Peru 2025

Notes from our holiday in Peru
2025

Trip to Lima/Arequipa/Titicaca/Machu-Picchu – September 2025

Spoke to Cindy of Exoticca on Saturday Dec 7th 2024 about this trip, and the problem was doing the English Language version meant flying from Heathrow to Lima via Miami (18 hours). If we wanted to fly from Madrid, we’d get the Spanish Language tour. The solution was to book the English version as a ‘land only’ tour, and make our own arrangements for flying. This would cost £2,288 for the two of us, and airfares (Madrid to Lima) were coming in at around £600 (or £934 for premium economy)

Date

Activity

Sat Sep 6th

Drop Bowie off (pay Sue €130), then drop car off at APM at Calle Newton 25, Malaga, who will then shuttle us to the RENFE station, Malaga.

Take 11.59 train from Malaga, arr: Madrid at 14:50 (Carriage 22, Seat 2B/2C) (Trainline.com booking reference 5JG5KN, PNR Code H5NB4J)

Innside Hotel: the bar and restaurant area

Take a taxi (15 km) from Madrid Atocha train station to the airport hotel, INNSiDE by Meliá Madrid Valdebebas (55 Calle José Antonio Fernández Ordóñez, Hortaleza, 28055 Madrid)

Sun Sep 7th

Fly from Madrid to Lima (Elevation 116 metres)

Take hotel shuttle to Madrid Barajas, Terminal 4S. Take the Iberia (Booking ref: Q3T40) 12:50 flight arriving in Lima at 18:00. Transfer at (our cost – 23km) to hotel.

A departure area in Terminal 4S of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport
Seasonal flooding on the Rio Orinoco in Venezuela’s Parque Nacional Aguaro-Guariquito

Evening at Ibis Lima Reducto Miraflores, Lima. We were not impressed with the hotel rooms. There was nowhere to open our suitcases. The restaurant was basic.

Mon Sep 8th

Lima to Arequipa (Elevation 2,300 metres)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, transfer to the airport in Lima to board the 08:30 flight to Arequipa.

Take shuttle to Hotel Corregidor.

Arequipa in Peru: the volcano El Misti

A very early start for the 08:30 flight to Arequipa. We flew near the Nazca Lines, but dirty windows meant we couldn’t see anything. A very chatty taxi driver took us to the hotel. The hotel was OK, but on a very noisy street.

Arequipa in Peru: the volcano Chachani
Arequipa Cathedral
Arequipa in Peru: the narrow passageway, Cjón. del Cabildo with it’s view of the Chachani volcano.

And underwhelming coach tour of the city. We ended up being monasteried-out, and walked back to the hotel. Tried to get some cool beers in the hotel restaurant, but they only had one! So I drank beers full of ice-cubes. Dinner in the hotel.

Tue Sep 9th

All day in Arequipa (Elevation 2,300 metres)

Arequipa in Peru: impressive displays of fruit inside the Mercado San Camilo

Walked (in the wrong direction!) to the huge undercover market. Then walked to the river and when we got there, found we couldn’t actually get to the river! Walked back into the centre and had fruit juices. Then stopped in the Paseje Catedral for beers. In the evening, we walked to a nearby restaurant, but they were only serving drinks, so dinner in the hotel again.

Arequipa in Peru: the restaurants of Pasaje Catedral

Wed Sep 10th

Arequipa to Colca (Elevation 3,600 metres). Overnight in Hotel Casona Plaza Ecolodge, Colca

Long coach trip to Colca, stopping at various places for lunch, photo stops, toilet breaks etc., whilst slowly gaining elevation on the Peruvian Altiplano. At Mirador de los Andes near Patapampa, we reached an elevation of 4,910 meters (or just over 16,000 feet). I remember walking the hundred meters or so to the rest rooms, and had a weird tunnel vision as I came out. Others on the trip fared less well, and needed help getting back on the coach.

Arequipa in Peru: the volcano Chachani
Volcanic landscape on the Peruvian Altiplano: the peak of the stratovolcano Chachani, taken from the road between Arequipa and Chivay.
Vicuña on the Peruvian Altiplano at Patahuasi
Volcanic landscape on the Peruvian Altiplano: looking back at the stratovolcano Chachani, taken from the Patahuasi rest stop between Arequipa and Chivay.
The Patahuasi rest stop between Arequipa and Chivay.
Alpaca on the Peruvian Altiplano
A full size model of a Condor at the Mirador de los Andes (El. 4,879 m), on the road between Arequipa and Chivay.
Highest toilets in Peru? The facilities at the Mirador de los Andes (El. 4,879 m). In the distance is the volcano Nevado Mismi, now identified as the source of the Amazon.
Arequipa in Peru: Approaching the town of Chivay

We saw plenty of Vicuña and Alpaca on the Peruvian Altiplano. Then dropped down into the relative comfort of Chivay (at 3,400 meters) for a self-service lunch and beers, including Guinea Pig and Alpaca. Had a doze in the hotel, then more beers, and finally an omelette and a glass of wine for dinner.

Hotel Casona Plaza Ecolodge

Thu Sep 11th

Colca to Puno (Elevation 3,920 metres) Overnight in Casona Plaza Hotel Centro, Puno.

