For the Amazon region of Peru, you can continue from the article on the link.
What I never had in my plan when I started the trip and now how If I’m caught in the wind, I’m in Peru to blow me away and go to Macchu Picchu, where it’s called “it’s the pilgrimage of travelers”.
Note: If this trip If you haven’t read the cover article I shared for you, I suggest you take a look at it first.. It can be useful for you to see my 60-day itinerary, the items I took with me, and the total cost of the trip.
South America Trip Cover Letter
Cusco
It took me about 10 hours to get here from Bolivia.. it was a comfortable trip. The only problem is getting down to the terminal at 5 am.. I came here spontaneously, without arranging a hostel. I don’t speak Spanish either, what am I going to do now it’s 5 in the morning and someone from behind tapped me at the level of my knees and jokingly called “Hi bro”. While I was thinking, “Who is this maniac joking in the early morning, are we in Turkey?” I saw that it was actually Italian Roby, who is not far from our culture.. We met him at a hostel in La Paz/Bolivia.. We had a conversation for 5-10 minutes, that’s all.. After a short chat, we took a taxi for 3 TL per person and started looking for a hostel.. We came to the center and found a few hostels, but none of them allowed early check-in.. Permits were also expensive. We said we’d leave our bags in one of the hostels, let’s have some soup and see later.
What do you think we did when we saw the frog soup at 6 am?. Watch the video then let’s continue.
I loved Cusco from the first moment I arrived in the city. It feels like you’re living in the ancient times. Especially in the central region, historical buildings are very well preserved.. Clothing in people, as if from ancient times, is generally local.. It’s like we’re in a historic city away from technology, organic stuff everywhere.. Everywhere is made of cobblestones. Old aunts are so cute. I swear, what can I say, this place left a very positive atmosphere for me.
After drinking our famous soup, we arranged a nice hostel.. Private room price was 20 TL per night. In the very heart of the city. You’ve already watched the rest from the video.
We spent the day touring Cusco. Our main plan is to go to Machu Picchu the next day.. I say go, but the road is a bit rough. You can only go by train and train tickets are too expensive.. The Peruvian government was not intentionally building a highway to Machu Picchu.. Of course, this expensive ticket is only valid for foreigners.. If you have a Peruvian passport, you can use the train at the regular price.. When this was the case, we resorted to alternative routes and took the route below.
1- Custo —> Santa Maria (Road 5-6 hours, price per person 20 TL)
2- Santa Maria —> Santa Teresa (Road approx. 1 ,5 hours, price per person 7 TL)
3- Santa Teresa —> Hydro (The road is about half an hour, the price is 4 TL per person)
4- Hydro —> Machu Picchu (The road is about 3 hours, Price per person on foot is free )
The total route takes 10-11 hours with waiting times. With this route, you go from Cusco to Machu Picchu for 35 TL, all inclusive.. When you make the return in the same way, the total cost per person is 70 TL.. If you had done this road by train, the money you would have given was at least 300-350 TL.. And you wouldn’t have any road adventures either. In fact, they sell this route as a package tour in hostels.. But their prices are too high if you go on your own.
The best road adventure of my life is this road to Machu Picchu. If you are going definitely do this route and do it yourself. It may be boring alone, but you are very likely to find someone on the way.. If you leave the walking path to the night as we did, then the pleasure of the work will be multiplied. Roby’s friend Yuli, whom he met from his previous trips, joined us in the evening.. And we got up in the morning and set off. Watch the video, let’s continue.
Until now, I never said to any of my friends that you should definitely go there, you should definitely see this place, but from now on, “I went to Machu Picchu when I was young.” Try it, add Bolivia.”. How that locomotive stopped, what a chance we had, maybe this job is one of the things that made the trip a legend for me.. When we got off the locomotive, we came to the center of Machu Picchu.. First job we arranged a hostel. 15 TL per person per night in a private room for 3 people. Then we went out and bought our tickets to Machu Picchu for the next day.. Tickets with several alternatives can be purchased, but our preferred ticket was 140 sols, ie 110 TL, covering Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.. Although it may seem like a lot per person, it’s worth every penny.
