Travel Tips – Blog Magical Cuzco Tours

Luxury Fashion that Brings Peruvian Heritage to the World

When traveling to Peru you can think of luxury and fashion, there are many Peruvian brands that manage to capture the cultural and artistic essence of the country and at the same time provide an amazing product.

The Gift of a Story:

This collection is a tribute to the cultural and artistic heritage of ancient Peruvian civilizations. Imagine wearing a piece of Nazca history, reflected in a delicate and elegant baby alpaca and silk fabric. These garments not only envelop us in luxury but also connect us with the legacy of our ancestors.

Intricate design with lots of color:

For those looking for the perfect balance between style and comfort, we found these stoles. Made with baby alpaca and silk fibers, this multicolored garment is a reflection of elegance and sophistication. It is a constant reminder of the harmony and beauty found in our culture, allowing us to carry a piece of it wherever we go.

Art and Spirituality in Every Garment:

Also recommend series of stoles that are true canvases of inspiration. Each piece, designed by Kelly Abarca, fuses art and spirituality, using baby alpaca and silk fibers. These garments not only adorn but also inspire, combining beauty and depth in each thread.

When travelling to Peru, consider looking for these pieces of art. Each garment tells a story, our Peruvian story, and allows us to carry a piece of our heritage with us, wherever we go. Customizre your tour with us and we will provide recommendation on where to go shopping for pieces as special like this.

For more information do not hesitate to call us at +17038225311 or email us at info@magicalcuzcotours.com

Photos: from Kuna store Website

On 6 Junio, 2024 • By magicalblog

Cusco• Machu Picchu• Travel Tips

Everything you need to know about the New Circuits of Machu Picchu

Welcome to all travel enthusiasts!

In preparation for your upcoming trip to Cusco, we want to keep you informed about the new changes made by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture regarding entrance tickets to the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

Previously, when buying an entrance ticket, you could choose one of the three available circuits, which allowed you to tour Machu Picchu for 2.5 hours. Each circuit had a specific route, but in general terms, you could appreciate the entire citadel, both the upper and lower parts.

Now, as of June 1, 2024, although three circuits will continue to exist, they are divided into 10 different routes to offer visitors a more diverse and personalized experience. Therefore, visitors who have purchased tickets before this date will have to adapt to these new circuits:

Route 1-A: Machupicchu Mountain Route
Route 1-B: Upper Terrace Route
Route 1-C: Intipunku Gateway Route (available only in High Season)
Route 1-D: Inka Bridge Route (available only in High Season)
Route 2-A: Designed Route
Route 2-B: Lower Terrace Route
Route 3-A: Waynapicchu Mountain Route
Route 3-B: Designed route
Route 3-C: Great Cavern Route (available only in High Season)
Route 3-D: Huchuypicchu Route (available only in high season)

Schedules and Admission Capacity

The maximum capacity in the high season is 5,600 visitors per day. For the low season, there are 4,500 daily visitors.

Entrance Hours

The entrance hours for each circuit will be specified on your admission ticket. There will be a 30-minute tolerance for entrance in low season and 45 minutes in high season. After this time, entry will not be allowed, except for duly justified reasons of force majeure.

For those who already have their tickets, the equivalence for your access will be one of the three circuits (Panoramic, Machu Picchu Classic, and Machu Picchu Royalty). Please note that you will be able to choose according to the capacity at the time of entering Machu Picchu. There is no confirmation in advance of which circuit will be assigned, as this will be determined upon arrival at the entrance to Machu Picchu. However, any of the three circuits will offer a complete guided tour of 2.5 hours, allowing you to appreciate the Inca city and take traditional photos.

Information about the circuits

Route 1-A: Machupicchu Mountain Route:

In this route you will only hike Machu Picchu Mountain.

Route 1-B: Upper Terrace Route:

With this route you will enjoy the classic view of Machu Picchu.

Route 1-C: Intipunku Gateway Route (available only in High Season):

With this route you will hike to Inti Punku.

