Palm Sunday – Sunday 14th April

Traditionally celebrated by attending mass and having palms blessed. Masses will take place in the Cathedral on the Main Square also known as Plaza de Armas at 5.30am, 7am, 8.30am and 10am.

Holy Monday – Monday 15th of April

This is effectively the most important day of the Holy Week festivities and includes the famous Procession of ‘El Señor de los Temblores’ (The Lord of Earthquakes).

This saint is of particular importance to the people of Cusco after the figure of this saint was brought out from the cathedral to successfully end a powerful earthquake whose successive tremors were demolishing the city back in 1650.

The procession starts at 2pm leaving from the cathedral and parades around the historic centre returning to the main square at approx. 7pm, which is usually packed at this point. You can’t miss the procession as crowds will start to gather hours before in the Plaza de Armas or main square to get a good viewpoint.

The Lord of the Earthquakes procession in Cusco during Semana Santa or Holy Week.

The procession will also be broadcast live on giant screens which will be located on Plazoleta Espinar and Avenida Sol for those that want to view the procession in more comfort.

Masses will be held in the cathedral on the Main Square at 8am, 9am, 10am and 11am on Holy Monday.

Holy Thursday – Thursday 18th April

Holy Thursday is another important day in this religious festivity. All the churches in Cusco are open to the public with no entry charge. Tradition has it that if you visit seven churches your wish will be granted!

Official activities include a solemn mass in the cathedral at 4pm followed by a procession to the Templo de la Sagrada Familia.

Holy Thursday tradition also dictates the eating of 12 different dishes of food that includes dishes that contain potatoes, corn, shrimp and desserts like mazamorra or special Semana Santa empanadas.

Local families usually gather together to eat in remembrance of the last supper. Most restaurants usually offer some type of local dishes that you can try.

Good Friday – Friday 19th April

Good Friday tends to be quieter in Cusco than earlier in during Holy Week. The mass to celebrate the Passion of Christ takes place at 3pm followed by the Procession of Santo Sepulcro (Holy Sepulchre) at 5pm from the Templo de la Merced.

Easter Sunday – Sunday 21st April

Easter Sunday masses will be held in the cathedral at 5.30am, 7am, 8.30am and 10am.

Best of Peru Travel Recommends:

• Semana Santa in Cusco is a religious festival not a tourist event, so do remember to be respectful at all times and refrain from taking photos in any of the churches.

• Try to get a spot in one of the balconies overlooking the Plaza de Armas or main square for the best views of the El Señor de los Temblores(The Lord of Earthquakes) Procession.

• Be aware that the cathedral and some of the churches do close to the public for certain masses and other events. No tourist visits of the Cusco cathedral are possible on Holy Monday so do plan around this if you are going to be in Cusco and want to visit the cathedral.

Did you know that the Señor de los Temblores litter weighs 661kg and is carried by 45 men?

Click here to see more of our favourite things to see and do in Cusco

Great mid-range places to stay in Cusco

The post Top things to do during Easter & Semana Santa in Cusco 2019 appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

Our ideal one day itinerary for Pisac in the Sacred Valley looks something like this….

1. Strap on those hiking boots and head up to the Pisac Archaeological site.

The Pisac archaeological site is one of Pisac’s main attractions and is one of our favourite Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley. Spread out over 7km it takes a good 3-4 hours to really discover these Inca temples, terraces and burial grounds. Don’t try and do it in an hour like many of the tour buses! Interestingly the Incas kept the most fertile land for agriculture so they weren’t ‘wasted’ for building towns or cities on them! (how things change…)

We suggest you take a taxi up the ruins and then hike back down to the village of Pisac for breathtaking views and photo ops of the Urubamba River and valley. For more info on how to get to the Pisac ruins see here.

2. Check out one of Pisac’s cafes for a bite to eat.

After all that hiking you are sure to be a little peckish so head to one of our favourite food haunts in Pisac. For a good traditional breakfast on the go, head to the Pumachayoc Colonial Oven and ask Ernestina for one of her delicious, fresh empanada pastries. For a more upscale brunch in a cozy setting we love Cuchara de Palo on Pisac’s Main Square.

