4 days in Pisac, Peru
Peru… A bucket list trip for many - self included! Peru is an extremely culturally rich and colorful country. Tourism is a pillar of the Peruvian economy; there was no shortage of ‘goods’ for sale to visitors, particularly throughout the Sacred Valley, and in Puno and Lake Titicaca. The people overall were very friendly and kind. My limited Spanish served to support me in connecting with Peruvians - which is always one of my intentions with travel. However, hotels and tours are accommodating to English speakers.
I spent 3 weeks in total in Peru. It was a mix of my own planning and using a travel agency for logistics, transfers and entrances. However, I booked my own accommodations.
I used Machu Picchu Center for creating an itinerary to travel from Arequipa through the Colca Canyon to Puno and Lake Titicaca, and ultimately to Cusco. They were easy to work with, all planned via email and WhatsApp; they also were easy going with some last minute changes. While you can piece together tours and transfers from other places like Viator, I liked that I had access to all plans in 1 place. The only consideration is that its with a general group, not an intimate group.
My itinerary:
Lima: 2 days (definitely could have spent 3-4 days taking it slow)
Arequipa: 2 days (definitely could have stayed longer)
Puno / Lake Titicaca: 4 days (sufficient)
Cusco: 2 days (definitely could have stayed/gone back, but chose not to)
Pisac: 4 days (took a pause here; nice to see, but could skip)
Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo: 1 week (a mix of solo retreats, ease & Machu Picchu).
Working backwards…because I customized this part of the trip.
SACRED VALLEY
Pisac
About an hour from Cusco, I spent 4 days in this cutie little town, in an attempt to regroup and reboot after a lot of being on the go, and also in need of some quiet. One of my favorite spots along the way as I felt at home with the healthy and natural stores and restaurants, and all the woo. There were definitely a lot of ‘digital nomads’ and others who seemed to make a long term stay in Pisac... and people were friendly overall. Yet, the large market and abundance of stores selling the same things throughout town proved to be an interesting mix of experiences.
Oh… and there is a significant Incan archaeological site as well situated well above the town of Pisac, high up on the mountains. Many Sacred Valley tours include a visit to the site. There is also a trail that leads through the ruins and terraces and down the mountain to Pisac town. I naively decided to venture down the mountain. God sent some angels in the form of a British family who completed the adventure with me. The trail was not well marked and has very steep stone steps at points (and without a guardrail). Therefore, I only recommend this hike if 1. you aren’t afraid of heights and uneven terrain, 2. you’re with people, and 3. you’re far more intrepid than me:) ; there’s plenty to see and experience at the top. If you’re not with a tour, taxis or buses from town run to /from the top of the mountain and entrance.
Eat
The thing I loved most about Pisac were the healthy and organic eats. It was easy to find options with a focus on fresh vegetables.
La Ruta - Restaurante ate here twice. Both dinners were delicious. Pictured below were the fresh and favorable locally sourced ensalada organica, and the flavorful ceviche de truncha (trout ceviche). The salad was hearty and could stand on its own for a light meal. Ceviche is one of my favorite dishes and I tried as many as possible while in Peru. The photo doesn’t do the dish justice; the tender trout melted in my mouth, complemented by the spicy sauce.
DeLuna Cafe - Pisac was a cute spot I grabbed a juice from. They have a large menu and staff were friendly, so worth checking out.
Kula Cafe and Restaurant is a super popular spot, saw many digital nomads and others meeting during both visits. The space is beautiful, open, airy and etherial. The coffee and tea were the highlights which the food, which fresh and healthy, lacked flavor. All of the Ayurvedic teas are looseleaf served in a little pot that gives you 2-3 cups of tea. I felt like I was in Bali or Mexico or Costa Rica…
I broke my gluten free protocol (ty digestive enzymes) for the pistachio croissant (pictured above) at Masa Mamita. Alongside a delicious americano, it was the perfect balance of flaky and damp on the inside; I devoured every morsel. The entire bakery case looked fabulous; I regret not sampling the cinnamon roll.
Misc:
~ Water throughout Peru is not safe for drinking consumption. It is ok for brushing your teeth and showering though.
~ The markets are abundant with goods, typically sweaters, ponchos, bags and home goods. You’ll see a lot of the same items over and over. Prices will vary too. I was surprised, that prices for a lot of things were better in Cusco, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Everything is negotiable.
~ Language: Spanish, Quechua (native) and English in tourist spots
~ The altitude can be a doozy. Apart from Lima, every place I visited was substantially above sea level. Arequipa is over 7,550 ft; Puno and Lake Titicaca are over 12,500 ft (3,810 m); Cusco is 11,152 ft (3,399 m); Ollantaytambo is 9,160 ft (2,792 m). Drinking lots of water is a must, electrolytes are worth packing and also if you’re in to the natural alternatives, there’s herbal tablets available in the local pharmacies and coca candies and leaves are readily available that can help.
How I stayed connected to myself/ how I stayed grounded/ how I stayed healthy
Drink water. Journal, take a few minutes before I get out of bed to connect with myself, give gratitude and thanks to god and also what I do before bed as well. With having more space on this trip, I squeezed in yoga and stretching every day as I had my travel yoga mat.
Intention for the trip: To be open and present to the energy, and learn more about the Incans, particularly their usage of plants for supporting health & well-being.
WHAT SPARKED JOY ON THIS JOURNEY?
~ Wandering the small stone paved streets and exploring the various shops and markets.
~ Dining and the experience of enjoying the various restaurants - slowly savoring my meals, journaling or reading as well.