Route 1-D: Inka Bridge Route (available only in High Season):

With this route you will hike to the Inka Bridge and have a classic view of Machu Picchu.

Route 2-A: Designed Route:

This route is one of the best because you will have a classic view of Machu Picchu from the Inca guard house.

Route 2-B: Lower Terrace Route:

With this route you will be able to walk through almost all the spaces of Machu Picchu and you will have a classic view from an Inca terrace a little below the Inca guard house.

Route 3-A: Waynapicchu Mountain Route:

On this route you will take a classic hike to get the best view of Machu Picchu and its surroundings from the summit of Waynapicchu.

Route 3-B: Designed route:

With this route you will not be able to access the top of Huayna Picchu mountain, but you will have access to the center and left side of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Route 3-C: Great Cavern Route (available only in High Season):

This route is only available in high season. You will be able to access the center and the right side of Machu Picchu without the classic view. You will also see the great cavern, known as the Temple of the Moon of Machu Picchu.

Route 3-D: Huchuypicchu Route (available only in high season):

With this route you will have a different photographic perspective of Machu Picchu from the viewpoint of Huchuy Picchu because you will enter through the center of the citadel.

Tips and Recommendations

We recommend Circuit 2 or Inka City Circuit (Route 2-A, Route 2-B). This circuit offers the classic view of Machu Picchu and allows you to explore the citadel in-depth, including iconic sites such as the Upper Platform, the Dry Moat and the Temple of the Sun.

Since the changes go into effect on June 1, long lines and some confusions are possible, especially for those traveling alone. To ensure a smooth experience, ensure your guide is always with you. The Magical Cuzco Tours team is always monitoring any new information released by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture to keep our passengers informed.

Have an unforgettable experience in Machu Picchu!

Customize your journey with our specialized team. We can’t wait to share the magic of Peru with you!

For more information do not hesitate to call us at +17038225311 or email us at info@magicalcuzcotours.com

On 3 Junio, 2024 • By magicalblog

Nazca• Peru• Travel• Travel Tips

Best Things to do in Paracas and Around

Paracas is a small port town in the Paracas district and it is located in the Ica region in the south of Lima. It is well-known to travelers due to the large amount of activities and tours available in the area and the peaceful atmosphere. Paracas is also the jumping point to reach and visit the Islas Ballestas and the amazing Paracas National Reserve.

Here is a list of activities available in the area:

Islas Ballestas and Paracas National Reserve: to visit the site we suggest you to book in advance a relaxing boat tour leaving from the “El Chaco” pier. During the tour you will explore the area and see the popular ”El Candelabro”, a large prehistoric petroglyph of unknown origin spanning over 150 meters high and 50 meters wide, which is considered a mysterious symbol; the peculiar rock formations; the different species of animals and birds in the island, like sea lions, Peruvian booby, cormorans, penguins among others.

Winery Tour in Ica: Paracas is located in the Ica district at only a 1-hour car ride from Ica city, popular for its vineyards. This is the perfect chance to engage in a fun winery tour. In Ica you can find many wine “bodegas” that produce a sweet red wine and also the famous national Peruvian spirit: Pisco. During the tour, you will learn about the different kinds of grapes, the production process, and the tools used and have the chance to taste several types of wine and Pisco varieties. The varieties depend on the different kinds of grapes used in the elaboration process. Do not miss the chance to buy wines and Piscos directly in the “bodega” for a cheaper price.

Huacachina Tour: this is a unique oasis in the heart of the Peruvian desert, considered a paradisiac place with palms, a blue-green lagoon, and sand dunes where you can engage in multiple fun activities or, if you are not an active traveler, just relax. Huacachina is ideal for sports activities, such as buggies and sandboarding. As for the buggies, you can rent four-wheel-drive dune buggies and go up and down the dunes with a professional driver. We suggest you take the afternoon tour to avoid the heat and enjoy the beautiful sunset in the desert. As for sandboarding, if you are an expert you can just rent the board otherwise just take the tour with a professional instructor, who will explain how to surf the dunes and help you choose the right sandboard for you.

