Cusco is not only known for its tourist attractions but also for its varied gastronomic offerings, including a long legacy of dishes prepared and perfected over the centuries and enriched with Western ingredients. The city’s chicherías and picanterías, which offer typical dishes, are no longer frequented exclusively by locals. Tourists also find them an unmissable experience. Some of the best dishes are:
Peruvian gastronomy is already known worldwide for its quality and variety, so much so that for six consecutive years Peru has received the award for Top Culinary Destination, awarded by the World Travel Awards. Peruvian cuisine is one of the most varied in the world, with a pre-Inca, Inca, Spanish, African, French, Chinese-Cantonese, Japanese, and Italian heritage, mainly until the 19th century.
We recommend the 10 best restaurants in Cusco.
One of the great challenges for UNESCO World Heritage Sites is to find a balance between tourism and heritage conservation. This issue has been the main topic of debate today given the widespread idea that tourism contributes to poverty reduction and the sustainable development of local communities.
Travel has the power to positively impact the lives of travelers through meaningful experiences and memories. It also has the power to positively transform destinations and the lives of the people who host our travelers.
These are the stories of sustainability in Cusco and the Peruvian Amazon.
One of the questions that are constantly repeated when organizing a trip is “What is the best date to travel to the desired destination?” In the case of Cusco, this answer depends on many aspects: the weather you prefer, the dates you have available if you like to travel with more or fewer people. Before scheduling or getting tickets for the trip to Cusco, it is necessary to know about the seasons and ideal dates.
Cusco has two seasons; a dry season and a rainy season, which we will describe below.
Every traveler should spend some time in Cusco, the captivating ancient capital of the Inca Empire.
A destination in its own right due to its historical importance in South America, its captivating mix of cobblestone streets, colonial-era architecture, and that unmistakable Peruvian street spirit, Cusco’s designation as the gateway to the beautiful Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu only underscores its enduring popularity.
What makes Cusco special is because it is one of the most recommended destinations in the array of experiences that make your trip enjoyable. Here are the largest hotel companies, trains, and luxury restaurants.
If you are considering traveling to Cusco these 10 destinations should be on your list.
It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world, for its incredible tourist attraction, its beauty, and architectural grandeur.
The trip begins in one of the most beautiful cities of Cusco, considered the archaeological capital of America. You can choose to go by train where you can appreciate the Andean landscapes and the jungle in your splendor, but if you prefer adventure, another option is to go through the Inca trails, for four days or two days of walking where you will enter into an exceptional experience, if you are lucky, you can see one of the repetitive species of Peru the spectacled bear, you can also see species of orchids throughout the route among other species of flora and fauna.
Your experience visiting Machu Picchu will be unforgettable.
Between imposing landscapes of vast vegetation and cities that keep their culture intact, the Sacred Valley shows its visitors the variety of flora, temperate climate, and natural resources it possesses. In the times of the Tahuantinsuyo, it was the center of the Cusco civilization, becoming an important source of food for the ancient Incas. This city is located within the province of Urubamba and is surrounded by impressive gorges, the tour to the Sacred Valley is the route from Cusco to Urubamba a tour of towns and archaeological sites, in this tour, you will visit the following places: the salt mines of Maras, Moray, Chinchero textile centers, Pisac, Ollantaytambo. This tour can be done in a day or two depending on your travel time. For the adventurous you can start climbing the Via Ferrata, as this rock circuit will give you an incredible view of the entire valley.
Cusco is at 3,399 meters above sea level. At this altitude, it is normal for tourists to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness such as fatigue, difficulty breathing, and even nausea, so you should rest to acclimatize. In the afternoon you can take the well-known “city tour” to visit the following places: Cathedral, Qoricancha, Sacsayhuaman that had a defensive military value, Qenqo, Tambomachay and if you have time, you can visit the neighborhood of San Blas which is one of the most representative neighborhoods of Cusco.
The South Valley Cusco has a variety of popular attractions, such as the oldest church of Andahuaylillas, a small town, which is located 36 km. from Cusco. In this half-day South Valley Cusco Tour, we will also visit Tipon, an archaeological site in the South Valley, which has terraces, terraces, and gardens, designed by the Incas, with a unique subway irrigation system in a mountain at 3,318 meters above sea level, Another of the sites that are on the route is Pikillaqta, a pre-Inca city, made by the Wari culture, designed with an urban system of streets, squares.
