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Cusco• Machu Picchu• World travel

Discover Inti Raymi: The Feast of the Sun in Cusco

Welcome, travelers and culture lovers! Today we want to invite you to a unique and vibrant experience that you can only live in the heart of the Peruvian Andes: The Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. We are excited to share with you everything you need to know to enjoy this ancestral celebration to the fullest. 

What is Inti Raymi? 

The Inti Raymi is one of the most important festivities of the Andean calendar, celebrated every June 24 in the city of Cusco. This ceremony has its roots in the Inca Empire, when tribute was paid to the Sun God (Inti) to thank him for the harvests and ask for prosperity for the new agricultural cycle. Today, the Inti Raymi is a recreation of these ancient rituals, combining tradition and spectacle in an event that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Live the History in Sacsayhuaman 

The celebration of Inti Raymi takes place in several emblematic scenarios of Cusco, the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman is the main one. This impressive archaeological site, with its colossal carved stones and imposing presence, serves as the backdrop for the theatrical representation of the ceremony. Here, more than 500 actors dressed in traditional costumes recreate the ancient Inca ceremony, offering an unforgettable visual and cultural experience. 

Tips for your trip  

  1.  Comfortable and Warm Clothes: June in Cusco can be cold, especially at night. Wear layered clothing to adapt to temperature changes.  
  1. Sun Protection: Despite the cold, the sun in the Andes is strong. Don’t forget your sunscreen and hat.  
  1. Hydrate: The altitude can affect some travelers, so drink plenty of water and take your time to acclimatize.  
  1. Camera: You don’t want to miss the opportunity to capture the incredible moments of this festival. 

Conclusion  

Inti Raymi is not only a celebration, it is a journey through time that connects you with the rich cultural heritage of Peru. We invite you to be part of this unique experience and discover the majesty of the Inca Empire through this festival of the Sun. Customize your journey with our specialized team. We can’t wait to share the magic of Peru with you! 

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Cusco! 

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

 

Photos by the Municipalidad of Cusco 

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On 18 Junio, 2024 • By
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Peru• Travel Tips• World travel

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 

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On 6 Junio, 2024 • By
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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.

  1. 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 .

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On 7 Marzo, 2023 • By
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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
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On 9 Febrero, 2023 • By
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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. 

 

 

 

 

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On 21 Octubre, 2021 • By
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Peru• Travel• Travel Tips• World travel

Tips for traveling during pandemic

With the increase of people getting vaccinated all over the world and the drop in infection rates in many countries, we can definitely say that travel is becoming a lot safer now and tourism is recovering. Also the fact that people are more used to live respecting the usual safety measures such as washing their hands and wearing a mask indoor is helping. 

Here few tips you need to take in account while planning your next trip:

  • Test yourself. Take a COVID-19 test before leaving, ideally the day before and once you are back home. Even if you are vaccinated you might want to take the test to check your status. Some countries require a negative test to get in even if you are vaccinated, so you have to check the specific requirements for each destination. As for Peru, a negative PCR test issued up to 72 hours before boarding or a negative antigen test issued up to 24 hours before boarding is required. 

  • Use Masks or face shields. Bring with you the necessary amount of FFP2 masks and change them after 8 hours. If you prefer use a face shield to better protect you on the plane and indoor. 

  • Hand hygiene. Handwashing is the best way to protect yourself, so keep washing your hands frequently with soap and water for an extended period of time and using hand sanitizer if you do not have a place to wash your hands. Hand sanitizer must have at least 60% of alcohol in it. 

  • Bring antibacterial wipes. Bring them with you to clean up and disinfect hotel room or apartment’s doorknobs, light switches, surfaces and bathrooms. Just to be on the safe side.

  • Plan carefully your trip. Plan your trip in a smart way trying to avoid unsafe activities, such as going to crowded indoor places. Schedule in advance your visit to archeological sites, museums, parks, etc. Make the necessary restaurant reservations to ensure you have a table booked, many restaurants may have reduced available tables due to COVID-19 restrictions.

  • Enjoy your trip! Do not obsess and try to fully enjoy your trip. 

Even if things have changed and we are living in a different world today, we believe that we can still keep doing things we love using all the necessary measures to keep ourself and other people safe. So, travel, enjoy yourself, but do it in a smart way. The help of local people and an experienced travel operator could be crucial for your trip. 