Nazca Lines Tour: if you are into adventurous trips, you can also fly over the famous and mysterious Nazca lines. Flights usually leave in the morning and you will have the chance to see the incredible lines, whose history is still controversial.

Customize your journey with our specialized team. We can’t wait to share the magic of Peru with you!

For more information do not hesitate to call us at +17038225311 or email us at info@magicalcuzcotours.com.

On 22 Junio, 2023 • By magicalblog

Galapagos• Peru• Travel Tips• World travel

Top 4-Day Itineraries to take in Galapagos

Do you have approximately 4 days available for your Galapagos holiday and you want to get the best part of the archipelago? Do you still want to have fun and come back home cherishing everlasting memories after your short trip to Galapagos islands? We can definitely help you planning the best 4 days holidays of your life, where you will enjoy beautiful sunsets, amazing nature, charming underwater world and have close encounters with Galapagos’ wildlife.

Having only few days available will not spoil your holiday! Here our 4 day-best itineraries.

After your arrival at Baltra Island’s Airport you will board one of our boats to start your amazing journey. You will visit the highlands Tortoise Reserve located on Santa Cruz Islands and enjoy Galapagos’ ecosystem. The second day we will take you to Genovesa Island where you have the chance to hike El Barranco and enjoy stunning landscapes and the Darwin Bay to encounter some of the most beautiful gulls in the world, red-footed boobies, among other species. The third day you will visit South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands, where you have the chance to encounter sea lions, land iguanas, gulls turtles and reef sharks. The day will literally amaze you, especially if you are looking forward to getting in touch with the archipelago’s wildlife. The last day you will spend leisure time in Bachas Beach where you can swim, walk along the shore and visit a beautiful lagoon nearby. Here more information: A-Galapagos-Legend_compressed

Another 4-day itinerary proposal starts on North Seymour Island. After your arrival at Baltra Island’s Airport you will board one of our boats to reach the bird-watchers paradise: North Seymour Island. The second day you will head to Bartolome Island where you will enjoy the iconic and most characteristic landscape of the Pinnacle rock with the Santiago Island beyond from the top of the island. Then you will hike Sullivan Bay on the volcanic Santiago Island. The third day you will reach San Cristobal Island where you will climb on the highest point of the island to enjoy the breathtaking landscape and have the chance to encounter Galapagos’wildlife such as several booby species. On the island you will also visit Cerro Brujo where you can relax, go snorkeling and spot sea lions, white-chicked pintails, among others. The last day will be dedicated to the visit of the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve to see the famous giant tortoises. Here more information: galapagos C itinererario web

These are only two options of itineraries we can propose, but remember that we can customize your trip to Galapagos based on your needs and special requirement. For more information contact us at anamaria@magicalcuzcotours.com or call us (+1) 703-822-5311 .

On 7 Marzo, 2023 • By magicalblog

Galapagos• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Top Things to do in Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands are one of the best spots to visit in South America. Located 900 km away from the Ecuador’s coast in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago of 18 islands, famous for its wildlife and amazing landscapes.

Snorkeling and Diving: get in the clean water and go snorkeling and diving as much as you can in the Galapagos. The world under the Pacific Ocean waters is amazing and full of species to discover and colorful corals. Sea turtles, sea lions, whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, reef fishes, among others are part of what you will enjoy during the immersions. You can go snorkeling everywhere in the archipelago, but some of the best spots are Floreana Island, San Cristobal Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santiago Island, among others.

Birdwatching: birdwatching is one of the most popular activities you can do in Galapagos islands. Let’s keep in mind that the islands were used by Charles Darwin for his researches and species classification for his theory of evolution; the site is basically a unique place for birdwatching. You can encounter flamingos, footed boobies, frigate birds, among others species you can spot.

