curated by experts | unforgettable moments | value
Why my trip to Peru was Inspiring
F or once, I looked forward to getting out of bed at the crack of dawn. I wasn’t sure if it was possible, but this day had the potential to be even more breathtaking than the day before —when we took a scenic train ride that snaked through Peru’s Sacred Valley, hugging a river with soaring mountains on each side. Because today was the day we would visit Machu Picchu.
As we arrived, dense fog and mist shrouded the mountaintop. I quickly scanned the faces of many in our group. Some were anxious, wondering if we’d come all this way to miss the view. But our Machu Picchu tour guide reassured us we would wait, as she explained the significance of the Inca citadel. So we waited… and waited. By mid-morning, the skies gave way so we could take in the awe-inspiring view of the sanctuary.
My trip started in Lima, the sprawling capital on the Pacific coast. I followed our local guide around Miraflores, stopping by the many parks that dot the lively neighborhood. Over the course of the day, I got to know my fellow travelers. I was on a fully guided tour with just a dozen travelers, providing an intimate setting. In addition to small-group trips, Inspiring Vacations offers a range of options from independent adventures to private guided tours to luxury vacations.
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Huaca Pucllana ruins
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Ceviche (left); Chaufa (right)
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Darshan, Travelzoo Producer, at Machu Picchu
Llama at Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Darshan's hotel in the Sacred Valley
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Shopping in Lima
Macaw in the Peruvian Amazon
Plaza de Armas, Cusco
No matter what trip you pick, each one is developed by experts with in-depth knowledge about the destination—building itineraries that their own experts would go on themselves. Almost everything feels hand-picked and curated, from where you stay to what you eat and what you do.
So it's no surprise that these itineraries feature iconic sights, hidden gems off the beaten path and rich cultural experiences. In Peru, I learned how to make clay cups, bowls and pots; and visited a local bar and made my own pisco sour, the national drink. In Cuba, you have an opportunity to visit traditional tobacco farms and learn salsa dancing. Or in Vietnam, hop on a tuk-tuk and sample the country's famous street food.
On my final night in Lima, I shared dinner and drinks with my fellow travelers at Huaca Pucllana, an upscale restaurant that shares the name with the adjacent city pyramid. The restaurant hosted us for a three-course dinner with local staples like ceviche and chaufa, Chinese-Peruvian fried rice. Equally as stunning, the views. (How many other places can you dine a few steps from historical ruins?) This type of dining experience, or Inspiring Taste, is one of three pillars at the heart of many premium Inspiring Vacations trips.
The next day, we traveled from the city to the jungle. After a flight and a boat ride to a remote area in the Amazon, we arrived at our eco-lodge, more than two dozen cabins clustered in a leafy setting. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it proved to be a perfect escape to nature for a city person like me: catching sunsets from a hammock, staying up to see the starry night, falling asleep to a melody of sounds from insects and waking up to a chorus of birds. This accommodation is just one example of an Inspiring Stay, picked specifically for each trip (think a glass-roofed cabin to view northern lights in Finland or a luxury desert camp in Morocco).
Throughout my journey, it became clear the value you get for your money with Inspiring Vacations—without sacrificing comfort or convenience. I stayed in 4-star, well-located accommodations; enjoyed multi-course meals; and saw much more than I would have on my own. And I didn’t have to worry about getting from Point A to Point B (especially in the Amazon); or overcoming a language barrier.
Not to mention the friendly, knowledgeable guides who go above and beyond. Our Cusco guide pointed us to activities we could do in our free time, such as perusing the San Pedro Market or getting a deep-tissue massage at one of her favorite spots. Plus she arranged laundry and, most importantly, helped us acclimate to the high Andean altitude.
And at the end of my trip, as I scrolled through my phone's camera roll, I reflected on my 10 nights in Peru. There were so many quintessentially Peruvian experiences I would’ve missed, Amazonian animals I would’ve never seen and food I wouldn’t have tried—if not for the expertise of my guides and the well-planned itinerary that made this one awe-inspiring trip.
My recent 10-night Peru tour with Inspiring Vacations went well beyond Machu Picchu. We explored other ruins in the Sacred Valley and ventured deep in the Peruvian Amazon—a part of the country many packaged vacations don’t visit—to search for jungle wildlife. Having published many of their deals, this in-depth experience wasn’t a surprise to me.
The award-winning tour company offers tours to some of the most popular and up-and-coming destinations across all seven continents (yes, even Antarctica). I met travelers who've taken trips to Japan, Norway, Kenya and Sri Lanka with Inspiring Vacations. They raved about the quality of hotels, the friendly and knowledgeable guides and, most importantly, the value they got for their money. Having returned from my own trip with this company, I can see why Inspiring has so many repeat customers. Put simply, it's a great way to see the world.
All trips are punctuated by experiences they refer to as Inspiring Sights. Here in the Amazonian jungle, I joined my group to search for nocturnal wildlife, like caimans, in the pitch black. At first, many of us stared wide-eyed into what seemed like a never-ending darkness from our speedboat, but our guide showed us how to spot the creatures (look for the eyeshine, or reflection of light in their eyes). These riverbanks were teeming with wildlife; later, we spotted capybaras, river otters and macaws. Like my river safari, each experience is tailored to the destination: in Japan, for example, you’ll take part in a traditional tea ceremony.
Capybara on the riverbank
Lima coastline (left); Darshan at Parque del Amor in Miraflores (right)
Clay-painting supplies (left); Darshan's handmade pisco sour (right)
Night sky over the Amazon
Explorer's Inn in Tambopata National Reserve
Sunset from the Amazon eco-lodge
Train to Machu Picchu
Hiking in Peru
Peruvian women in Cusco
Cathedral in Cusco
The Peruvian Amazon
Ollantaytambo
Macaws
Caiman
River otter
Machu Picchu
curated by experts | unforgettable moments | value
curated by experts | unforgettable moments | value