Real Travel Adventures
International
NEW Articles
Adventure Travels
Stories & Photos
January 1, 2011
New Photos and Features
by Bonnie and Bill Neely
by Fyllis Hockman
photos by Bruce Genderson
by Patty Burness
by Nancy and Dean Hoch
Enjoy our past features below:
Some of the trips described in RealTravelAdventures.com were free "fam" trips. However, as professional writers, we never write what, in our opinion, is not a true evaluation of a place. If we do not like a place we visit we say so, or we simply do not write about it.
INTERNATIONAL
MAGAZINE
Enjoy our past features below:
Some of the trips described in RealTravelAdventures.com were free "fam" trips. However, as professional writers, we never write what, in our opinion, is not a true evaluation of a place. If we do not like a place we visit we say so, or we simply do not write about it.
INTERNATIONAL
MAGAZINE
International
Travel Adventures
Stories & Photos
Advertise on our site. We have the best rates on the Internet!
We average over 800 unique visitors a DAY, nearly half a million a year.
If you travel for more that just a look-see, visit the excellent new Philosophical Traveller for indepth perspectives on places around the world. Click here . You'll find our podcasts there also to listen while you do other work on your computer.
Fab Placez is Designed
with the over 50
traveler in mind
Your FREE online travel magazine e-zine of exciting travel adventures, travel reviews, travel photos from all ages and lifestyles of real travel in US and the world. International travel adventure - travel adventure magazine - travel reviews - trip planner - road trip planner - travel news - Real Travel Adventures Ezine with Book Review and Travel Guides for good reads and good listens on your trips and international travel adventures.
Sharing Travel Adventures & Adventure Travel
Discover Great get-aways, budget stays, and luxury travel to Dream About .Choose from Hundreds of Travel Reviews and and book reviews Outdoor and Nature Photos
Get Your Travel Review Published here!
INTERNATIONAL
MAGAZINE
International Magazine
Custom Search
Flag of Peru
Discover Peru
©2011 by Patty Burness
Discover Peru
©2011 by Patty Burness
Peru is spectacular- a contrast of ancient and modern that blends together from the Amazon Basin to the Andes and the Pacific. Enjoy Peru in the cities and in the adventurous countryside while experiencing its natural beauty and international cuisine. Explore the mighty Incan and pre-Columbian cultures that date back more than 10,000 years.
I recently returned from a remarkable week discovering Peru with a small group. With LAN Peru's new direct service from San Francisco to Lima, getting to South America has never been easier. Arriving in Lima in winter is just like being in San Francisco in the summer - cold and grey with a damp sea mist hanging over the city. We checked into the plush Miraflores Park Hotel in the wee hours of the morning.
The view from the Miraflores Park Hotel was endless. Later that day, I saw the coast stretching for miles from my luxe room (laden with Molton Brown amenities) as the Pacific surf pounded the beach below. A hearty breakfast and an even better view awaited at the hotel's top floor Observatory Restaurant. For two days, I passed up the infinity pool and spa to see the city sights.
Lima is a bit gritty, but vibrant and architecturally rich with South America's largest historical center. Don't miss the many colorful plazas, remarkable churches and archaeological museums. Ruins from the 5th century sit in the middle of the city where the Lima Culture once flourished.
Restaurants abound serving Peruvian classics like Pisco sours, causas, lomo saltado and the ubiquitous potato (over 3,000 varieties in the country). One day, we tried Restaurant Huaca Pucllana for a traditional lunch, (overlooking adobe Incan ruins) and La Mar the next.
Lima's La Mar serves the most delectable ceviches, tiraditos, sushi and more with a great local vibe just like its counterpart in San Francisco.
Dinner the first night was at Central, a hip place with fish, lamb and beef dishes - all created with a Peruvian “nuevo Andino” fusion flare. The next evening, we ate at the hotel's hot new Mesa 18. Seafood, quinoa and potatoes shined. For dessert, white chocolate soup with a cup of mate de coca tea helped prepare for the next day's altitude change. Then it was a quick visit to the Barranco neighborhood for a nightcap - alive with music, dancing, people - and a good time.
The plane ride from Lima to Cusco is less than an hour and passes between snow capped mountains and arid peaks. By the time you land, you're at 10,659 feet. Acclimating to the sudden elevation change is easier if you visit Machu Picchu town first (about 7,000 ft.), so we hired a van for the trip to the Ollantaytambo train station. (If you take the train from other Cusco stations, plan on a longer journey due to the switchbacks down the mountain.) Driving into the verdant Sacred Valley, we passed one picturesque town after another. Numerous archaeological sites captured our imagination. Once on the Backpacker train, it's a scenic two hours along the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu town.
The luxury Sumaq hotel is a five minute walk from the train station. The hotel's style and design reflect the vibrant Andean culture as do native ingredients in the cuisine. A sustainable focus helps preserve the fragility of the area. The Qunuq Restaurant, with knockout views of the mountains and rushing river, serves creative dishes from around Peru. For dinner, savor the fresh trout ceviche, corn pies, alpaca tenderloin and decadent desserts. And before the trip up to Machu Picchu itself, fortify yourself with a full breakfast.
Machu Picchu at sunrise is the best way to get the full experience. A bus makes the trip up the mountain (to 8,000 feet) in about 30 minutes. The sight of Machu Picchu in emergent sunlight is breathtaking. The architectural achievements of the Incans are truly extraordinary. This Incan citadel in the jungle is rightfully a world wonder. Spend time wandering and dreaming about the life that existed here. After soaking up the “Lost City,” it was time to soak up the offerings in the hotel's spa and contemplate our next stop: a stay in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire.
