By: Brenda Tackett, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
In October, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to take an Adventures by Disney trip to Peru. The adventure started in Lima and then concluded with 6 days in Cusco. We had two unbelievable adventure guides that made all the difference.
Day 1 was a dream.
After a short flight arranged by Disney, we arrived in Cusco in the Peruvian Andes with an elevation of 11,200 feet. Known for its ancient ruins and Spanish colonial architecture, this city was once the capital of the Incan Empire and is a gateway to other Incan sites including the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which lies at the heart of this historic area.
We traveled by motor coach to The Center for Traditional Textiles in Chinchero where we enjoyed a delicious private lunch of traditional Peruvian dishes.
We then explored this important center that preserves the age-old customs of local Andean communities. In a private demonstration, master weavers practiced their intricate art as well as spun and dyed alpaca wool. I bought a beautiful shawl made by one of the women.
We arrived at the hotel we are staying in for the next 4 nights, Sol y Luna. This peaceful hotel is nestled in the Sacred Valley under the breathtakingly beautiful Andean mountains. Considered the heartland of the Incan Empire, the Sacred Valley is fertile farmland formed by the Urubamba River and spotted with old colonial villages and ancient Incan ruins.
We celebrated the beginning of our adventure with our fellow Adventurers by savoring a traditional Andean feast known as Pachamanca—and learned the history behind this event. We then watched an incredible Teatro Sol y Luna performance featuring the authentic dances and stories of the Incas.
On day 2, we enjoyed the view and held onto our paddles tight as we rafted down the Urubamba River (Class I - Class III rapids). Our experienced guides explained the fascinating cultural and natural history as we glided along the scenic route.
Once changed out of our provided wet suits, we enjoyed some snacks and hot chocolate by the water.
We then explored Ollantaytambo’s narrow cobblestone streets and the amazing Inca ruins on the hill above, at an elevation of 9,160 feet. Hike up the ancient steps at a leisurely pace so you can observe the breathtaking surroundings and impressive architecture (and to catch your breath!). Walking along part of the Inca trail was unbelievable. After enjoying a hearty picnic lunch at Sol Natura, we were then given a surprise visit to a local Inca Bar.
Day 3 was filled with so many amazing events.
Our day started with a visit to the ruins of Moray where we learned about its unique circular terraces and the history of agriculture in the region. The depth and design of this landmark allowed for wide temperature differences in the terraces. This allowed for the soil to grow different crops and for the Incas to study the effects that different climate conditions had on crops.
After leaving the Moray ruins, we took our shuttle to the Salt Pans of Maras. I had no idea what to expect with the name, but I was amazed!
We toured the fascinating salt pan terraces where local families have been mining salt for over 500 years. Each family has their own section to mine and they have to work their way down to their section carefully and carry each bag of salt back up to the top.
We hiked down a trail that only Adventures by Disney adventurers can travel (about 1.5 miles). Along the way we got to stop at a local store to purchase salt if we wanted.
After the salt pans, we had the option to go shopping at a local food market. While there, our guides gave each of us 10 solas (equals $2.50) to spend in the market. They told us we were purchasing food to go with our pizza making for dinner later at the hotel. Once we all met back up, they split us into groups based on what we bought: fruits, vegetables, cheese, etc. Within those groups, we were assigned the number 1 or 2. Turns out, they told us a little fib. This food was for 2 Peruvians they had found on the street who needed the food more than we did. One was a 7-year-old girl who was selling things on a street corner for her family. The other was a 74-year-old woman who has been selling feed for guinea pigs and alpacas for over 50 years. There wasn't a dry eye amongst our group during this beautiful exchange.
We then browsed through a collection of ceramics done in “the Seminario Style,” developed by famous potters Pablo Seminario and Marilú Behar who utilize the aesthetics of Peru’s ancient cultures. We got to meet Pablo and his son, which was quite an honor.
Back at the resort, we began the evening with a Pisco Sour-tasting for adults and local fruit juices for Junior Adventurers (if kids were on the trip). We watched a demonstration of Peruvian cooking and got to taste some of the delicious local specialties. We ended the culinary evening by preparing our own pizza, adding our favorite toppings and then eating our savory creation!
Day 4 will always be known as the day we conquered Machu Picchu!
This was the day we were all most excited about. It started with a memorable and scenic 90-minute train journey to Aguas Calientes, where from there, we boarded a coach to Machu Picchu. This amazing landmark, which sits at 8,000 feet above sea level, is "the lost
city of the Incas" and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Pictures just don't do it justice.
Before hiking to Machu Picchu, we enjoyed lunch at Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel located next to the ancient Incan site. We spent the afternoon with local experts exploring the fascinating ruins and stunning views, all while learning all about the site. We even saw llamas peacefully grazing among the terraces. I will never forget this incredible journey!
On Day 5, on our way to Cusco, we stopped at the lively Pisac Market. We shopped for local crafts, silver jewelry, alpaca sweaters, and much more! Everything was so colorful in this quaint town. Our guides even gave each of us 20 solas to find a "white llama" (instead of elephant) gift that we will be exchanging the night of our farewell dinner. I discovered that my bartering skills aren't too bad!
We then visited one of the region’s camelids centers and got up close and personal with llamas and alpacas. Feeding them was hysterical, as some of them were not very patient at getting to the food! We then saw demonstrations of how the soft wool from these South American "camels" are woven, dyed and used to make beautiful textiles.
On our walk to our hotel in Cusco, we got to take in the charm of this town with cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial buildings and squares, where our guide Rudy lives.
Our hotel for the next two nights was the Palacio del Inka Hotel Cusco – Luxury Collection. Built in the cradle of the Incan Empire, this hotel was once a palatial, 16th-century estate and the summer home of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who conquered the Inca people and eventually all of Peru.
On our last day, we explored Sacsayhuaman, another Inca site where they very impressively moved 200-ton stones miles by hand. Take a look at how tall and wide many of these stones are! Our fantastic guides, Rudy and Kacey, gave us each a quipu, a counting device made of colorful strings that the Inca people used to collect data.
We then took a lovely scenic walk back into town, walking down a famous street called Calle Siete Borreguitos. This beautiful street was covered in flower pots and gorgeous paintings.
Along the way, we stopped at a local musician's house, where he showed us how to play Andean drums and quenas (Andean flutes) along with other unique instruments such as the zampona (pan flute) and a guitar made out of armadillo shell. We even got to make our own zampona and played the worst version of "Happy Birthday" ever!
We had some free time to enjoy lunch and shopping on our own, exploring Cusco and supporting local artists and craftsman.
I could list more than a dozen reasons to go with Adventures by Disney when wanting to visit another country. But at the top of the list are the guides. Every adventure comes with two guides, one of which is a local expert.
Meet Kacey and Rudy, my guides while in Peru.
Kacey is the most kind, gentle, level-headed, prepared person I have ever met. We joked that she had a Mary Poppins bag that contained anything one could ever need. She was always ready with a snack, a funny joke, or a word of encouragement.
Rudy, our local Peru expert, was the best story-teller I have ever met. His excitement and eagerness to share his Peruvian culture and the Incan history with us was contagious.
I am so grateful for their wisdom, guidance, and hard work to make our trip to Peru the most incredible adventure of my life! I feel like they will be my friends for life! I think Peru should be on everyone’s bucket list and can’t wait to help plan your next Adventures by Disney vacation!
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