If you’re looking for something a little heartier we love the Asian-Peruvian fusion menu at Mullu, they have some good salads and veggie options too. For dessert, you can’t beat Ulrike’s Café and her world-famous carrot cake! A little further out of town but also one of our favourites is Dona Clorinda for traditional Andean home-style cooking in a peaceful garden setting.

Click here for more info on Pisac’s best places to eat. 

3. Retail Therapy at the Pisac Market

With renewed energy from all that good food head to the main square in Pisac, the best place in town to pick up some souvenirs. Pisac is famous for its silver jewellery, colourful Andean weavings and alpaca throws, scarves and other items that are sold at its daily market. Sunday is definitely the best day to hit the market if you want a shot of local culture. The colourfully dressed, local Quechua communities descend from the surrounding highlands to buy and sell their produce.

Some of our favourite places to shop are Toro Wasi for colourful ceramics created by local ceramicist Gustavo and Puskana Wasi for one of the best collections of traditional frazadas (blankets) and weavings in town.

See all our favourite places to shop in Pisac here.

4. Decompress at the Botanical gardens

After all the craziness at the market we love to visit one of Pisac’s lesser known attractions – the Felipe Marin Botanical Gardens.

This small botanical garden is located down one of Pisac’s cobbled streets inside a typical colonial patio and is an oasis of calm. Take a book and a cool drink and enjoy the beautiful flowers and plants, as well as hummingbirds, dragonflies and butterflies. You will usually have the place to yourself so it’s perfect for a spot of meditation or some deep relaxation in the heart of Pisac.

Click here to see more top things to see and do in Pisac

Are you planning a trip to Peru? Need some help creating your dream itinerary? We can help you save both money and time and would love to share our insider knowledge of Peru with you so that you can build your very own curated itinerary saving hundreds of dollars along the away… Find out how here.

The post Our Ideal One Day Itinerary for Pisac in the Sacred Valley appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

Bear in mind that two days is definitely not enough to see everything but these are some of the top attractions so you can get a good feel for the city.

Day 1: Barranco & Miraflores

Arriving in Lima can be somewhat of a culture shock if it’s your first time in a South American country. We recommend you start your first day in the Miraflores and Barranco districts of the city to get a feel for modern Lima.

Have more time? Check out our what to see in Lima in two days: Barranco self-guided tour.

Avenida Saenz Peña

Start on Avenida Saenz Peña which is one of the nicest streets in this neighbourhood. Colonial mansions which were once the holiday homes of wealthy ‘Limeños’ sit on either side of the park running through the middle.

On the same street the beautifully restored Lucia de la Puente Museum houses one of Peru’s best selections of contemporary art and exhibits work by Peruvian artists like Alberto Borea, Aldo Chaparro and Sandra Gamarra.

Head diagonally across the street to Dedalo. An Aladdin’s cave of contemporary Peruvian art, handcrafts and jewellery sourced from all over Peru. They have a nice little café in the courtyard out the back. Their carefully curated selection gives you a lovely feel for the quality and variety of Peruvian art.

Bridge of Sighs & La Ermita Chapel

Head down Avenida San Martín to the famous Bridge of Sighs, one of Barranco’s main tourist attractions. The bridge is a favourite with couples and rumour has it that if you cross the bridge while holding your breath your wish will come true…

The rundown yellow adobe La Ermita chapel is just above the ‘Bajada de Baños’ pedestrian walkway down to the ocean. Head past la Ermita Chapel to the viewpoint for great views of the coastline.

Barranco Main Square

Barranco’s Main Square is a colourful hub of local life. Grab a bench and do some people watching or visit the Municipal Library which also houses the tourist office. A great spot to get a feel for local life in this vibrant Lima suburb.

Avenida Pedro de Osma

Did you know that the world famous photographer Mario Testino was Peruvian? The MATE Museum on Avenida Pedro de Osma is a homage to his work and is housed in a beautifully restored 19^th century townhouse on Avenida Pedro de Osma. You will find collections of his most iconic work including portraits of princess Diana and Kate Moss as well as the a stunning ‘Alta Moda’ collection – high fashion shots of traditional Peruvian dress.

