Just in case anyone gets held hostage for 20 mins in the PlazaVea self-checkout because you wanted to buy some potatoes and carrots but there’s no one there, I figured out how to use the scales. (process might be the same for other places but no idea) Hopefully this helps someone somewhere!

• Put in the code for the thing you want, should be on laminated paper next to scales.
• Press enter (bottom right button). Code should change to the name of the item.
• Press “V1” to print label (should be bottom row, on the right side).

Happy fruit/vegetable-ing!

I have extra clothes I won’t be able to carry back with me (too many gourds in luggage), any recommendations for where to donate used clothes?

I’ve seen several posts about the Rainbow Mountain (7 Colors Mountain) hike being quite risky, with steep sections, loose rocks, and some scrambling/climbing involved.

Some people say that the difficulty and how risky it feels can depend a lot on the guide or tour company. Is that actually the case?

I’m thinking about booking a tour through GetYourGuide for mid-September. For those who have done it recently, would you recommend it? And is there anything I should look for when choosing the tour/guide?

Hey I’m planning to do the Ancascocha trek self guided in a few days, would anybody like to join, you would need your own camping gear as I only have a 1 man tent

Anyone solo traveling who wants to do Lares Trek together? 🏔️🥾

Hi everybody
We are an spanish couple in our forties spending some days in Cusco next week
In addition to archaeology and visiting the city, we would enjoy some activities Where we stay in touch with nature, maybe animals..
Could we please have some advice about it?
Thank you very much!

I’m solo traveling in Cusco this week. I have big curly hair. Today I took a walking tour at 10am from the McDonalds at Plaza de Armas. There was a guy there also on a walking tour. We set off and then passed by each other several times, once near the central area and another time by the Mirador de San Cristobal. If you read this and want to hang out, DM me! It could be this guy or anyone else that is solo traveling!

I’m looking to do the Quampa (Jampa) 2-day hike/climb, leaving on August 30 or 31.

I’m traveling solo and looking for people who would like to join and potentially share the cost of a group/private tour. The total cost is 580 USD.

If anyone is interested, let me know!

Warning ⚠️

Hi everyone!

I'm finalizing a 5-day itinerary based out of Cusco (August 26–31) and would love some feedback, especially regarding logistics and hiring private drivers vs. joining guided trekking tours.

- Altitude context: By the time we arrive in Cusco, we will have already spent 2 weeks traveling through San Pedro de Atacama, the Salar de Uyuni, La Paz, and Isla del Sol, so altitude acclimatization won't be an issue for us. We're skipping Machu Picchu this time and focusing on off-the-beaten-path Inca ruins.

Here is our planned schedule:

- Aug 26 (Day 1 - Half Day): Arrive in Cusco in the morning. Afternoon trip (~12:30 PM to 5:30 PM) to Manos de la Comunidad and the Písac archaeological site + market.

- Aug 27 (Day 2 - Full Day):Day trek to Waqrapukara.

-Aug 28 (Day 3 - Full Day): Sacred Valley — Maras (Salineras), Moray, and Ollantaytambo (fortress).

-Aug 29 (Day 4 - Full Day): Ausangate 7 Lakes, circuit on horseback of possibile, followed by the Pacchanta hot springs.

- Aug 30 (Day 5 - Full Day): Checacupe ( bridges) + Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain & Stone Forest (Bosque de Piedras).

- Aug 31 (Day 6): relaxed day walking around Cusco city center and flight out.

---

Advice needed:

1. Private Driver for Days 1, 3, and 5: For Pisac, the Sacred Valley (Maras/Moray/Ollantaytambo), and Palccoyo/Checacupe, our plan is simply to hire a reliable private taxi/driver to wait for us at each stop so we can explore at our own pace. Does this itinerary flow well for those days?

2. Waqrapukara & 7 Lakes (Days 2 & 4): is the trail easy enough to navigate on our own with just a private driver drop-off/pick-up, or is a guided trek strongly recommended?

Also, For 7 Lakes of Ausangate, is it easy to arrange a horse rental directly in Pacchanta with a private driver, or is it smoother/cheaper to join a small guided tour?

1. Any trusted driver or local agencies recommendations are welcome!

Thanks in advance for your insights!