Colorful Cusco features Inca-built walls lining steep cobblestoned streets, historic plazas teeming with natives in beautiful garb and treasures proudly displayed in churches and mansions. Shopping is all about bartering, with stalls and boutiques at every turn.
We checked into the gorgeous Casa Cartagena near the main square. This upscale boutique hotel and spa is situated on a former Incan ceremonial site and is a restored mansion, a mix of Spanish architecture and modern design. Most rooms are oversized with contemporary furniture and surround a lush courtyard. Trout ceviche and local fruits and breads are some of the delicious cuisine you'll savor at La Chola, the hotel's restaurant.
Dinner that night was at Cicciolina, a fun tapas bar on the second floor of an old colonial house. We shared Andean-inspired small plates and enjoyed the lively atmosphere. And finally, for lunch our last day, we chose Chicha por Gaston Acurio. The talented chef behind La Mar delivers - quinoa, octopus, empanadas and pork loin - all served with luscious Peruvian flavors.
From Cusco, it was back to Lima and on to San Francisco. Peru is magical - the culture, the people, the food - it's a country you'll remember and want to return to.
Essentials:
Getting There
Peru: Fly LAN direct San Francisco to Lima in about 9 hours. www.lan.com. In Business Class, find horizontal seats for maximum comfort, Bulgari products, South American wines and healthy fare. Recently renovated Economy Class boasts an entertainment system like in Business (with a smaller screen) and complimentary food and wine. Tourist Information: www.peru.info, www.theperuguide.com, www.perurail.com. Currency: Nuevo Sol.
Where to Stay
Miraflores Park Hotel: Av. Malecon de la reserve 1035, Lima, 800-237-1236, www.miraflorespark.com. Internet specials.
Sumaq Hotel: Av. Hermanos Ayar, Machu Picchu, 866-682-0645, www.sumaqhotelperu.com. Internet specials.
Casa Cartagena: Pumacurco 336, Cusco, www.casacartagena.com. Internet specials.
Where to Eat & Drink
Lima
Restaurant Huaca Pucllana: General Borgono Block 8, www.resthuacapucllana.com.
La Mar: Av. La Mar 770 (and La Mar San Francisco: Pier 1 ½), www.lamarcebicheria.com.
Central: Calle Carlos Augusto Salaverry 3810.
Mesa 18: Calle los Carolinas 118, www.mesa18restaurant.com.
Machu Picchu
Qunuq Restaurant: Av. Hermanos Ayar, www.sumaqhotelperu.com.
Cusco
La Chola: Pumacurco 336, www.casacartagena.com.
Cicciolina: Calle Triunfo 393, www.cicciolinacusco.com.
Chicha por Gaston Acurio: Calle Plaza Regocijo 261.
Don't Miss
Lima
Museo San Francisco: Plazuela San Francisco, www.museocatacumbas.com.
Museo Nacional de Arqueologia, Antropoligia e Historia del Peru: Av. Javier Prado Este 2465, www.inc.gob.pe.
Museo Arqueologia Rafael Larco Herrara: Av. Bolivar 1515, www.museolarco.org.
Huaca Pucllana: General Borgono Block 8, www.pucllana.perucultural.org.pe.
Machu Picchu: www.machupicchu.org.
Cusco
La Catedral: Plaza de Armas.
Museo Inka: Tucuman at Ataud.
Qorikancha: Plazoleta Santo Domingo.
Must Try
PacSafe Purse: 800-873-9415, www.pacsafe.com. The CitySafe 200 model keeps valuables protected. Roomy and stylish, don't travel without it $64.99.
Adventure & Travel Convertible Capris: 800-962-4943, www.magellans.com. Pants so comfortable you'll wear them everywhere. Easily convert to walking shorts. Ample pockets. Great fabric. $69.50.
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50: 212-989-6077, www.biologique-recherche.us. This exfoliant comes in three different formulas depending on skin type to purify, hydrate, tone and balance skin. $45.
Relastin Skin Revitalizer: 800-808-2624, www.relastin.com. An anti-aging product that works. Use regularly and see fewer wrinkles and more elasticity. $69.
Whether you wish to see Europe, Russia, Asia, or Egypt, the most relaxing way to travel is on Viking
River Cruises . You unpack once and then enjoy daily shore excursions to visit both modern and historic places. Viking River Cruises will give you the trip of your dreams with luxurious accommodations, delicious food, exciting entertainment, and fascinating scenery.
You just can't find a real travel adventure while trying to donate timeshare properties. Thankfully at Transfer America you can get out without having to even go through a sell timeshare strategy.
Find the best cheap cruise deal along with cruise reviews, news and opinions at cruiselinefans.com
Wherever you plan to go on your travel adventures, be sure to purchase
the right travel insurance If you plan to be away for a few months then you will need a backpacker travel insurance policy, most of which now include up to two weeks ski or winter sports cover.
_____________________________________________________
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
Book & Audio Reviews For Your Travels
Subscribers:So that your free subscription is not mistaken for spam,
Please copy & paste our E-mail address into your address book: mail@realtraveladventures.com
It's that simple!
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
Adventure Travels in your Free Ezine
If any links don't work
Thanks for visiting us!
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published!
Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at
realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures.
© 2011 Bonita Productions Inc.