The mountain of the 7 Colors (also called Vinicunca or simply ‘rainbow’) is one of Peru’s newest and best attractions. Located more than 100 kilometers from the city of Cusco, in an altitudinal summit located at 5,200 meters above sea level. It is a mountainous formation dyed of several tonalities product of a complex combination of minerals, the best season to visit it is from April to October. The tour is a full-day tour leaving at 5 am. If you like walking, this can be a good option, as the level of walking is easy.
You should bring warm clothes and a good camera to take good pictures.
Most travelers (regardless of age) will have no problems. The recommendation is always to spend at least two days in Cusco before traveling to Palcoyo to acclimatize the body. As for the cold, it is very important to bring warm clothes.
Palcoyo is the alternative option to the rainbow mountain. It is quieter without so many tourists, so you can take plenty of good pictures. In addition, you can appreciate a forest of stones formed naturally. There are plenty of llamas, alpacas, and vizcachas.
7.- RED VALLEY
As in all destinations to visit the Red Valley you leave very early in the morning, the Red Valley is located in the district of Pitumarca, Canchis. This means that if you are near the Seven Colored Mountain you could also hike to the Red Valley and get involved with the natural beauty.
Now you may be wondering “Why is it red?” The Red Valley is a chain of ravines and mountains that have a beautiful reddish color due to the mineral composition of the place. The difficulty of the tour is moderate, so it is recommended to be in good physical condition. The time of arrival is approximately three hours, depending on the pace and your physical condition.
If you enjoy nature and trekking, this place is ideal. Humantay, is a mountain covered with snow that is part of the Andean mountain range and gives rise to the formation of this splendid lagoon, of its unique turquoise color. The walk to the place will make you feel a sense of peace and tranquility.
With a mystical air, the lagoon is visited by tourists from all over the world to leave offerings to the Pachamama, a deity that represents mother earth in the Inca culture. By placing stones (apachetas), an offering is made to Pachamama thanking her for having reached the lagoon successfully, as well as asking her to accompany them on their journey.
After the tour you can stay for lunch at a campsite, enjoying the beautiful view.
It is considered the sister city of Machu Picchu and is as surprising as the latter. There is no way to get to Choquequirao with mobility, so you must take a walk of 60 km, which lasts 4 days. It is advisable to go with a travel agency to avoid getting lost on the route. It is not a simple route, but it is full of adventure, with incredible landscapes, abundant Andean flora, and fauna. The Inca city of Choquequirao will pleasantly surprise you. It is a place that you can enjoy more quietly since the visitor traffic is much lower than in Machu Picchu.
Regarding the travel equipment that you should carry for a 60 kilometers trek are the following:
Backpack – For the trek to Choquequirao it is necessary to carry a backpack, where its weight should not exceed 8 kilos.
Camping equipment – It is essential that you carry tents and all the camping equipment since on the route to Choquequirao you will have to camp in different places.
Food. – For the trip to Choquequirao it will be necessary to buy fruits and non-perishable food.
Clothing. – Polo shirts for the heat, waterproof coats for the night, long and short waterproof pants, wool socks for the night, trekking shoes, hat.
Did you know that Peru has the largest tropical glacier in the world? Yes, the Quelcaya Glacier, with a length of more than 17 km, a surface of 44 km², and an ice layer of 200 m thick. It is advisable to hire an agency because the trail is long and it is necessary to go with an expert who knows the area.
Conquer the Quelccaya with these recommendations:
– A backpack made of materials such as nylon or polyamide: they are lighter, durable, and waterproof.
– Due to the low temperatures, always dress in layers. First, wear a breathable polo shirt, then an insulating layer (such as fabric or fleece), then a down jacket and a raincoat, synthetic socks to avoid blisters, and cotton socks to absorb moisture. Don’t forget a hat and gloves.
– It is advisable to wear high-heeled, water-resistant shoes with soles for slippery terrain.