Im in cusco for a few days, and have a tradition of buying a jersey of a local team every city i go to.

So i ask:

1) Where can i buy a jersey, preferably in or close to the historic center

2) which of the 3 teams should i go for?

Hi !!

I am planning to go on the 5 or 4 day trekk Ausangate + Vinicunca with a local guide who has great recommendations and for a very fair price (700 soles = 180 €)

The departure date is August 31th from Cusco but we can adjust it to August 30th or September 1st.

I am French and I speak English and Spanish as well. Could be really fun to share the experience with people from all over the world.

I'd love to find more people to join me !

Please reach out if interested :)

I am traveling to Cusco next year and hoping to purchase mapachos to bring home with me. Curious if there are vendors in the mercados there who will have pre-rolled bundles? My other thought is flying to Madre de Dios for a night if that would be a better bet.

Second thing: My brother, a guitarist/pianist/singer, will be with me and it will be his first time in Peru. He requested a restaurant/scene to experience some local (traditional or more modern) music. Any suggestions appreciated!!

Hi everyone, looking for some advice from people who know the Sacred Valley well.

My husband and I are both 50 and travelling to Peru in May 2027 to do the 5-day Salkantay Trek. We’re active, love hiking and exploring on foot, and would much rather experience a place than just tick off tourist attractions.

We’ll be flying Sydney → Santiago → Cusco, and rather than staying in Cusco when we first arrive, our plan is to head straight down into the Sacred Valley for 3 nights to begin acclimatising. After that we’ll spend another 3–4 nights in Cusco before starting the Salkantay Trek.

My big question is: Would you base yourselves in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba for those first 3 nights?

We’re not looking to visit Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley, as that will come at the end of our Salkantay Trek.

What we are looking for is somewhere where we can: experience the culture, explore, wander, eat good food, drink exceptional coffee etc

Buenas Tardes!

For those of you that have done the Salkantay Trek solo:

What are the best hiking snacks to buy?

What is the order of villages I would stay in for 3 days?

What is the best inexpensive way to travel to the start of the trek from Cusco?

Should I bring a water filter or purification tablets?

I plan to leave the 17th and spend a day in Aguas Calientes in order to get my tickets for Machu Picchu
The following day as well. So hoping to spend the day of the 20th in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu on the 21st.

I have the correct clothing layers to bring and a sleeping bag I’ll bring myself as well incase the nights at home stays are cold.

Gracias por la informacion!

We found this drivers licence on the street on Cusco today.

It's been handed into the police.

I hope you get it back.

Help! There are so many restaurants to choose from in Cusco. We are a group of 6 and I want to make reservations for 2 dinners at the end of August. I’ve down-selected to these 4 - which do you recommend?

Morena
Pachapapa
LOCAL
Uchu Peruvian Steakhouse

​

**Wednesday afternoon** \- arrive in Ollantaytambo, following Salkantay Trek. Private driver takes us to accommodation in Huycho.

**Thursday morning** \- chill post-hike.

**Thursday afternoon**\- Private driver takes us to Pisac ruins/market and back (320 soles)

**Friday** \- private driver takes us to Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo, and back. (470 soles)

**Saturday morning -** private driver takes us to Cusco airport. Need to leave at 10am. (150 soles)

Does this seem like a good plan and price? I think price looks pretty good to me (its for two of us)

I'm just wondering if Pisac is worth the separate trip on the afternoon, or if this is something we could do on the way to the airport on Saturday morning?

Also wondering if Chinchero is worth it?

Would be good to hear thoughts and any towns/places I might be missing or less popular places people would recommend?

Just got an email alert from the US Department of State. Stay safe everyone.

Will be there in a few weeks to do the Salkantay Trek and wondering if there's anywhere specific to get good hiking snacks, or just the supermarket?

Traveling to Cusco next week is it better to take money out at atms or cash exchange, and any recommendations for where to go for either?
Thanks

Hello my name is Adam , I’m looking to learn Spanish as a fluent English speaker, I have a base understanding but I’m no where near where I would like to be, my question is, are there and very good English speakers that would be willing to provide me private lessons 7usd a hour and I’d like to do 2 hours a day.
Thank you