Wildlife spotting: a part from birdwatching, you can engage in multiple others activities in the Galapagos archipelago, such as the wildlife spotting. You can encounter marine iguanas on the beach, sea lions, penguins, tortoises, seals and finches. All these species inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. You can engage in this activity everywhere in the Galapagos islands, since in all islands you will encounter beautiful species. However, the best spots are Isabela, Fernandina and Bartolomé Islands for penguins, Santa Cruz and Isabela islands for giant tortoises, Santa Cruz, Fernandina and Isabela Islands for land iguanas.

Hiking: in the archipelagos you can also go hiking thought exciting trails, such as the Sierra Negra Volcano trail on Isabela Island, which is located more than 1300 meters above the sea level; Playa Mann, Playa Punta Carola and Cierro Tijeretas trail on San Cristobal Island where you can enjoy stunning landscapes and do birdwatching; North Seymour Island trail where you can hike through cactus and Palo Santo trees and there you can spot many wildlife species.

For more information you can contact us at anamaria@magicalcuzcotours.com or call us (+1) 703-822-5311

Itinerary 1
Itinerary 2
Itinerary 3
Itinerary 4

On 9 Febrero, 2023 • By magicalblog

Cusco• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Best Things to do in Cusco

Cusco is a must-seen when traveling to Peru. You should definitely add 3 or 4 days in Cusco when planning your Peru trip. For many travelers visiting Peru without exploring Cusco is like writing a story without a real plot, since you cannot catch the essence of the country. Cusco is a vibrant city, rich in history and culture. Considering that, and being sure that you all have added a stop in Cusco in your Peru’s itinerary, in this article we tried to list top things and activities to do in Cusco area.

Sacsayhuaman: do not forget to pay a visit to this archeological Inca site located on top of the city, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman is a mural complex, made of huge stones of approximately 300 pounds each, and reachable on foot from Cusco city. The site is located more than 3500 mts above sea level, so if you suffer from altitude sickness consider taking a taxi.

Historical Centre: do not forget to visit Cusco’s main square, ranked as one of the most important square in the world. There you can visit the magnificent cathedral, and enjoy the vastity of the square. Take a stroll in the little street around the square, where you can find cozy cafes and restaurants. This spot has been considered the real essence of the Inca Empire.

San Blas district: San Blas is the vibrant, boho and creative district of Cusco, where you can find clothes shops, Peruvian artisans’ shops, art galleries and workshops and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes. Its cobbled streets are fascinating, as well as its colonial architecture.

Rainbow Mountain: this is a popular spot for trekking lovers. You can hike the route by yourself in approximately 2 hours or you can rent a horse to make the experience a bit lighter, in one day you will have an amazing trekking experience and enjoy a stunning view. Once you reach the famous rainbow mountain you will enjoy an amazing and not-ordinary colorful landscape. Do not forget your camera!

San Pedro Market: to catch the essence of Peruvian culture you should visit this huge market, located only 10 minutes from Cusco’s main square. This is a great place to try Peruvian authentic food, do not forget to negotiate prices, that’s the funniest part.

Here are only few things that you can do in Cusco, but Cusco is an amazing city where you can find pretty much everything depending on your preferences and specific needs.

On 30 Marzo, 2022 • By magicalblog

Food• Peru• Travel Tips

5 Staple Dishes you cannot miss while in Peru

All right, now everything is set for your Peru trip, you got your flights, your accommodation, all the transportation you will need is booked and you can just relax before you leave. Meanwhile we suggest to start getting into Peruvian culture learning some Spanish words essential to survive during your trip, learn about Peruvian culture and start checking on restaurants to book for lunch or dinner, dishes you wanna try, market you do not want to miss. As you already know Peruvian cuisine is one of the most popular and well-known in the world and I am pretty sure that one of the things you do not want to miss is tasting a good ceviche and get to know the wonder and gems of our food culture. Here a list of dishes you must tr before leaving Peru.

