What to buy in Peru: souvenir shopping in Lima and Cusco

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Almost every day we are asked by our customers what can make good souvenirs and where to buy them.  This is a question that can also be considered in advance before you come to Peru.  Private Lima Tours with Sara suggests you here what to buy in Peru: souvenir shopping in Lima and Cusco. Alpaca woolen sweaters, shawls and textiles First of all note that the best (and most expensive) wool is the “baby alpaca”. Another fact is that,  contrary to what most people think, this is not the wool from a baby alpaca.   It is taken from the neck and the underbelly ofRead More →

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Where and how to make a good souvenir shopping?  What to buy in Peru is a common question asked by our customers. To simplify your research, Private Lima Tours with Sara points you to the top 4 souvenirs to choose in Peru. 1. Alpaca woolen sweaters and shawls Alpaca is a South American Andean camelid that lives between 10,000 and 14,000 ft. It is recognized worldwide as one of the finest materials. Alpaca wool is seven times warmer than sheep’s wool. It comes in natural white, brown, gray, and black colors. Due to its softness, the wool sheared from the neck and underbelly of anRead More →

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Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) is becoming the second most visited attraction after Machupicchu in Cusco. However, it was only “discovered” in 2015 due to the effect of global warming. This melted the ice and snow which  covered the mountain for thousands years.  At 17,000 ft (5,200 m ) a.s.l. its majestic and breathtaking beauty is waiting for you. What to do and how to go Our first recommendation is to keep this attraction for the end of your entire trip in Cusco. The road upwards is not that difficult. What makes it very challenging is the altitude. You need to aclimatized beforehand. Therefore, we strongly advise youRead More →

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Choquequirao, a so far little known destination in Peru ranked first place in Lonely Planet´s “Best in Travel 2017”. This Inca settlement was built between the 15th and 16th century. It is same old and has similar structure as Machupicchu. Despite being same magnificent and surrounded by an extremely beautiful scenery, it is not as popular – yet – as Machupicchu.  The only way to arrive is on foot and it is not that easy. This, because it is not possible to arrive by bus or train. If you aspire for real adventure this challenge is for you. Compared to the Inca Trail you will not encounterRead More →

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Colca Canyon in southern Peru is the deepest canyon in the world, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. It goes down 10,730 ft (3,270 m). It is located in the Colca Valley along the Colca river. The Colca Valley offers a beautiful scenery of volcanoes, snow-capped peaks, pre-Inca stepped terraces and charming towns.  Private Lima Tours with Sara tells you how to arrive, what to see and when to go to Colca. Where is Colca Colca is located about 100 miles northwest of Arequipa, the second largest city of Peru. Arequipa is  known as the “White City” due to its buildings made of white volcanic stones. HereRead More →

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Birdwatching in Peru is a paradise for bird watchers.  After Colombia, the country ranks second in the world with more amount of bird species.  Its many different climate and geographical features makes it possible that more than 18% of these species happen to be in Peru. Due to weather conditions there is also a constant flow of migratory birds coming from north and south. There are 106 endemic species in the country. All these factors make Peru a a great destination for bird lovers. When thousands of birders around the world celebrated both Global Big Days in 2015 and 2016, bird watchers in Peru obtainedRead More →

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Peru is such a big country with so many different environments. To prepare an itinerary for just one week travelling around is indeed an overwhelming task. So here we will just concentrate in the most frequently asked question. This is: how to manage time to accommodate a trip between Lima and Cusco in one week Peru itinerary. We are including Lima not just as a mere passage between the capital and Cusco.  This is a common mistake committed by a big deal of travellers. Lima highly deserves at least one full day to explore it. Doing this you will obtain a biggest perspective of theRead More →

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Electricity in Peru Private tours in Lima with Sara offers here information about outlets, plugs, adapters and voltage in Peru. Voltage Voltage in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 H. Be aware that in USA the voltage is between 110 and 120 volts AC. Electrical outlets Before you travel check the voltage of your appliances. Your laptop, hair dryer, curly iron or electric shaver may not fit for dual voltage (110-220). In that case if you plug them into a 220 volts outlet they will start to smoke and get damaged. You may need a power adapter. If you are staying in a high classRead More →

Ballestas Islands, Perú

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Many tourists coming back to Lima from Cusco or Arequipa choose to visit Nazca to fly over the famous Nazca Lines. Going more to the north they may also visit  Ica and Paracas before coming back to Lima. There is no airport in Ica. From Arequipa it takes 11 hours by bus to arrive to Ica. Paracas is located 47 miles (75 km) in the desert north of Ihe city of Ica, facing the Pacific Ocean. It forms a Peninsula which is part of the Paracas National Reserve and has a beautiful bay. From Ica to Paracas buses go through the Pan-American Highway in about one hour.Read More →

Kuelap Fortress

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Chachapoyas is a city in northern Peru at 7,661 ft (2,335 mt), surrounded by high-altitude cloud forests.  It is the starting point to a visit to the famous archaeological ruins of Kuelap.  Private Lima Tours with Sara tells you here how to arrive from Lima to Chachapoyas and Kuelap: BY AIR There is no direct flight from Lima to Chachapoyas.  The options are as following: Take a flight from Lima to Jaén and from there a local car will take you to Chachapoyas in 4 hours.  LATAM AIRLINES has direct flights every day from Lima to Chachapoyas.  (1 hour and 40 minutes) Take a flightRead More →