Just next door to the MATE Gallery, the Pedro de Osma Museum is situated in a beautiful beaux-arts mansion surrounded by manicured gardens. The museum exhibits the private collection of Pedro de Osma who was a collector of art from the 15^th to the 18^th century.  You can find paintings by masters including Bernardo Bitti and Luis de Riano as well as examples from the 18^th century Cusco School.

The walls of Barranco’s streets are alive with murals, so keep your eyes peeled when you are exploring  to spot colourful scenes from Lima’s vibrant street art scene. Some of the best places to spot street art are on Avenida Pedro de Osma, Jiron 2 de mayo and Cajamarca Street.

Las Pallas Native Folk Art

Las Pallas is a treasure trove of native Peruvian folk art founded by Scottish born Mari Solari who has been based in Peru for more than fifty years. She hand-collects all items in her collection which features high quality weavings, carvings, paintings and antiques from all over Peru.

MAC Museum of Contemporary Art

MAC Lima exhibits the work of contemporary Latin American and European artists from the 1950s to the present. They have a permanent collection as well as two temporary collection spaces which feature different artists throughout the year.

The collection includes abstract expressionism, geometric art, constructivism, conceptual art, optical art, surrealism and pop art pieces and pieces by contemporary Peruvian artists. Ask for a guided tour when you buy your entrance ticket if you want to learn more about contemporary Peruvian art.

Click here to see our complete one day itinerary in Barranco

What to see in Lima in two days: Miraflores

Miraflores is the main tourist district of Lima and with parks, beaches, restaurants and shops is a great start for your Lima adventure.

The post What to See in Lima Peru in Two Days appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

More importantly, though Coca leaves are indeed the basic ingredient for cocaine, they are NOT in any way addictive (unless you were to consume them by the ton!) or bad for your health. A good analogy is that coca leaves are to cocaine what poppies are to heroin.

Coca leaves were sacred to the Incas, and since then have been used as a natural remedy for many ailments, including headache, sore throat and stomach upsets. Today, the coca leaf is a vital part of the Peruvian national identity.

Read our top tips to avoid altitude sickness in Cusco & Machu Picchu

It isn’t uncommon to see people walking the streets of Cusco with a slight bulge in their cheeks. Fear not, they aren’t making some rude facial gesture (we hope!), they are simply chewing coca leaves (this is done in similar fashion to chewing tobacco).

Many Peruvians, especially the indigenous, chew coca leaves or drink coca tea in the same way that you might drink your morning coffee to get the day going. Mate de coca is similar in looks and taste to green tea, slightly bitter with some sweetness. Much like caffeine, the effects of coca include increased energy levels (very useful if you’re schedule is jam-packed full of sightseeing, shopping or trekking!) and increased alertness.

Where coca leaves really come in handy, however, is for the treatment of altitude sickness, something that many visitors to Cusco will experience. The benign properties of the plant are somewhat of a ‘miracle medicine’, and are highly effective at treating the symptoms of altitude sickness, or ‘soroche’.

If you’re still slightly wary of trying out coca leaves or drinking mate, just remember that it is NOT cocaine. It is not addictive, nor will it get get you ‘high’, and it can be a godsend when dealing with the high altitude of the Andes and the resulting queasiness and low energy levels. Most hotels offer complimentary coca tea 24 hours a day to help guests acclimatise to the high altitude and trust us it works!

All you need to know about how to beat altitude sickness in Cusco & Machu Picchu!

Read more about travelling to Cusco here.

The post Coca Leaf Tea For Preventing Altitude Sickness in Cusco appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

This week we stopped by the Cuchara de Palo restaurant in Pisac to chat with head Chef Leonel Witman Almanza Ccori who agreed to show us how to make a traditional Andean recipe of ‘quinotto’, a type of risotto made with the Andean super-grain quinoa.