Ceviche: This is the most popular Peruvian dish in the world. Many times, when we talk about Peru with a foreigner, then we end up talking about ceviche and its amazing and delicious taste. If you want to try the traditional ceviche we suggest to do it in Lima, since the dish is from the coastal region of Peru. Also remember that the fish used for making ceviche has to be extremely fresh. Since fishmen boats goes out very early in the morning and go back before lunch, restaurants in Lima serve ceviche only for lunch. Even tough you could find ceviche at night in some restaurants, it is not very common.

Lomo saltado: This dish comes from the union of Peruvian tradition and Chinese cuisine. The dish is made of marinated strips of sirloin, or other beef steak, red onion, tomatoes, Peruvian yellow aji chilies, French fries, served with rice, cooked at Peruvian style. The combination of ingredients create a unique flavors, you will love it! This dish is pretty easy to find in any restaurant and Peruvian very often eat it for lunch during the week.

Causa: This is considered an appetizer but it is a very reach dish, made of Peruvian yellow potatoes, avocado (we call it palta), mayonnaise and an ingredient of your choice. That means that it could be chicken, vegetables, prawns, tuna. The combination of flavors is delicious.

Aji de gallina: this is a chicken-based dish and usually Peruvians eat during the week at least once. Also expats and visitors love it for its amazing taste. It’s a spicy and creamy chicken stews served with Peruvian style steam rice and a boiled egg. In some restaurants you can also find black olives on top.

Papas a la Huancayna: this is also considered a starter, very common in restaurants and street stalls. Sliced of boiled Peruvian potatoes topped with a velvety sauce made of yellow aji pepper, evaporated milk, oil, fresh cheese and crackers. The name comes from the fact that traditionally the potatoes used to prepare the dish came from Huancayo area in the region called Junin.

What are you waiting for? Come to Peru and taste our traditional cuisine.

On 11 Enero, 2022 • By magicalblog

Food• Peru• Travel Tips

5 Peruvian Traditional Desserts

Peruvian cuisine is famous for its variety of salty dishes and tastes, but it is also popular for its traditional desserts. You can find them from the fanciest gourmet restaurant to the most rustic street stall, everyone has its own version but the aim is not to compromise the traditional flavors.

ALFAJORES

Alfajores are extremely popular in Latin America’s countries, but Peru has its own and unique version indeed. They are two-layer shortbread cookies filled with “dulce de leche”, which we call in Peru “manjar”. They are usually eaten as a snack, after lunch or for tea time, the traditional Peruvian “lonche”. They are sprinkled with powdered sugar and if you want a special exotic flavor roll it into shredded coconut.

SUSPIRO A LA LIMEÑA

This is a smooth caramel–based cream lucuma-flavored, covered by a fluffy immaculate meringue and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s a real sweetness experience! The traditional version is made with lucuma, a Peruvian creamy fruit, but there are other delicious versions with passion fruit, peach, chirimoya, coconut or mango.

ARROZ CON LECHE

This is a traditional dessert which bring us back to the very first traditions of Peruvian cuisine, brought to Latin America by the Spanish conquerors who took it from the Arab traditions. It’s a fabulous combination of rice, cinnamon, cloves, condensed milk and sugar. Sometimes is served with mazamorra, another traditional dessert. When you mix arroz con leche and mazamorra the result is the “combinado”, a mix of both desserts whose tastes are perfect together.

MAZAMORRA

This s a pudding-like dessert of a brilliant purple color, usually served cold. This dessert is made with purple corn, from which comes its color, pineapple, cinnamon, cloves, sugar, cornstarch, which is used to thicken it.

PICARONES

It is very common to find food stalls in the man streets and parks that cook and sell picarones, a traditional dessert to go for Peruvians. They are the Peruvian version of doughnuts, drenched in syrup called “chancaca”.

On 22 Noviembre, 2021 • By magicalblog

Peru• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Places to buy a Delicious Turron de Doña Pepa

October is the “mes morado” in Lima, it can be translated in English as “purple month”, and it is a holy month to celebrate the Señor de los Milagros, one of the most important religious festivals in the country. You can notice people dressed in purple as an offer to the patron during the month. A traditional sweet eaten during the Señor de Los Milagros celebration is the traditional Turrón de Doña Pepa. The turrón has become Peruvian family’s favorite treat and also travelers and expats love it.