– Protect yourself from the sun’s rays with a good sunscreen with a UV filter of factor 50 or higher and do not forget sunglasses, as the glare can damage your corneas.
– Bring maps of the area and portable chargers.
When preparing for a trip it is always difficult to decide what to bring, especially if we do not know much about the destination and its climate.
Machu Picchu is located in the middle of the mountains between the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountains, so it has a humid and warm climate, unlike Cusco, which has a dry and cold climate. The rainy season starts in November until March, so it is recommended to wear warmer clothes. The dry season is from April until October. Keep in mind that Machu Picchu is in the jungle so in the dry season there may be small drizzles.
That is why we will give you a list with some recommended elements to make your stay in the Inca Citadel one of the best experiences.
Tipping is always a popular subject with Tanzania safaris, Kilimanjaro hiking, and the overall Tanzania Holiday. Travelers often ask themselves, “How much should I tip?” or “Why should I tip?” After paying for your safari it is only logical asking yourself these questions given the sums already paid for the safari.
Tipping culture & its origin in Tanzania
Tanzania is not a wealthy country, and Westerners might see the local customary wages as unjust. So it has always been a tradition to tip your safari crew or mountain crew and others who serve you while traveling in Tanzania. In fact, it is fair to say tips are expected when traveling through Tanzania and the crew or servers will feel unappreciated when not tipped.
Why is tipping so important & why should you tip?
The reasons are:
How to make sure your tip gets where you intend it to?
You should make an effort to hand your tip directly to the person it is for. In this way, you can help ensure that your wishes are being respected. It is fine if you wish to put your tip into an envelope or give a group tip to be divided evenly but you should make an effort to let the crew know so each can receive it as you planned.
When to tip?
Most clients tip at the end of the safari, which makes sense as it should be based upon the overall satisfaction of your crew.
Note: Why don’t safari soles add a surcharge to the trip’s price to cover tips?
Tipping in Tanzania is tax-free, and adding it onto the price will be subjected to 18% increase on the price and as the tips will then be considered as official income to the crew it will then be subjected to income tax. Hence lowering the value, the crew receives or increases the tip amount to the client.
Transparency, we do believe our team has full trust in us but to ensure we don’t ever have to explain we encourage our clients to tip directly and recommend that those who feel the need to be discreet should use envelopes.
Who to tip?
Factors to consider when tipping
Tipping can be done via foreign or local currency. For foreign currency, we recommend you use US dollars, euros, or pound sterling, as this can be easily converted to Tanzanian shillings.
Tipping guideline on a Tanzania safari
Tipping is slightly different on the tour you are taking, so here is a guideline that will help you sort and plan thoroughly.
Tanzania Safari tipping guideline
We recommend that travelers tip between the below guideline. However, tipping is not mandatory or enforced but highly recommended. As it is a safari tradition and the crew will be expecting some tips. you can tip more or less depending on the performance of the crew.
US$ 8 -10 per guest per day for a group guide
US$ 20 – 30 per guest per day for a private guide
US$ 8 -10 per guest per day for a group safari chef
US$ 15 – 25 per guest per day for a private safari chef
US$ 1-5 for general staff
Note: The minimum tip to a private guide is assuming you are two and the maximum is assuming you are one; if you are on a private group of more than three, we recommend you use group guide guideline.
Tipping guideline on a Kilimanjaro hike.
Unlike tipping on a safari, tipping in Kilimanjaro is not much of a bonus or reward particularly attentive service, but a mandatory payment to subsidize wages porters or guides receive.
First will have to keep you informed on wages.
The minimum wage set is 10 USD a day per porter, 20 USD per guide, and 15 USD per assistant guide and mountain cook. Again, we emphasize that there may be a time lag between one job to the other, however, many companies don’t even pay this figure. If you pay anything less than 1,800 USD for five days and 1,900 USD for six days it is highly likely the wage demands were not met correctly. It is fair to say even when the minimum wage requirement is met, these wages are still not fair and that’s why we recommend each client to tip.
Each group will have
Toilet porters & assistant cook (occasionally depends on package purchased or group size).
Tanzania Tipping guidelines per Group per day:
Head Guide: 20 – 25 USD.
Assistance Guide: 12 – 20 USD.