Chef Leonel explains that all his dishes are created using local Andean products and ingredients including aji amarillo (a tasty yellow chilli pepper) and grains like quinoa and kiwicha as he wants visitors to the Sacred Valley to be able to taste real Andean food. It’s also the restaurants vision to give back to the local community by buying their produce locally – their greens and veggies come from the Kusi Ñan organic farm project, trout is brought down from the high altitude lakes surrounding Pisac and other produce is delivered fresh from the surrounding highland communities.

Quinoa is currently one of the ‘hottest’ super foods in the world and is also one of the key ingredients in Leonel’s dishes. The word “quinoa” is pronounced “KEEN-wah” and comes from the local Quechua language. It is in fact a seed, is gluten and cholesterol-free, high in protein, has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and was known as the ‘Gold of the Incas’.

So let’s get cooking and try some for ourselves…

Quinotto Ingredients:

• 100g quinoa
• 200g water
• 20g diced red pepper
• 20g shredded spinach
• 15g sliced mushromos
• 10g diced onion
• 10g crushed garlic
• 20g brazil nuts cut into thin slices
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 20g Andean cheese (cheddar or mozzarella will also work well)
• 20g cream
• 3oz whole milk
• Dash of white wine
• Parmesan cheese to garnish
• Salt & pepper

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Yield: Serves 1 adult portion.

Quinotto Ingredients.

Method:

1. Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Heat oil, garlic and onion in a frying pan until they turn transparent.
3. Add the red pepper, mushrooms, spinach, brazil nuts and splash of white wine and cook for two minutes.
4. Add the cooked quinoa to the pan and slowly add the milk and cream.
5. Add the cheese and mix until it melts into the mixture.
6. Season with salt and pepper and top with parmesan cheese.
7. Serve with a fresh green salad and enjoy!

The finished dish. Mmm…

For more information on the Cuchara de Palo restaurant click here

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Pisac is one of the most vibrant villages in the Sacred Valley and is a great place to use as a base from which you can explore the surroundings including the rest of the Sacred Valley. Book a room at the Pisac Inn, run by Peruvian-American couple Fielding and Roman. This charming 10 room boutique Inn is a great option if you’re looking for something comfortable, cozy and just a little bit different from the norm. It’s smack bang in the middle of Pisac’s main square and is the perfect base for spending several days exploring this corner of the valley.

Fielding and Roman are also very involved in preserving the local Andean culture and offer a variety of tours and cultural activities in and around Pisac. Their tours give you a lovely insight into the local culture and Andean cosmovision that is often easy to miss on the mainstream tourist circuit.

Some of our other favourite self-guided activities to see and do in Pisac include:

• Pisac ruins
• Pisac Sunday Market
• Felipe Marin Moreno Botanic Gardens
• Unucha Spa for a flower bath and relaxing massage with one of the best views in town.
• Museum of Corn.
• Museo Comunitario (Community Museum).
• Wander around the streets of Pisac to discover great handcrafts and colourful souvenirs to take home.
• Visit Pisac’s famous and traditional wood-fired ovens and try a delicious empanada at the Pumachayoc Colonial Oven.
• Catch a local bus and spend the day in the town of Ollantaytambo.

Eagle-eye view of Pisac and the Sacred Valley in Peru.

Click here for information on how to get to Pisac

Click here for information on where to eat in Pisac

The post Pisac, a little piece of paradise in Peru’s Sacred Valley! appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

A while back we had the opportunity to try out a community tourism initiative run by the non-profit organization Awamaki in Ollantaytambo who work with local communities like the Patacancha communities to help them generate alternative streams of income. You can read more about their tours here.

Plants and minerals give the wool incredibly vivid colours that don’t fade over time.

They run several great projects including the tours but today we wanted to talk about their great ‘Awamaki Lab’ project which links traditional weavers and artisans (mainly female) with international designers. The idea is to use traditional and local materials and skills to develop functional and fashionable products for sale in Peru and the U.S – an interesting initiative that provides greater income for the artisans involved.

Designers take a sabbatical to come from the U.S and spend time in the Sacred Valley working with local Quechua communities where they investigate weaving methods and techniques and then together with the communities develop unique designs that can then be sold internationally.