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On 1 Septiembre, 2021 • By
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Travel• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

8 Tips on How to Travel with Kids

We here at Magical Cusco Tours love to travel with our kids but it can get a little complicated unless you know how to keep them busy and happy. Here are our top 10 tips to travel with kids and teens.

Make sure that daily activities are spread out well: Don’t visit 10 different monuments in one day, let your kids rest and have some downtime.  

Bring lots of snacks and water: In our experience, kids and teens often forget to bring their own food and water so when they get annoyed or hungry, you make sure that you have all the options that they might need. It also doesn’t hurt to double-check and make sure that they have water and snacks.

Ask for their opinions when planning the activities: The activities that you do during the trip should be a mix between things that you want to do and things that your kids find interesting  

If you’re flying somewhere take an earlier flight: The flights can be less crowded and people are more likely to sleep, your kids included.  

Pack lots of activities: Keeping busy is a great way to pass the time and having activities suitable for a kid of any age is always useful. This can include coloring books (of any level), pens, cards, toys for smaller children, and more.

Bring lots of layers and other supplies for any kind of weather: You never know what the day will bring and you want to be prepared for anything to happen. Examples are flashlights, toilet paper, rain jackets, hats, mosquito repellents, sunblocks, comfortable shoes, etc.  

Bring a light blanket in case your kid gets cold on the airline. 

Be prepared for long flights: Many airlines now offer free entertainment if they have a specific app o check if your airline has one of those. If you have a subscription to a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+, have them download movies and episodes to watch. 

Those are just a few of the many tips we have for you. Make sure to check out our blog on how to stay safe while traveling so you know how to keep yourself and your kids safe. We hope that these tips will help you out. 

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On 19 Agosto, 2021 • By
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Travel• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Requirements to Travel to Peru

It has finally come time to start traveling again. The world is opening up and there are more and more adventures to be had. And what better place to start with than Peru! If you want to travel to Peru but have no idea what the requirements are, let me help you out. 

To be able to visit Peru you must have: 

A negative RT-PCR test that was done less than 72 hours in advance. OR An Antigen Test from less than 24 hours before your trip. Usually, a PCR is more expensive and hard to find. In the US, a major pharmacy chain (like CVS or Walgreen’s) provides the Antigen test for free. 

A signed “Health Electronic Sworn Statement, and commitment to carry out the traveler’s isolation or quarantine”. Here’s the link to the statement: http://e-notificacion.migraciones.gob.pe/dj-salud/

Both the Test and Statement must be kept on hand because they’ll probably be requested once you’re in Peru 

If you are an international passenger and you have any symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of your arrival to Peru, you have to contact the health authorities of your country. 

If you don’t wear a mask and/or comply with the rules that the airline/airport/etc have, your boarding to Peru could be rejected.

Those are all the things that you need to have in order to travel to Peru. Make sure to check out my blog about safety tips while traveling.Stay safe and have happy travels! 

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On 11 Agosto, 2021 • By
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Peru• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Best Museums to Visit While in lockdown

Coronovirus pandemic is definitely affecting our lives, but there are still tons of activities you can do virtually, such as visiting museums. This activity is particularly fun and can help you fulfil your desire of being in another place (even if it’s a virtual visit), but this is the time to adjust to the situation and find things to do that can help us cope with this unique and peculiar moment of our history. Also, if you were planning a visit to Peru in this list we also included some of the best Peruvian museums so that you can have a little taste of what you will experience during your future trip to Peru. We know it is going to be soon! 😊 

So here a list of museums and art collections that we compile for your use. We got to help each other to overcome these difficult times. We chose to list them in alphabetical order, there is no order of importance or preference here! 😊