Our aim was to get up early in the morning and set off.. We got up in the morning, it was raining so bad we couldn’t go out.. After waiting until 9am, we went out for breakfast and the rain gradually stopped.. At first we planned to go on foot, but when we lost 3 hours due to the rain, we had to pay 10 USD and went up by bus.. Though later I realized that we were actually doing well.. Because if we went out on foot, we might not be able to walk comfortably in Machu Picchu.. So if you plan to go, you can go up by bus and back by walking.. But don’t think the road will be easy just because you’re going downhill.. Because the road is very steep and your calves hurt even after 2 days of constantly braking yourself.. But the scenery is beautiful, the nature is already legendary. You still get off on foot (:
The top of Machu Picchu, it’s amazing to see the waters flowing from the rocks in the mountains, accompanied by the sound of the river and the moonlight. thing. I don’t know how to describe it, but there are steep rocky mountains in the lord of the rings and the hobbit movies, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw these was the scenes in those movies.. It is really difficult to understand how those people got here in their time.
Another extreme point is to buy the tour they call the Inca trail and climb the mountain opposite Machu Picchu, which is higher than Machu Picchu. to make the path followed by the Incas exactly. But for this tour, you need to book and pay months in advance.. The payment I mentioned starts from a minimum of 550 USD.. A coin that a normal backpacker can’t(can’t) give (:
The same tricky thing I mentioned we made the way back. On the way to walk, our eyes looked for a train again, but unfortunately there was no incoming or outgoing (:
On this way back, we also went to a thermal bath in the open air.. 1 hour away from the place called Hidro. This natural spring water was much better than the thermal baths I went to before.. I don’t know if the water is healing but the environment and view are very good. We entered at night accompanied by moonlight.. Renting shorts and towels is 3 TL, entrance is 2 TL. If you have time, I’d say stop by.. You will get rid of your tiredness on the hill all day long here.. If you want to go, ask Santa Terasa Hot spring, everyone knows.
When we returned to Cusco, we went directly to the hostel and rested. The next day, we decided to go out and visit the city and eat local food.. Of course, it was a difficult situation for me when the local dishes were not liked by the sultan or similar things like ours.. But I didn’t have a hard time eating it.. What are people not used to (:
There is a rodent species called Cui, and it’s actually a little bigger than a hamster.. A few travelers I met before told me to try the cui.. When I got up and came here, we said that it would not be possible without testing, we found a decent restaurant and placed our order.. Already Italian Roby is a chef in the Netherlands. Someone who wants to try, test everything. After all, that’s the man’s job.. Thanks to him, I tested and ate whatever I found.. In the video how I ate it (:
The taste of the animal was actually delicious. It’s like a chicken. But I guess I wouldn’t if they asked me to eat it again.
After finishing the tour in Cusco, Roby and Yuli continued towards Colombia.. Since Argentina was in my plan, we had to part ways and continued our tour.. But I know that we will meet again either in the Netherlands, in Ukraine or in Istanbul.. Maybe we’ll plan another itinerary together and go somewhere again (:
I set out for the city of Arequipa, which is on the way, because I’m going to the Chilean side.. The journey takes 10 hours, the bus ticket is 75 TL.
Arequipa
Check-in at the hostel as our arrival in the city is at an early hour it was hard to do. Again, we took a taxi from the terminal to the city center with someone I met on the bus.. The price per person is 4 TL.
When the first hostel we went to did not check-in early, I found another hostel and settled there.. 20 TL per night in a 6-person room, including breakfast. After a little rest and shower, I went out and started to explore the city.. This is a place with a slight Cusco flavor.. The old buildings are again very well preserved, some people still only walk around in local clothes.. They have a nice central markets. I can say that I like this place too.
If you are thinking of buying souvenirs or clothes made of alpaca wool, the prices here are a little cheaper than in Cusco.. You can also find what you want to buy here. There was also a Christian holiday or something like that when I was there.. The 2 days of my stay were interesting and fun.. Nightlife is also very lively and prices are affordable.
Then I went to the border city of Tacna to move on to Chile.. I say I went, but it’s been a tricky journey again. The bus ticket is 15 TL, the road takes 6 hours.
Tacna
Normally, I would never stay in this city, but on the way, the bus All my plans were turned upside down because it broke. I had to stay here for one night.. There is not much hostel concept in the city. I paid 30 TL per night to a place like the most affordable guesthouse.. Since we came here, I thought I’d get up in the morning and visit the city.. I wandered around the streets and avenues, I visited the business houses. An ordinary place with not much humor. You should definitely continue your trip here without wasting time.
I decided to go to Chile at noon and set off for the terminal.. At first I will move on to the city of Arica in Chile. At the terminal, both buses and passenger cars go to the city of Arica. If you go by bus, the ticket is 10 TL, if you go by passenger cars, it is 15 TL.. I preferred a passenger car as I did not want to waste any more time.. The vehicle is on its way, did you find 5 people?. The front seat is double and two people are sitting.
Please click the link to continue the Chile travel article;
Chile Travel Notes