This has allowed the Awamaki store in Ollantaytambo to stock a unique range of products including skirts and jackets, smartphone cases, gloves, hats and bags that have a more modern, attractive design but are made with local weaving techniques and materials.

Each item is hand-made and can take up to several weeks to create. Check out our photo gallery below to see this incredible process…

Step 1: Spinning the alpaca wool by hand. Alpaca wool is eight times warmer than sheeps wool!

Step 2: Preparing the natural dyes for dyeing the wool.

Step 3: Wool in the process of being dyed. Only natural plants and minerals are used to dye the wool.

Step 4: The recently dyed wool is dried in the sun. This also helps set the natural colours.

The work of preparing and dyeing the wool is carried out by the women in the community. Most communities are rural Andean communities.

Step 5: The different colours of wool are then woven by hand on a traditional back-strap loom to create scarves, blankets and other articles

Step 6: The finished product!

For more information on the Awamaki Lab Project click here and to visit their online store click here.

For more great things to do in Ollantaytambo click here.

The post Weaving Dreams in the Valley with the Awamaki Lab Project appeared first on Best of Peru Travel.

Two sections of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary will close temporarily in the month of April 2016 for essential maintenance to the Incan steps, platforms and walls . The two areas affected are the popular Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains that flank either end of this iconic World Heritage site.

Huayna Picchu will be closed between the 1st – 15th April and Machu Picchu mountain will close between the 16th and 30th April 2016. The main section of Machu Picchu, which is the part most travellers visit will remain open throughout April 2016.

If you want to climb these mountains during this period do book well in advance as limited availability will mean tickets sell out fast. Huayna Picchu is limited to 400 visitors every day and Machu Picchu mountain allows just 800 each day so do get boooking so you’re not disappointed!

For information on how to book your Machu Picchu tickets and the different ticket options available click here

How to get to Machu Picchu

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We’ve been out testing our favourite travel accessories on our recent trips to Cusco and Peru. The brief: find great travel gear that will make travel to the city of Cusco easy and hasle-free so that you can spend all your time living the experience and not worrying about your gear.

We’ve got your next trip covered with all our favourite travel gear to make your Cusco trip a breeze from top-tech devices to great backpacks and gadgets!

1. Apple I-phone 6

We were looking for a gadget that would allow us to communicate online and by phone as well as take incredible pictures. We were looking for an alternative to lugging a big camera around everywhere with us while travelling around Peru looking for all the best stuff to share with you all!

We found all this and more in the slick new I-phone 6. A battery life of up to 50 hours for audio and 11 hours for wi-fi and HD video plus the clean, high-quality images we could take with the camera and the 1080p HD video means the I-phone 6 is our current choice for work and play in Peru. Prices from US$649 unlocked.

2. Knomo Bude Backpack for Him

We fell in love the moment the Bude backpack reached our hands! This lightweight, slim-fit canvas backpack is divided into two compartments. The back one is padded and lined with micro-fibre to keep your laptop or tablet completely protected and the front section comes complete with an organisational panel to store your smartphone, chargers and pens.

This backpack was ideal when wandering around Cusco as it fit our laptop, DSLR camera, water bottle and notebook with space to spare and was suitably stylish for our stay at the luxury Palacio Nazarenas hotel yet didn’t look too flashy when wandering around the streets of Cusco.

We loved the Bude so much we have already bought several for friends and with the stylish, durable design the Bude is our top choice for  a weekend in Cusco! Prices from US$169

 3. Grid-It Acessory Organizer

We were tired of carrying around tons of cables, adapters and accessories so fell in love when we came across the Grid-It accesory organiser. It’s ideal for organising all your bits in one handy bundle when you are travelling around the sacred Valley and it looks slick too. Prices start from US$19.99.

4. Eat Smart Precision Voyager Luggage Scale

Once we tried this light-weight, compact luggage scales we wondered how we ever managed without it! Frequent travel between Europe and Peru and low baggage allowances make this little gadget very handy when we are moving around for last-minute weighing of our gear so we don’t get stung on extra baggage fees.

