Continued from the previous post~
Day 5: Maldonado—✈️—Cusco
We touched down in Cusco in the afternoon, eager to explore this historic city. After a leisurely stroll through its charming streets, we checked into our hotel as the evening settled in.
🏨 Casa Cruz Verde by Peru Garden hotels
This hotel exceeded all expectations! The rooms were spotlessly clean, the butler service was incredibly warm and attentive, and the location was perfect for sightseeing. The breakfast was a delightful spread, offering a variety of options. We booked it for just over $50, which was an absolute steal.
Day 6: Cusco one-day tour—🚂—Aguas Calientes
Our one-day tour was packed with adventure, taking us through the breathtaking Sacred Valley, the ancient salt mines, and the stunning terraces, culminating at the historic site of Ollantaytambo. From there, we hopped on the scenic Inca Trail train to Aguas Calientes. While some tours include Machu Picchu, we opted to explore it independently.
🏨Hotel 1911 B&B
The room at Hotel 1911 B&B was immaculate, conveniently located near the bus stop, and they even offered free luggage storage, making our stay hassle-free.
Day 7: Machu Picchu—🚂—Cusco—✈️—Lima
In the morning, we purchased round-trip bus tickets and made our way to the bus stop. Despite being a bit late, we managed to catch our ride up the mountain without any issues. We had pre-booked the 3A route tickets online, though we missed out on the 2 route (which might be available if you queue up the day before or join a guided tour).
After an awe-inspiring visit to Machu Picchu, we took the 14:30 train back to Cusco, arriving at 18:30. With plenty of time to spare, we caught our flight back to Lima, ending a truly unforgettable day.
Day 8: Lima—✈️—Chicago
About the food:
🥣 **Siete Sopas Surquillo (Lima)**
The complimentary garlic bread is a real treat and absolutely delicious! It’s like the bread of life 😭. We ordered chicken noodle soup and fried rice. The broth was incredibly fresh, but the noodles lacked flavor, and the chicken leg meat was a bit on the dry side. The fried rice, however, came in a generous portion, topped with a crispy chicken cutlet, and tasted pretty good. The lemon juice was also a delightful addition!
On our last night in Lima, we planned to go back, but the line at 1 AM was unbelievably long! We ended up at KFC, which, surprisingly, tasted quite similar to what we have back home.
🥣 **Punto Azul (Lima)**
We visited this place based on numerous recommendations and waited for about half an hour at 8:30 PM. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it as impressive as expected 😭. We tried the grilled octopus, ceviche, and seafood rice with cheese. All dishes were just average, but the pisco sour and punch were decent.
🥣 **Rucula Peruvian Restaurant (Cusco)**
We ordered pork rice, alpaca meat, and seafood fried rice. The flavors were unique and something we hadn’t experienced before, but they weren’t as outstanding as everyone raved about. The drinks, however, were excellent.
🥣 **KFC**
We enjoyed KFC in both Lima and Cusco. The chicken was juicy and delicious. We also tried Inca coke, which is definitely worth a taste.
#LimaFood[Topic]# #Cusco[Topic]# #MachuPicchu[Topic]# #AguasCalientes[Topic]# #Peru[Topic]# #PeruvianCuisine[Topic]#
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