Peru Things to Do Tips by windsorgirl

Pisac Market

You will find many locally made handicrafts here at the Pisac Market, and all at very reasonable prices. There are handknit sweaters, silver jewellery, wooden carvings and woven linens, amongst other things. Pisac is a great daytrip from Cusco, just catch a local bus.

You will also see the local women wearing their traditional tall white hats.

Taquile Island

Another stop on the Lake Titicaca circuit is Taquile Island. There are lovely walks here to some pre-Incan terraces and small ruins.

The young girl in the photo was herding a couple of pigs back home. The people here lead a very simple life. There are no roads and electricity was only introduced in 1990.

Amantani Island

If you take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca, you will probably stop at Amantani Island. My tour included an overnight "home stay" with a local family. Myself and another traveller were given a private and comfortable room and they also gave us dinner and breakfast. It was interesting to see how these people lived.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America with a length of more than 170kms. It is also one of the world's highest lakes, and at this altitude, the clear air gives the lake its stunning, deep blue colour.

Interesting boat trips can be made from Puno to the lake's many islands. I booked my trip from Cusco, which included a stop at a floating Reed Island, Amantani Island and Taquille Island.

The Uros people built their floating islands to isolate themselves from the Incas and Collas. About 300 people still live on the islands. They are formed by many layers of the buoyant totora reed which is harvested in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. As the bottom layers decay, new layers are piled on. They also weave boats, such as the one pictured, out of these reeds.

Machu Picchu

The highlight of any trip to Peru must be the magnificent Machu Picchu. It is believed to have been abandoned by the Inca in 1572 after housing 1000 people for 100 years. It was thought to be a sacred religious site for the Inca, perhaps a convent, since most of the bones found there are female.

It was discovered under a thick growth of vegetation in 1911. It has a wonderful location overlooking the Andean mountain tops.

I recommend staying overnight at Aguas Calientes so you can have a second look at the ruins the next day.

Directions: You can take a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and then a bus up to the ruins. Or take my recommendation and hike the 4 day Inca trail culminating at Machu Picchu then take the train back to Cusco.

Sacsayhuaman

These ruins are located on the outskirts of Cusco. It is a remarkable fortress with a zigzagging base made of very large boulders that were shaped to fit together puzzle-like without mortar. The largest boulder measures 28 feet high and weighs 40 tonnes. It is believed that the base stones were quarried some 35kms away. You can see the size and tight fit of the stones in the photo.

It was impossible for the Spanish to believe that the simple aboriginial Incas could have designed and built such a structure that has withstood many destructive earthquakes. The Spanish thought it must have been built with the intervention of evil spirits or aliens.

Construction began in 1438 and took some 50 years and 20,000 men to complete.

Directions: You can walk from Cusco by taking the steep Resbalosa street, turn right at the top and continue until you reach the Old Inca Road that will bring you to the ruins. The walk should take less than an hour.

Cusco

Cusco is a great place for tourists. There are many affordable accomodations, restaurants and nightclubs. It is the place to organize your visit to Machu Picchu and other nearby ruins and markets.

Cusco was the former capital of the great Inca empire until the Spanish conquered it in 1533. It is said to be the longest inhabited city in the Americas. People have been living here since 1000 BC. You can soak it all in, in the wonderful Plaza D'Armas in the centre of town. The last Inca Emperor, Tupac Amaru was executed by the Spaniards in the Plaza in 1572.

One word of warning, though, it is not recommended to walk alone at night. Even groups of tourists have been robbed, so be sure to leave your valuables in the hotel safe before you venture out for the evening.

Pisac Agricultural Terraces

From atop the Pisac Ruins, you will have a great view of the agricultural terraces that Pisac is known for as well as the valley below and distant mountains.

Directions: Pisac can be reached by minibus or taxi from Cusco. It is 32km northeast of Cusco.

Runquracay Ruins

On Day Two of the 4 Day Inca Trail, we camped very close to these ruins that had a superb view over the valley and Rio Pacamayo. The hanging fog made you feel like you were walking in the clouds.

Pisac

Pisac is a good daytrip from Cusco. There are some wonderful agricultural terraces here as well as these well preserved ruins and a great market.

Directions: Pisac is located 32 km northeast of Cusco. Take a minibus from Cusco or share a taxi.