We love that you can hold it with two hands and that it can weigh up to 50 kilos (110 pounds.) It automatically switches itself off after 20 seconds if you forget to press the off button, and it beeps once it has weighed your bag so you aren’t left trying to hold up a heavy suitcase and guess if it has finished weighing your case or not.

A must-have travel accessory that weighs just 6.6oz and fits snugly in your suitcase! Price from US$14.95

5. The Smith Backpack For Her

This is one for the ladies… The Smith is a fashion heritage style backpack made from cotton canvas and we found it was ideal for sight seeing when we didn’t need to bring heavier laptops and tablets out with us.

It fits a camera, smartphone and notebook easily and is fully lined with a snazzy antique brazz clip. The Smith looks great and is ideal for a classy trip to Cusco and we loved that for every Smith bag bought, State will donate a bag to an American child in need. Look stylish and feel good too!

The Smith from US$110

6. SKROSS World Adapter MUV USB

This handy travel adapter enables you to connect your two pole devices in 150 different countries around the world including Peru. We particularly liked the handy USB charger that allows you to charge your smartphone and camera or any two devices at the same time which came in handy in hotel rooms with just one or two plugs which is often the case in Peru.

Peru uses two types of electrical outlets, one accepts two-pronged plugs with flat blades and the other takes plugs with two round plugs. Many outlets are designed to accept both types but beware that some outlets only accept the two-pronged plugs with flat blades, so the Skross MUV adapter is ideal as it works in both outlet types in Peru.  Price from €39.95.

7. Selfie Stick

Love it or hate it selfie sticks are here to stay! While we’re not huge fans of this accessory, we had to admit that selfie sticks are in fact quite practical giving you a wider angle when you take photos. This means that more of the background appears when you take that photo of yourself in front of the Cusco Cathedral or Machu Picchu so it’s not just a shot of your pretty face!

Aesthetically they do look bulky and a bit silly when extended however our favourite was the Looq DG selfie stick which is only 8 inches long when folded, extends to 41 inches and fits most smartphones. Prices start from US$19.99

8. Bose Quiet Comfort 20i Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Cusco and Peru in general can be a noisy place with traffic, horns beeping, dogs barking and music playing. We never leave home without a great pair of noise cancelling headphones that we use to listen to great music or block out noise when travelling on the plane or when just trying to relax in a hotel with a nosiy air-con system or music blaring next door.

The Bose Quiet Comfort 20i headphones can reduce ambient noise by a remarkable 45 decibels and have both an aware mode if you want to let some of the ambient noise in and a full-noise reduction mode. We also liked the remote control on the chord which allowed us to adjust the volume of our music without having to take out our mp3 player or smartphone. Above all we loved that  the Q20i are not bulky, big headphones but are slim-fitting, easy to store and sit comfortably in your ear. Prices from US$299

9. USB Battery Pack

Photo and video ops abound in Cusco and there’s nothing worse than finding yourself in a stunning, colourful location with a flat battery. (Trust us we’ve been there!) While battery life is getting better on most smartphones and cameras you still can’t be guaranteed to have battery after a day of snapping pics and taking videos.

We highly reocmmend a USB battery pack for your trip to Cusco particularly if you are heading out to do a multi-day trek like the Inca Trail or Choquequirao where you won’t be able to charge any appliances en-route. We liked the Anker Estro E4 which has enough juice to fully charge a smartphone a few times when you are out and about. It’s also compact, weighs just 10oz and has 2 USB ports so you can charge two devices (albeit more slowly and with less power than if you just charge one device) at the same time. Prices start from US$30

10. Travel Notebook

We never travel to Cusco without a notebook packed in our bags! We love technology but tapping notes into our Iphone just isn’t the same as jotting down on paper our impressions, colours, scents and thoughts as we explore.

We look for lightweight, durable and almost indestructible notebooks that can take a hammering from rain and general wear and tear. Top of our list are Field Notes Expedition range of notebooks which use paper that is both water and tear proof. Notebooks start from US$9.95.

 For information on travelling to Cusco check out our Cusco Travel Guide

How to get to Machu Picchu

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