Arequipa in Peru: festivities in the village of Yanque, near the Colca Canyon.
Arequipa in Peru: the volcano, Hualca Hualca (El 6,025m), from the village of Yanque, near the Colca Canyon.
Arequipa in Peru: stepped terraces (andenes) in the Colca Canyon.
Arequipa in Peru: the Colca Canyon; the third deepest canyon in the world
The Colca Canyon in Peru: the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)
Arequipa in Peru: the Colca Canyon; the third deepest canyon in the world
Arequipa in Peru: the Colca Canyon; the third deepest canyon in the world
Arequipa in Peru: stepped terraces (andenes) in the Colca Canyon.

Long day, starting with breakfast in the hotel, then the coach to the plaza at Maca, then Cruz del Condor in the Colca Canyon, watching the condors. Then back to Chivay for lunch, then a loooong drive to Puno. The hotel was in a pedestrianised part of town, so the coach dropped us off and we had to walk 1 km or so. Walked to La Casona restaurant near the Plaza Major and Cathedral.

Fri Sep 12th

All day in Puno (Elevation 3,920 metres)
Peru: the city of Puno

After breakfast in the hotel, we took the coach to the harbour on Lake Titicaca. Then a fast boat to the very strange Floating Islands of Uros, and then to Taquile Island for an outdoor lunch.

Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the Floating Islands of Uros
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the beautiful island of Taquile.
Lake Titicaca in Peru: the beautiful island of Taquile.

In the evening, we walked to La Casona restaurant (again) and were regaled by an Andean Pipe band (Kuntur, and bought their album on a memory stick).

Sat Sep 13th

Puno to Cusco (Elevation 3,300 metres) Overnight in Polo Cusco Suites, Cusco.

Cusco in Peru: La Raya – the highest point on the road to Cusco
SIcuani in Peru: the abandoned church tower of the iglesia Marangani Sicuani
SIcuani in Peru: the Restaurant La Pascana de Mer

Another long day’s coach travel. A fairly boring museum, the altiplano landscape at La Raya, then the Inca complex at Raqch’i. We didn’t bother with the church at Andahuaylillas. A nice hotel in Cusco where we had dinner overlooking the lights of Cusco.

Circular ‘qolqas’ used for corralling animals
The Iglesia de Raqchi

Sun Sep 14th

Cusco to Machu Picchu (Elevation 2,316 metres)

Hotel Polo Cusco Suites, Cusco
Cusco cityscape
Cusco city in Peru: the tower, Monumento Inca Pachacutec, built in the Inca style in 1992

Arrrghhh! My birthday… we were all in the reception of the hotel waiting for the coach for our trip to Machu Picchu. But no coach! Then we heard from a couple who had an earlier slot that there were no trains running from Ollantaytambo!

Very little information from Exoticca, so around 11 am, we gave up waiting for news, and we walked into Cusco centre, and had beers and lunch, whilst monitoring the situation for another attempt at Machu Picchu tomorrow.

Cusco city in Peru: the baroque Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Loreto
Cusco city in Peru: a welcome beer overlooking the Plaza de Armas
Cusco city in Peru: the Plaza de Armas
Cusco city in Peru: traditional dancing on the Plaza de Armas

We went up to the hotel bar for drinks, when we got confirmation from Condor Travel that the trip had been re-arranged for tomorrow. Yay!

To celebrate (well that, and the birthday!), we took a taxi into Cusco centre and had a nice meal at Mulli Wine and Steak overlooking the Plaza Major.

Mon Sep 15th

All day in Cusco (Elevation 3,300 metres)

An even worse day! The coach took us to Ollantaytambo on the off-chance trains were running – they weren’t. We ended up in a crowded restaurant waiting for news, but it ended up a totally wasted day.

Cusco in Peru: The station at Ollantaytambo

Tue Sep 16th

Cuzco to Lima (Elevation 116 metres). Overnight stay in Ibis Lima Reducto. Upon arrival, you will be assisted and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. Take this time to explore the capital of Peru at your own pace.

Lima: Ocean pier and the Rosa Nautica Restaurant.

I don’t remember much leisure time!

Wed Sep 17th

All day in Lima (Elevation 116 metres)

Lima in Peru: The Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace) in the Plaza de Armas
Lima in Peru: The Basilica Catderal de Lima
Lima in Peru: Convento de Santo Domingo: the library
Lima in Peru: the cloisters and gardens of the Convento de Santo Domingo
Lima in Peru: inside the Convento de Santo Domingo
Lima in Peru: the Larco Archeological Museum of pre-Columbian artifacts. Inca jewellery
Lima in Peru: the Larco Archeological Museum of pre-Columbian artifacts. Racks of pottery and ceramics.

Did our packing, then some lunch and the Lima city tour. Got a migraine in the Larco Museum. Somehow jumped the queues at a very crowded Papagiani Pizza restaurant.

Thu Sep 18th

Fly back to Madrid

Breakfast at the hotel, then make our own way to the airport (Terminal 2) (transfers not included). Take Iberia 11:00 flight, landing in Madrid at 05:50.

Flying over the Peruvian Andes
Flying over the Parque Nacional Yanachaga Chemillen, and the Rio Iscozacin in northern Peru

Overnight on plane.

Fri Sep 19th

Land in Madrid, then taxi/Uber to Atocha station and the 08:30 train to Malaga (Carriage 2, Seat 6B/6C)

Arrive Malaga at 11:12 am.

Pickup car (€87 in cash)

Pickup Bowie