  • Art Institute, Chicago, US: https://www.artic.edu/collection. The museum has a wide collection with art pieces from different ages. Apart from the collection you can also find other interesting writing and reading resources on their website.
  • Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy: https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks Here you can find a collection of Renaissance, and you can enjoy paintings by Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto among others…let’s say the greatest Italian painters of all times. There is also a sculpture section with Greek and Roman arts pieces.
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, US: https://www.metmuseum.org/ The MET has three locations, all temporary closed and here you can enjoy 5000 years of art in one place.
  • Museé du Louvre, Paris, France: https://www.louvre.fr/ On the website of the most famous and largest museum in the world you can take several virtual tours and learn about specific artwork of your interest. 
  • Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection Here you can enjoy works from Titian, El Greco, Goya, Ruben, van Dyck among others. The collection is quite monumental and you can choose to navigate it by artist or by theme such as saints, social realism, portrait, trades and professions.
  • Museo de Sitio Pachacamac, Lima, Perú: https://visitavirtual.cultura.pe/recorridos/MSPAC/museo-sitio-pachacamac/index.html this museum is located at 32 km south of Lima and it is one of the largest archeological complex in the country. Pachacamac was a sacred site named after the Goda Pacha Kamaq. In the museum you can enjoy several artworks, pottery and textiles from several cultures, among them Wari and Chimu.
  • Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy: https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/collezioni/filter-collection/ On the Pinacoteca’s website you can find the collection divided by historic phases, from 4000 B.C. to 2000. Every painting is in hype definition, so that you can enjoy them at the most, especially if you are an art expert.
  • Tate Gallery, London, England: https://www.tate.org.uk/art On their website you can find the British collection from 1500 to contemporary art, and learn about artists and the meaning of their works. There are also interesting resources for creative people and creative activities for kids. It is definitely worth a virtual visit!
  • Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en Here you can find information on the famous painter, tips and interesting resources for creative people and also activities to make with kids during this lockdown time. 

So no excuses then, let’s take this opportunity we have to stay home to do something productive, and learn about artists and their artwork. 

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On 13 Abril, 2020 • By
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Machu Picchu• Peru Destinations• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Top 5 Movies to watch before your Peru Trip

Do you prefer to gather information on your next destination? Do you buy travel guides before your trip? Do you love watching documentary and learn more about your next travel destination? This article is for you then! We tried to make a list of movies and documentaries featuring Peru, where you can appreciate Peruvian landscapes and cultural idiosyncrasy before your trip here.


Peru: Hidden Treasure: that’s a documentary now available on Netflix, it was released on 2017 and it has been directed and written by Luis Ara. This documentary focused on Peruvian secretes from the culture of the ancestors to the contemporary days, showing beautiful landscapes from several regions of the country, tourist sites and places which are still unknown. Watching this documentary movie, you will get a sense of Peruvian culture, from the culinary to the artistic and historical sides of it. You will discover our delicious and unique food, the best archeological sites, our icons and stunning landscapes, from the desert of the Paracas area to the charming Amazon jungle and of course the Andes mountains chain.
Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Py_6_TwDI

The Motorcycle Diaries: this is a movie released on 2004, directed by Walter Salles, with the famous actor Gael García Bernal. The script is mainly based on “Che” Guevara’s trip diary. The movie relates the introspective journey which brought Ernesto “Che” Guevara, a medical student, and Alberto Granado, a biochemist, to discover the real side of Latin American continent. They also visit Peru during the road trip and Machu Picchu. This is an extremely important moment in Guevara’s life, considering that he starts reflecting on how an indigenous civilization that built something so unique and marvelous as Machu Picchu could be destroyed by the modern civilization. In this movie you can enjoy some truly amazing Peruvian landscapes.
Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWBsQArUkQY

Anaconda: If you are into adventure and you are planning a few days in the Amazon rainforest you got to watch this movie, which was a quite box-office success. The movie, directed by the Peruvian director Luis Llosa, was released in 1997. It is set in the Amazon jungle where a National Geographic crew is taken hostage by an insane hunter. In the movie you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and views of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon rainforest, especially during their boat trips.
Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkX5t5ZJLEk

When two worlds collide: This is a documentary on the constant clash between indigenous communities living in the Amazon region and Peruvian Government on the use of Amazon resources. It focuses on the Bagua massacre which took place in 2009 in that area reporting both points of views: indigenous communities and Peruvian ministers and other authorities. The documentary movie has been released in 2016 and it has been directed by Heidi Brandenburg and Mathew Orzel.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe9ZybqKOLg

Daughter of the Lake: this movie, directed by Ernesto Cabellos and released in 2015, also addresses the issue of the conflict between indigenous communities and corporations who wants to use local resources. It tells the story of a Peruvian woman who communicates with the spirits of the lake that provides water to her village. But a mining corporation discovered a treasure of a big value beneath the water of the lake and they are planning, with the government’s support, to drying out the lake.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54D1TxLpi4M

As you can see Peru, its culture, its history and traditions, its beautiful landscapes have been a source of inspiration for directors, among others. 

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On 30 Marzo, 2020 • By
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