We drove to Puno today (a 7 hour bus ride) and enjoyed the scenic views. Puno is the capital and largest city of the Puno Region and Province in Southeastern Peru. Puno trivia:  It is located at the edge of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest commercially navigable lake, at 3,860 m (12,421 ft) above sea level, on the Perfuvian Altiplano. This is higher than Cusco. Puno is an important agricultural and livestock region of Peru; particularly of South Americ...

We have a free day in Cusco today. This UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1983) is considered to be the mecca of Peru. It is a beautiful colonial town which has ruins, cobblestoned streets, museums, churches, and a lively atmosphere. It is filled with Spanish arches and squares, and wooden balconies jut out over the narrow cobblestoned streets. The Incas lived in Cusco and the surrounding area for 2 centuries. It is said that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the ...

The day is finally here! We had to get up early today (4:00 am) to catch the first bus up to the15th century site known as the Lost City of the Incas or Machu Picchu. The ruins are best seen in the early morning light. Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. In the Quechua native language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”Machu Picchu stands 2,43...

Today we took a 1 3/4 bus ride to Ollantaytanbo to catch the train to Aguas Calientes (meaning hot springs in Spanish) which is known for it's natural pools. Aguas Calientes (now officially Machu Picchu Pueblo) is a small town at the bottom of the valley next to Machu Picchu, and the principal access point to the site. It's the last town for visitors going to Machu Picchu and the end of the line for the train. The train ride (1 1/2 hours) was simply gorg...

Cusco has a long and interesting history dating back to 1200AD and linked to the first Inca ruler Manco Capac. However the city saw its expansion in the 15th century under the rule of the greatest Inca Pachacutec, who led a drive that spread the boundaries of the Inca empire as far south as Chile and Argentina, and north to include Ecuador and Columbia. This rapid expansion abruptly came to an end on the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Piza...