Cook: 12 – 20 USD.
Assistant cook: 10- 15 USD.
Porter: 7 – 10 USD
Note: joining a group will reduce your tip figure as a tipping obligation will be shared among the group.
Example:
Tipping guideline on Kilimanjaro
For a 6-day trek, the total tipping value per group and climber would look as follows.
| No. of trekkers (US$) | 1 Climber | 2 Climbers | 3 Climbers | 4 Climbers |
| Guide | $120-150 | $120-150 | $150-175 | $150-175 |
| Assistant Guide | ___ | $90-105 | $90-105 | $180-210 |
| Cooks | $72-105 | $72-105 | $105-120 | $105-120 |
| Porters | $168- 240 | $294-490 | $378- 540 | $462-660 |
| Total for group | $360-495 | $576-850 | $723-940 | $897-1165 |
| Per climber | $360-495 | $288-425 | $241-313 | $224-291 |
Kilimanjaro tipping guideline
Note: 1 Climber 4 porter, 2 Climbers 7 porters, 3 Climbers 9 Porters, 4 Climbers 11 Porters and 2 Assistant Guide.
Climbers choosing treks with more or less should consider an average increase or decrease of $60 in their tipping budget.
Note: Climbers who find tipping well above their budget could consider donating hiking gear directly to the crew if they don’t plan on using them again.
Donation of Clothing & Equipment.
You might consider donating your clothing and equipment to the climbing team in addition to tipping them after your climb. Remember that the staff climbs Kilimanjaro many times a year and can go through their clothes and gear rather quickly.
You can be straightforward to ask if something is needed and then donate it individually. Your donation is of great assistance to these individuals, many of whom are unwilling to spend their money on material goods they consider a luxury rather than a necessity.
They will appreciate your generosity tremendously as this will make their hard job even easier. Avoid giving items to your guide for distribution to porters.
Donations should be given directly to the individuals they are intended for, perhaps those with the greatest need or who were of particularly good service.
Tipping Ceremony on Kilimanjaro on the last day (after the summit).
Tipping will be done on the last day of the trek in what is known as the tipping ceremony.
The head guide will assemble the entire staff to say a word of thanks. Tips can be made in US dollars (USD) or Tanzanian Shillings (TSH). It is very important that US bills are not older than 2010, as they are not accepted in the country or will derive a lower value in Tanzania.
It is very helpful to organize a well-estimated amount of USD before arrival, as exchange rates may vary a lot.
If you’re planning on trekking in Nepal, here is a short compilation of the best seasons to do it in.
First, decide which season is the best season for you.
You can hike throughout Nepal in almost all seasons, except the rainy season, but that is still doable on certain routes.
Spring, besides autumn, is one of the best seasons to trek in Nepal. And if you’re into nature, this is the season for your trekking adventures. The trekking routes in spring are lush green dotted with exotic flowers like orchids, rhododendrons, and budding wildflowers, a welcome treat to your eyes. And the pleasant weather adds more to your trekking experience along with the warmer nights.
Another plus of trekking in spring is that it is ideal for people who do not like crowds. Spring is also the start of the climbing season. With clear skies, the views of lofty peaks of the Himalayas and the lush and vibrant greenery are spectacular.
Trekking in the mountains of Nepal has always been a source of happiness for me. It is the true form of excitement and joy which I get to experience with the company of the mountains. Every journey brings different kinds of experiences and adventures. And every time there is some new lcesson. I guess we can say that nature is the best teacher we have. From all my treks as a traveler and as a guide I have learned quite a few things from the great mountains of Nepal – Dominick Santariga.
Don’t wait any longer! Contact us today.
Nature Horizons was born out of the dream to explore and discover the most amazing places on the planet. Our travel tours fully immerse you in wildlife, culture, mountains, megalithic sites, adventure, nature, and love for our beautiful Mother Earth.
+1 (845) 324 9598
PO Box 1128, Beach Haven, 08008
Nature Horizons was born out of the dream to explore and discover the most amazing places on planet earth. Our travel tours will fully immerse you in wildlife, culture, mountains, megalithic sites, adventure, nature, and the love for our beautiful Mother Earth.
PO Box 1128, Beach Haven, 08008