Peru Honeymoon Adventure - TravelChic Style
TravelChic through Peru on this Honeymoon Adventure!
In the midst of COVID in April of 2020, I had the pleasure of meeting Charles and Julia to plan their honeymoon in Bali set for October 2020. We were hopeful towards the end of the year, travel would be back up and running. We were wrong. We postponed the honeymoon to April 2021. As the beginning of this year flew by, and travel was opening back up, unfortunately, Bali did not.
Charles and Julia, like the rest of us, were anxious to travel after being stuck home for most of 2020. As a concierge travel agent, I had to re-group and re-plan. We looked at several countries and even U.S. states that were open, totally different itineraries to Bali, but nothing seemed to stand out to them. I was determined to give them a honeymoon they deserved and during this process, they were so appreciative of the time and effort I put into each itinerary I presented to them.
Then, I came up with Peru and they loved the itinerary!
Let’s explore their honeymoon adventure TravelChic style …
Lima, Peru
Packed with award winning restaurants and innovative kitchens, the hardest part is deciding what to eat and where. They took a privately guided gastronomic tour of the Peruvian capital, sampled some of the city’s most famous dishes and capped it all off with a delicious cocktail at a trendy bar in the bohemian Barranco district. Then they toured Miraflores, which is undoubtedly Lima’s most chic neighborhood. Since Julia had an allergy to gluten, I made sure to advise all the tour guides and restaurants of this prior to their trip!
Lima - Cusco - Sacred Valley
Day 3 and 4, in Peru, they were privately transferred to Cusco and then took a private charter to Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley is a scenic land dotted with ancient ruins, colorful marketplaces, striking mountains, roaring rivers and crisp, clean air. At roughly 9,500 feet above sea level, it also makes for an excellent place to adjust to high altitude as it is approximately 2,000 feet lower in elevation than the city of Cusco.
Sacred Valley Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
Day 5, was a day at leisure in Sacred Valley so they could catch up on much needed rest from the long trip.
On Day 6, in the company of a private driver and a local representative, they departed from the Sacred Valley en route to the Ollantaytambo Train Station, the penultimate stop on their journey into the ancient capital of the Inca Empire.
After boarding a shuttle bus in Aguas Calientes, they began the 30 minute drive to ascend Machu Picchu Mountain on a switchback road carved into the mountainside with their own private guide. Steeped in mystery, the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu has dazzled visitors since its discovery by American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Believed to have been constructed sometime around 1450 CE and abandoned just over a century later, it is one of the world’s most prized heritage sites, and for good reason; complementing a fascinating history and incredible architecture are unforgettable views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the wild Urubamba River some 2,000 feet below.
High in the mountains near Machu Picchu is a welltrodden, ancient rock pathway that leads the way to the ceremonial and traditional entrance to Machu Picchu citadel, known as Inti Punku (or Sun Gate). This trail is considered by many to be the most essential hike in Peru as it affords stunning vistas of the landscape and culminates in a spectacular view of the Machu Picchu citadel where the entire complex can be appreciated from a single vantage point. Roughly one mile in length, and including an ascent of approximately 1,000 feet, the flatfaced stones laid on the mountainside have been traveled for more than five centuries by a dizzying range of people, from the earliest Inca settlers to the intrepid travelers of the present.
After their fascinating experience in the heart of the ancient Inca world, they departed for the Imperial City, Cusco and boarded the Vistadome in Aguas Calientes and relaxed as they embarked on the scenic, four hour journey to Poroy Train Station near Cusco. The route follows along the Urubamba River, climbing and descending through mountainous terrain utilizing, where necessary, a series of switchback rails.
Cusco
After arriving back in Cusco, they met their private guide and visited the Koricancha Temple, once walled in plated gold and featuring courtyard statues made of solid gold, Conquistadors described it as “fabulous beyond belief.” Today, the Church of Santo Domingo rests on the site of the original temple, making it an excellent location to learn about both Inca and Spanish culture and architecture. Next, they headed to the picture perfect Plaza de Armas, the heart of this vibrant Andean hub. After, they visited the resplendent Cusco Cathedral and saw one of the city’s finest collections of colonial art. Covered in mystery, they discovered the storied fables surrounding these ancient sites.
They concluded their day at Rooftop Kitchen, host to the most immersive culinary course in Cusco, learned the tricks and techniques behind preparing exotic, delicious and healthy dishes that feature ingredients such as red quinoa, yellow aji and other locally grown specialties that are a distinct part of Peruvian cuisine but are easily found across the world. On this three hour course, they prepared two sophisticated and easy to make meals that offer rich Peruvian flavors and gained the expertise to demonstrate their newly acquired skills back home. To cap off this highly interactive culinary course, they enjoyed their creations while sipping on a delicious pisco sour cocktails. Julia had an allergy to gluten, so this was accommodated in every step of their culinary experience!
Day 8 and 9, they were transferred to Pachar, for a river rafting adventure in the sacred river of the Incas. They started their journey on easy waters, while admiring the spectacular views of the mountains and archaeological remains, continuing towards Ollantaytambo and its amazing Inca terraces, and experienced class 23 rapids, to finish with “El Resbaladero” (The Slide), a strong class rapid that includes waves and small whirlpools. They lunched in a traditional restaurant located on the riverside, owned by the local community family. This was a great chance to enjoy the Andean cuisine while supporting community projects. After lunch, they met horses and muleteers, and started their horseback ride adventure, following a trail that goes along the left margin of the Urubamba River. They passed by small villages, farms and Andean terraces along the way.
definition of a TravelChic honeymoon …
I loved, loved, loved working with Charles and Julia on their honeymoon despite all the setbacks of COVID! The picture and memories they shared with me and now YOU, the reader, on this blog is the reason why I love my job! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness Charles and Julia! Bali is next on our bucket-list!
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x May you always TravelChic ❤
Special Mahalo to Charles and Julia for the pictures.