceptional, and the stunning views as we journeyed through the Andes were absolutely breathtaking.
The return journey went smoothly, with all flights running on time. The only thing we might have done differently was to stay closer to the airport on our last night. While our hotel in Mira Flores was in a lovely area, we arrived in the evening and had to leave early the next morning, leaving us no time to enjoy it. In hindsight, an airport hotel would have been more practical.
The whole trip was a truly memorable experience for us, and though it was a long time coming, it was absolutely worth the wait. Everything was so well planned and organised, thanks to Amanda and Latin Routes - we can’t recommend them both enough.
A big thank you to Amanda for your patience and professionalism - we couldn’t have done it without you.
Suzanne
