Gate 1 Travel 10-Day Classic Peru -The Good, Bad and Ugly

Well, we are finally wrapping up our blog series for our Gate 1 Travel 10-Day Classic Peru trip. It’s taken us a while, but we’ve had several other trips, and life as expats in Mexico always keeps us busy.

We decided to close out this trip with a good, bad, and ugly blog post. It was actually harder than we thought because there were way too many options. The more we thought about it, the harder it got. So here it goes!

 

The Good

There were LOTS of good things on this trip. There were some areas we didn’t necessarily agree with, and not all were part of the tour; they were just things we did in our free time.

First and foremost, we can’t say enough fantastic things about our Tour Manager, Pavel, and his assistant, Carlos. They were incredible and handled every situation with grace. And while climbing ancient ruins, they were patient and assisted anyone who might be struggling.

 

Hotels

The good news is that none of the hotels were bad or ugly. However, there were just things that stood out for different reasons.

 

We selected the 10-Day Classic Peru Plan A package, and for the most part, the rooms were terrific, and the hotels worked well for our needs.

 

Location – 

We loved the Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe because it is located in the heart of the Miraflores district of Lima. The hotel was okay; nothing was particularly great, and the breakfast buffet was okay. 

But we were able to explore Kennedy Park, and the Malecon and the Mercado San Ramon were just a block away. They had incredible art and plenty of food and beverage options.

 

 

Accommodations – 

We can’t say enough good things about the Palacio del Inka in Cusco. The hotel is part of the Marriott Luxury Collection and is housed in a 500-year-old mansion. The beds were wonderful and much needed after our day in Machu Picchu. The collection of artwork and antiques was outstanding, and it offered one of our top two breakfasts.

 

Place We’d Stay Again –

This has to go to the Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay in the Sacred Valley. The rooms were definitely minimalist but comfortable. The property is GORGEOUS, with beautiful views everywhere we looked. They offer a great breakfast, and it’s the kind of place you’d want to hide out in for a week or so.

 

 

Food

This was a difficult decision for both of us. Generally, we gauge food by how much we crave it and want to recreate it when we get home. 

We both agree that one of our favorite dishes was the Picarones from Picarones Mary in Kennedy Park in Lima. These delicious Doughnuts are made of Squash and Sweet Potato and served with sweet Syrup. 

 

They are a popular street food and can be found in many places, but Mary became famous after being featured on Netflix’s Street Food: Latin America.

Mark actually has two top picks. He had Ceviche made with Corvina at Restaurante Angello Pizzaria in Lima. Located near our hotel and across from Kennedy Park, it was delicious, fresh, and perfectly balanced. However, the portion the waiter upsold was a tad pricey.

 

 

The other was our entire dinner at Jonas Restaurant Cusco. This was part of our group dinner in Cusco, and the food and service were terrific. The Yucca Croquettes, Aji de Gallina, and Crispy Fried Lucuma Ice Cream really highlighted Peruvian food items.

 

 

Oddly enough, Chuck’s favorite dish was the Taću Taću at Restaurante Angello Pizzeria. Taću Taću is a Peruvian dish of Rice and Beans that enslaved peoples often ate. It was crave-able and something we will probably make at home.

What makes the choice odd is that the Beef served on top of it was tough and stringy. But the Rice and Beans were amazing! 

 

 

Experiences

Yes, Machu Picchu is a big reason to visit Peru, and for good reason. It was absolutely the highlight of the trip. We had beautiful weather, and the views were spectacular. It was everything we expected and more. It is one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, for good reason. And we were able to check it off our list.

 

 

On Mark’s list is the PeruRail train trip through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. The views were spectacular and really enhanced the trip.

 

 

One of Chuck’s favorites was the visit to the Uros Islands. They are unique, and the people are incredible. You have to be pretty resilient to live in a place like that.

 

 

Others for both of us would be:

 

The Optional Tour in Cusco included a tour of the local Mercado. We love shopping locally, and it was so interesting. 

 

 

The Optional Tour to Maras. The Salt Flats are unique and interesting, and the Sea Salts you can buy are incredible. We purchased the Pink, Smoked, and Herb Salts and wish we had bought more!

 

 

Last but certainly not least, we visited the school supported by the Gate 1 Foundation. We loved spending time with the kids and supporting a great cause.

 

 

The Bad

There were not many things that were “bad.” In general, our least favorite hotel had to have been the one in Puno. It wasn’t really walkable to anything in town. The rooms were okay, but the infrared heater on the wall really dried out our sinuses.

 

 

Our one disappointment with the tour, in particular, was that several of the churches we visited had magnificent artwork and did not allow photos of any kind. We understand their reasoning, as lots of people don’t get the “No Flash Photography” rule, so they don’t allow photography to preserve the artwork.

 

 

The restaurant selection for our Farewell Dinner wasn’t a winner in our book. The food was just okay. The servers struggled with the group and remembering who got what. The food was meh and nothing special.

 

 

The sad part for us—not bad, just underwhelming—was the food in Peru. We think we had read so much hype about how incredible the food was that we had built it up too much. Nothing was horrible; we just found it to be really bland. Keep in mind that we live in Mexico and really like spicy, highly seasoned food.

 

The Ugly

There is no ugly part of traveling to Peru! The people were warm and friendly, the archaeological sites were incredible, and we had a fantastic time! 

 

We know there is only so much you can see in ten days, and we covered a lot!

 

Things to Know Before You Go

HYDRATE!

• We live at sea level and are over 60 with a few health issues. A friend of Mark’s traveling from Puerto Rico to Denver was told to really, really hydrate for about two weeks before going.

 

• We drank gallons of water and electrolyte drinks for nearly two weeks before going and faired well. We woke up one or two mornings with a slight headache, but it cleared when we drank more water. Just keep drinking water.

 

• We both shied away from drinking too much alcohol as we feared it might not mix with the elevation. But be sure to try at least one Pisco Sour!

 

Coca Candy

Coca Candy was readily available on our bus, in box lunches, in hotels, and in local stores. Not only are they delicious, but we think they helped keep us level with the altitude changes.

 

Oxygen

Do not be afraid to ask for oxygen. It was available on our bus, in each hotel, and on our tours. Several people used it, and it helped them overcome altitude sickness.

 

Other Tidbits

• If you have walking sticks with rubber tips, pack them! They come in handy even when you are pretty steady on your feet. Stairs can be uneven, and it’s a reasonably intensive ten days, so don’t be shy.

 

• Use sunscreen! Living in the Yucatan, we are pretty accustomed to strong sun. In places like Machu Picchu, where you’re outside for three hours, closer to the equator and at high elevations, the sun is even stronger than we are used to. Mark put sunscreen on his face but neglected the back of his neck and got a good sunburn.

 

• Take your time! Nothing on this tour was a race. Some of the walkways and stairs are uneven and a little rough. Take your time; no one is leaving without you, and you’ll find your tour manager, guides, and fellow travelers are happy to be there for you.

 

Last but not least, engage with the locals. The people we met in Peru were warm and friendly, and they absolutely made the trip!