In October the turron starts appearing in the pastry shop’s shelves, in the grocery stores, in the food stalls. It’s a sticky anise-flavored pastry, filled with “chancaca” syrup (a sort of honey) and topped with colorful candies and sprinkles. It’s a sort of eternal dessert, Peruvians love traditions!

Here a list of places where you can buy a delicious turrón de Doña Pepa if you happen to be in Peru in October.

Pastelería San Martín

This historic pastry shop is located very close to the Plaza San Martín, it was open in 1930 and it is a mandatory stop if you want to taste a delicious turron de Doña Pepa in Lima’s downtown.

Pastelería Italo

This pastry shop is also very old, it was opened 40 years ago in Magdalena district in Lima, today it also has a branch in Callao Monumental. It offers a wide variety of tasty desserts, but it is its turron de Doña Pepa the most delicious and popular dessert on its menu.

Antigua Panadería Huérfanos de Lima

The turron de Doña Pepa of this traditional pastry shop stands out for its dough and flavor, which makes the shop a mandatory stop during the “purple month”. The place is located in Lima downtown.

Turron Isabel

Made with fruit honey and an original recipe since 1947, this turrón de Doña Pepa is one of the most traditional in Lima downtown.

La Bonbonniere

This place has become another favorite of Limeños to taste their turrón de Doña Pepa. The dough and the syrup used create a perfect combination of flavors, which will make you want to try more. You can find La Bonbonniere in several Lima’s district.

On 4 Noviembre, 2021 • By magicalblog

Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Best Tips for a Safe Travel

After a year of pandemic we definitely need to get back on track with traveling. Many people have lost their sense of traveling, their habits and the necessary measures they usually used to travel safely. That is why we felt necessary to write this article including all the best tips we could share for a safe trip. They are good if you’re traveling by yourself, or for family trips or couple trips. Here our list:

Always travel with one or two hard copies of your travel documents: passport, IDs, health insurance cards. You can definitely lost all of them or some of them and you might need a backup, especially for your policy report. Also, it is advisable to go sightseeing with hardcopies of the documents and leave them locked at your accommodation.

Bring a lock in your suitcase, it could be useful if you have some documents or items you need to lock in your suitcase or a cabinet. If you are stay in a hostel it will definitely come handy to lock your stuff up. It is better to use a lock with a combination of numbers or letters that the ones with keys. If you lost those keys you’re screwed.

Travel with city maps: they are extremely useful for sightseeing and going around the city. But still do not be afraid to lost since this is also a good part of traveling. Getting off the beaten paths is always an experience and will allow you to get to know the real essence of the place you’re visiting.

Try to have written down or to learn basic phrases in local language. They could be very helpful since you never know what happen while you’re exploring the place.
Have a first-aid kit with you: add paracetamol, antibacterial cream, pads, roller gauze, bandages, medical tape, thermometer. If you are taking any remedies, bring it with you, as well as a prescription from your physician. If you are traveling with kids you should know that the amount of remedies you should bring with you is basically tripled. Just play on the safe side.

Take picture of your luggage before approaching the counter, this will help you in case the airline lost it.
Get vaccinated: apart from COVID-19 vaccine, some countries require you to do specific vaccines to enter it. So be prepared for it and get your shot before traveling.

Carry extra cash, this is always useful for last minute shopping or for emergency reason. You can also consider to carry an extra credit card in case you experience any problem with the one you usually use.

Get travel insurance: this is a must have for any kind of travel. So get yours and learn all the conditions of the contract before purchasing. This is the best expense you can do for your trip.

We hope that these tips can help you planning your next trip, and remember: get whatever you can to travel safely all around the world.

On 21 Octubre, 2021 • By magicalblog

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