Faqs Cusco: Moray, Maras Salt Mines

What clothes to take on a trip to Peru?

In addition to your usual clothes, you should keep in mind that, regardless of the season in which you travel you will need:

Hiking boots: that are non-slip and waterproof, especially if you plan to hike any of the mountains of Machu Picchu or walk down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes, the trails are made of stone, they are going to be wet and slippery.

Waterproof poncho: the climate of Machu Picchu means that rains can come very unexpectedly, both in the rainy season and in the dry season.

Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, pills for soroche, apunamiento or altitude sickness.

A backpack with your camera, some snacks, water. Try not to carry unnecessary things, because you will be carrying them all day long!

What is the food like in Peru?

Peruvian food is very fashionable. You will find very expensive and prestigious restaurants. But the good thing is that you can eat well almost anywhere.

How is the transportation in Peru?

In Peru they drive like crazy. But that’s the way it is. There are many modes of public transportation, cabs, combis which are small buses, buses.

At the stations you will see people shouting at the top of their voices the destination, departure time, etc. The price is not public, it is negotiated on a case by case basis. Our learning experience was that if you get it online, you always pay more.

How is the internet in Peru?

Having internet during your trip to Peru will help you to stay connected with family and friends, access whatsapp and upload photos to social networks. Also to have access to GPS, and anything you want to search on the internet.

The good thing about carrying a portable wifi is that with a single gadget you can give high speed internet to all your devices. That is, you can have internet on your cell phone, tablet, laptop, your travel companion’s cell phone, etc.

The price varies depending on the destination and the duration of the rental, but it is usually affordable, especially if you share the cost with your travel companions.

When is the best time to travel to Peru?

The best time to travel to Peru depends on your destination within Peru.

If your plan is to visit the Peruvian beaches, in general the weather throughout the year is quite good without being too extreme, neither too hot nor too cold.

However, the ideal months to visit this destination are between December, January, February and March. The temperature is more moderate, even high, but it is the rainy season.

If you want to visit the interior, such as Cusco or Machu Picchu, the rainy season is not the best. It is more advisable to go in the dry season from April to November.

It should be clarified that in rainy season, it does not mean that it is raining all the time, but there are some very strong showers that last a few minutes. In those cases, the best thing to do is to take shelter from the rain, take cover and wait for it to stop.

If you go during the rainy season don’t forget your raincoat. Here is the post I wrote about what I took to South America.

How can I avoid altitude sickness?

One aspect you should take into account is the altitude issue, especially if you decide to go inland, and go for example to Machu Picchu or Cuzco. To give you an idea, Cuzco is at 3400 meters above sea level.

The natural consequences of altitude sickness are that you will notice that you are more tired and slower, but this is not a cause for concern.

The problem can come if you get altitude sickness. Altitude sickness has other consequences, such as: Intense headache, Fatigue or physical exhaustion, Sleep disturbance, Nausea and vomiting, Digestive disorders, Agitation, Lack of appetite and physical exhaustion.

To avoid altitude sickness you can follow the following tips:
When you arrive in Cusco (or the altitude zone you are going to) the best thing to do is to acclimatize, do not get agitated or make physical efforts at least for the first few days.

It is best to walk slowly and stop to rest when necessary. It is also recommended to sleep well, eat lightly and avoid alcoholic beverages.

To prevent altitude sickness or soroche, as it is called in Peru, it is recommended to drink coca tea and/or chew coca leaves.

Coca tea is quite tasty and is recommended by the locals.

The coca leaves are not literally chewed, they just stick them to the inside of the cheek and let them take effect when mixed with saliva.

If you go to Cusco or any city that is above 2000 meters above sea level, it is recommended that you take these precautions to avoid suffering the symptoms of altitude sickness.