[Trip Planning] Election Afterparty: Planning a trip to Peru

I'm heading to Peru! Let me share my thoughts on my itinerary, and if anyone has any suggestions for me, do let me know :)

Getting to Peru

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are no direct flights from San Francisco to Lima (capital of Peru). I opted for the cheapest flight that I could get my hands on, and will be travelling on Copa Airlines, stopping over at Panama.

This is a blessing in disguise as this gives me the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal, an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. I can't wait to visit the canal, and I'm eager to share more in my trip report on one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Lima, and Ica

Lima will be interesting as it is home to many of the world's best restaurants. Central was #1, and Kjolle was #28 on the 2023 list (Kjolle is #16 on the 2024 list), and I've made reservations for both. Do look out for my restaurant reviews!

I will definitely visit the Historic Centre of Lima, as well as the Miraflores district. If you've been to Lima, let me know what else is good!

From Lima, I will also be making a day trip to Ica, just to visit the Huacachina Oasis, the only natural oasis in South America. This will be a long, and tiring day trip as transport will pick me up at 4am.

There will be plenty to do in Ica, so stay tuned for my trip report!

Arequipa

After Lima, I will be flying to Arequipa, a city in the southern regions of Peru.

The highlight of Arequipa will have to be Colca Canyon. Colca Canyon has dramatic landscapes, towering cliffs, and lush valleys. Colca Canyon is one of the world's deepest canyons, even deeper than the Grand Canyon in some areas.

Cusco

There are two activities that I will be doing in Cusco, well, technically three activities. The first is the Inca Trail, the second is Machu Picchu, and the third will be Rainbow Mountain. I won't dive too deep into the activities here but I'm excited!

Getting Around In Peru

There is a long distance coach service, Peru Hop, that will take you to most of the Peruvian cities. However, I'm choosing to fly instead because:

1. I don't have the luxury of time

2. Airfares are reasonably priced if you book early

3. I'm not the biggest fan of long distance coaches, and some of the rides between Peruvian cities are really long

San Francisco?

I've not planned much for San Francisco, but if you have any recommendations, do send them to me! I will be staying in Parc 55 San Francisco Hilton, while dated, looks comfortable enough. The location is unbeatable too, though it is in the Tenderloin district.

Conclusion

I will be spending close to two weeks in Peru, with the goal of completing the Inca Trail, and visiting Machu Picchu. There are other activities planned too, but the Inca Trail should be the highlight of the trip!

If there are suitable day trips, or good restaurants, and bars in San Francisco, I really need your recommendations, so please contact me!

Featured Image Credit: UNESCO

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