After leaving Cusco, we had a very, very long seven-hour drive across the Peruvian highlands. As always, there were a few stops along the way. And while we could have easily grouped everything into one blog post, one-stop deserved so much special attention! Gate 1 Foundation Aside from fabulous, well-organized, and value-packed trips, we…
After an exciting but exhausting day exploring Machu Picchu, our group left the PeruRail train in Ollayantambo and boarded our bus again. We made our way out of the Sacred Valley and back to Cusco. Palacio Del Inka Hotel The beautiful Palacio del Inka, part of the Marriott Luxury Collection, would be our home…
Machu Picchu has been on our bucket list for quite some time now, and we finally made it on this trip last November. Initially, Machu Picchu was scheduled as part of the same 10-Day Classic Peru trip with Gate 1 Travel for the fall of 2020 – OBVIOUSLY, that never happened. So, we…
The Sacred Valley was our destination after our Gate 1 Travel group spent the afternoon in Chinchero. We were headed to our hotel near Urubamba for the next two nights. The Sacred Valley got its name from the Incas because of the sacred river that ran through it. The valley is only about a kilometer…
Following breakfast at our hotel in Lima, we departed for the airport for our flight to Cusco. We were there just long enough to board a tour bus for our trip to Urubamba and the Scared Valley. Cusco is slightly over 11,000 feet above sea level, which is quite a change from Lima and our…
Our Gate 1 Travel – 10-Day Peru trip started in the beautiful city of Lima, Peru. As you saw in our previous post, we flew in a day or so early to avoid any flight issues and the chillout, and we’re glad we did. We had a minor flight issue but still had plenty of…
This is a blog post we weren’t sure we’d ever be writing. (No, not because it took forever to finish our last series!) As you might know, we have canceled trips to Peru to visit Machu Picchu twice. The first time was scheduled just when COVID came along. Post covid, we were scheduled again, and…
During our visit to Hotel Xcaret Arte in August for Chuck’s 65th birthday, we visited several of the parks created by Xcaret Group. YES, we know we are very behind, but life keeps getting in the way. But we know we need to catch up, tell you about the rest of our visit, and wrap…
Admission to Xcaret Group’s unique parks, which all highlight Mexican culture and natural beauty in different ways, was included in our Xcaret Arte stay. Initially, we decided to skip a few. There were just not enough hours in the day. We immediately ruled out Xchichen, a tour to Chichen Itza, as we’ve visited it multiple…
Hotel Xcaret Arte has absolutely outdone itself regarding its culinary experiences! The food there is next level—fantastic dining options with menus crafted by some of Mexico’s most renowned chefs. They showcase the cuisines of Mexico, utilize fresh local ingredients, and offer spectacular options that are fusions of Mexican foods with other ethnic flavors, many of…