Wallaroo Wanderlust: Exploring Peru

Welcome to Wallaroo Wanderlust, a monthly series that invites you to come along and travel the world with Wallaroo!

As the CEO and Founder of Wallaroo Hat Company, I love to travel the world any chance I can get - for business or pleasure. Travel fuels my creativity, teaches me invaluable lessons about different ways of living, and shows me the beauty of diverse cultures.

This past October, some friends and I embarked on an incredible journey to Peru. While there, we visited the historic city of Cusco, spent a few days near Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and then explored the magical ruins of Machu Picchu.

It was an amazing experience that I’m happy to share with you.  

First.. a few facts about Peru.

Peru is located along the western coast of South America, surrounded by Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, and bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Its location promises diverse terrain - from arid coastal plains, to the majestic Andes mountains, and the biodiverse Amazon Rainforest.

As we experienced these vastly different terrains, I found Peru’s landscape to be truly stunning. I was struck by how beautifully ancient history and modern life come together in this vibrant culture.

When to go:

Our group visited Peru in October, which is the tail end of the dry season that starts in May. This is a great time to visit Peru - the weather is dry and not too warm, making it ideal to stroll through charming villages, attend one of the many festivals and cultural events, or go on the popular trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

What to bring:

You’ll definitely need to bring good walking shoes as there is a lot of walking involved in visiting Peru. It’s also a good idea to bring a rain jacket (there were some afternoon rain showers during our time in Cusco). In general, pack clothing that allows for warmer days and cooler evenings. (Think layers.) 

Plus, don’t forget a high SPF sunscreen, a sun hat, bug spray, and warm clothes for high altitudes. 

Speaking of hats, I always travel with a couple of Wallaroo hats, and Peru was no exception. Here are my Wallaroo hat recommendations for Peru:

●    The Charlie - a lightweight, super packable and travel friendly option. 
●    The Logan - a lightweight, packable option with UPF 50+ fabric and a chin strap.
●    The Kristy - a no-brainer - fashionable sun protection that will turn heads.

Accommodations in Cusco:

Our group stayed at the Cusco- JW Marriott El Convento Hotel, located in the center of Cusco, making it easy to explore the city center. Our stay was amazing - from the outstanding service to the well-appointed boutique style rooms. In addition, we didn’t need to go far in search of ancient ruins as the Cusco - JW Marriott El Convento Hotel has an archaeological site buried below its bottom floors. As the story goes, Ancient Incan Ruins were discovered when the hotel was being built. The hotel went to great lengths to preserve the artifacts and structures and created a museum on the site for visitors to come and explore.

Ruins and Sites In and Around Cusco:

There are many ruins to discover in and near Cusco. If you want to see the most sacred temple in the Incan Empire, visit Qorikancha. Located in the city center of Cusco, Qorikancha served as the spiritual and astronomical center of the Incan Empire. The northern part of  Cusco is where you’ll find the Saqsaywaman Fortress, one of the world's most astonishing archaeological complexes. And, just about five miles outside of Cusco is Puka Pukara, an archaeological wonder that offers stunning views of the Sacred Valley and surrounding region.  

Awana Kancha, is a fascinating place to learn about the different types of llamas and alpacas, and the culture surrounding these animals. Plus, you can watch the Quechua women demonstrate the traditional hand-weaving techniques and see how natural dyes are created. Examples like this always inspire me as I think about the craftsmanship that goes into our Wallaroo hats. Known as a “Living Museum of the Andes,” the center offers interactive experiences dedicated to preserving the Andean cultural heritage.

A note on the elevation:

There are many amazing sites to see in Cusco, but don’t forget about the elevation. It takes some getting used to. Cusco is located at 11,300 feet of elevation and it is challenging to get used to this altitude if you are not accustomed to it. Many of the hotels offer oxygen to their guests if they are feeling unwell and it usually takes a day or two to acclimatize. Even though back home in Colorado we’re at 5,200 feet above sea level, we still had a hard time with the altitude. We all took Diamox which is a medicine used to treat elevation sickness. 

A great place to ease into the elevation is the Sacred Valley near Ollantaytambo, which is at a much lower elevation. While there, our group stayed at the Tambo del Inka in Urubamba. In addition, the area offers a variety of accommodations including villas, haciendas, hotels, and hostels to meet every budget. The Sacred Valley also has a myriad of sites well worth a visit:

●    Maras Salt Mine - over 3,000 surreal salt ponds, located just an hour outside of Cusco.
●    Moray Inca Ruins - an archaeological site known for its unusual circular terraces that were used for agricultural experimentation by the Inca Empire.
●    Chinchero - called the most picturesque town in the Sacred Valley
●    Pisac - a great spot to visit as you acclimate to the elevation as the town’s elevation is  just 2,974 meters above sea level.
●    Ruins of Ollantaytambo- Insider tip - they are almost as amazing as Machu Picchu but far less crowded.

A bit about the culture and some of my favorite experiences:

Dining:

Peru is famous for its culinary delights such as ceviche and lomo saltado (beef stir fry) as well as   some not so common foods for people from other countries, such as guinea pig and alpaca. They are both highly recommended by the locals and quite delicious. Also, be sure to try Pisco, the national spirit of Peru dating back to the 16th Century. 

One of the highlights of any trip is sampling and learning about local food. In Cusco, we enjoyed 
excellent Peruvian cuisine and Cuy (guinea pig) at Pachapapa, and also enjoyed Morena - a spot that’s so popular you’ll want to be sure to make reservations. 

Peru is well known for its meat dishes, so be prepared to eat a lot of meat. But there’s something for vegetarians and vegans as well, as Peru is famous for quinoa and it can be found in every variety of cooking that you can imagine. 

In addition, Peru has over 50 types of corn and over 2000 varieties of potatoes. They use these ingredients in virtually every dish, so be prepared to eat a lot of them. 

Shopping:

While in Cusco, be sure to hit the city’s main square, Plaza de las Armas. It’s located in front of the main cathedral and there are hundreds of shops in the area with great items to purchase. 

My biggest takeaways from my trip to Peru?

Machu Picchu is now a UNESCO heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is a very popular destination for people from around the world. Make sure to book your tickets well in advance as they only allow a limited number of people a day into the site. You must also pay attention to the type of ticket you purchase as there are four different routes you can take inside of Machu Picchu. There is also a wonderful hike up Waynapicchu Mountain inside the grounds of Machu Picchu, but you need to purchase a ticket for this hike as the capacity is also limited every day. There are bathrooms that are located at the entrance of the site, but once you enter the grounds, there are no more facilities inside and you need to wait until you leave. 

Another important Machu Picchu tip:

There is only one way to get to Machu Picchu and that is by train from the small town of Aguas Calientes. If you want to visit Machu Picchu and you are not hiking the Inca Trail, you will arrive by train and you are only allowed to take a small suitcase. If you try to take your large suitcase, they will charge you per kilo to bring it with you. It is best to leave most of your belongings in Aguas Calientes and then pick it up when you are done visiting Machu Picchu.

My final thoughts on Peru:

Peru is a sacred and very special place. The history of the Incan people is fascinating and they are kind and hard working and very gracious to their international guests. It is a place that I would definitely recommend visiting as it is unlike anywhere else I have traveled in the world. 

If you’re so inclined, I hope you have the opportunity to visit one day. It’s worth the trip! 

And whether you travel to Peru, or stay close to home, remember… 

It’s a sunny life. Wear your hat.