Don't Flip Your Lid Over Missing Toilet Seats in Peru

Don't Flip Your Lid Over Missing Toilet Seats in Peru

In 2007 when I began traveling in Peru and South America, I noticed that many toilets outside the hotels, did not have seats. I found this to be pretty common all over Peru and other places. For women, especially older women,…

How to Powder Your Nose at Machu Picchu

How to Powder Your Nose at Machu Picchu

It's the elephant in the room at Machu Picchu. The one with his legs crossed. The thing that no one dreams they have to add to their list of "essential things to plan when I go to Machu Picchu."  Who could imagine that you need…

3 Tips For Finding Your Guide Upon Arrival in a Foreign Airport

3 Tips For Finding Your Guide Upon Arrival in a Foreign Airport

It's common for people who book guided tours and trips abroad to make their own international flight arrangements to their destinations. Their first contact with the travel company could be at the airport when they arrive. Even…

How to Travel Plastic Free: Make your Own Kit

How to Travel Plastic Free: Make your Own Kit

Single-use plastic water bottles are just the tip of the proverbial ice-berg of waste generated by humans all over the globe on a daily basis. Every time we consume foods and beverages inside and outside our homes we are making…

New Short Route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo

New Short Route from Cusco to Ollantaytambo

On the map it looks easy to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo on your way to Machu Picchu. For people who don't know why this is important, the main railway station for trains to Machu Picchu is in Ollantaytambo, which is a 2 hour…

Map of Sacred Valley Routes and 1 Day Inca Trail Hike

Map of Sacred Valley Routes and 1 Day Inca Trail Hike

Map of Cusco, Sacred Valley Tours (2 options) Ollantaytambo and 1 Day Hike to Machu Picchu. Click on markers or zoom in or out to see different features.  Includes the new shorter direct route between Cusco and Ollantaytambo.  

Traveling in South America? How to communicate for free

Traveling in South America? How to communicate for free

We're all about travel in South America and one of the most important questions we get is how to communicate while on the go. I use T-mobile phone service including an optional international plan that gives me free unlimited texting…

Machu Picchu Hourly Entry Tickets: it's not What You Think

Machu Picchu Hourly Entry Tickets: it's not What You Think

It seems there is a misunderstanding of the purpose of the new hourly entry tickets for visitors traveling to Machu Picchu. Peru launched a new website with a new system for selecting entry tickets by the hour effective on January…

Hidden Benefit of Perurail Bimodal Service to Machu Picchu

Hidden Benefit of Perurail Bimodal Service to Machu Picchu

Hidden in plain view. This secret benefit on Perurail can save you money and add convenience to your trip to Machu Picchu. How? During the rainy season in Peru, PeruRail shuts down the train station in Poroy from January 2- April…

Travel to Machu Picchu: How to choose the best water bottle

Travel to Machu Picchu: How to choose the best water bottle

Although it was announced to tour operators that starting in January 2019, single-use plastic water bottles and other plastic waste is banned from Machu Picchu, so far the new rule is not being enforced. For more information about…