I hope that the posts up to this point have shown that there is more to Cusco and Peru than Machu Picchu. That said, do NOT miss Machu Picchu. The name means “old mountain”, but it’s probably better known as the lost city of the Incas. Unlike other Inca sites around Cusco, the Spanish never found Machu Picchu and it remained pretty much untouched and forgotten for over 300 years.
Read MoreLocated a 30 minute walk uphill from the main square in Cusco (which can be quite a breathless march when dealing with the altitude), Sacsayhuaman was one of our favorite sites to explore on this trip. The Quechuan name translates to “Satisfied Falcon”, but most English speaking tourists remember it phonetically as “sexy woman”. The main attractions here are the spectacular views of Cusco and the long jagged fortifications, but it pays to take a few steps away from the crowds and explore what other things have been left to find.
Read MoreThis was our first time in South American, and up to this point, we haven’t had much exposure to Peruvian cuisine. But now, we can definitely say that food in Cusco is seriously good and seriously fresh. Guidebooks can list all of the tasty foods to try, but that only hints at the flavors ours taste buds will encounter. We fell in love with papaya juice, battled altitude sickness with coca tea, and discovered that even the tiny little quinoa, when done right, can blow your mind.
Read MoreWhile working on the post for Sacsaywaman (coming soon), I discovered that some of our most memorable moments, and about a third of our pictures, were of our interactions with some adorable four-legged, two-toed grass-grazers. Plus, it’s been a while since we’ve had a good animal post, so, without further ado, here are the Llamas of Sacsaywaman.
Read MoreThere are two stops featured in this post. First, the agricultural terraces of Moray which are stunning to behold and give new meaning to the words “crop circles”. The second stop we hit was a little town called Chinchero which swirls with rumors both past and present.
Read MoreWhen we first entered Ollantaytambo, our gaze turned upwards to stare at the massive terraces towering towards the sky. There are plenty of Inca sites to visit around Cusco, and each one has their own historical significance or architectural marvel. The name of this site literally means “resting place of Ollantay”. Legend says that Ollantay was an Inca warrior who shared a forbidden love with an Inca princess.
Read MoreSalt has been collected in this area since before the Incas (although it is said that they are the ones that turned it into a more enterprising venture). We’ve seen salt pans before, carved along rocky sea shores, sea water evaporating into white crystals. However, we're in the middle of the Andes mountains, nowhere near an ocean. Where does the salt come from?
Read MoreHilo is one of the oldest ports and contains the second largest population in Hawaii. It's a city that peaked during the height of sugar cane, and has since settled into a place of peaceful parks and quiet neighborhoods with metal-roofed houses.
Read MoreOnto the Big Island (a.k.a. Hawaii) and charming little Kailua-Kona with the laid back island vibe. Indulge in locally grown Kona coffee while strolling around Kailua Village. Keep an eye out for signs that point to interesting sights, both historic and modern.
Read MoreMaui is the second largest Hawaiian island, but is not very densely populated leaving most of the island home to rain forests, beaches, and Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano. Maui's main city is called Lahaina situated on the western side of the island. It's a pretty little place, formerly the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom and often called "the jewel in the crown of Maui". With only one main street, it is completely walkable in an afternoon and full of boutique shopping and eateries.
Read MoreSituated on the southeast tip of O'ahu island, Honolulu carries a lot of reputation on its shore-hugging shoulders. Nicknamed "The Big Pineapple", Honolulu holds the titles of "capital city" and "largest city" in Hawaii. Make no mistake, this is no small, sleepy island town.
Read MoreKauai is the oldest and smallest of the Hawaiian islands. The Garden Island is full of stunning natural attractions such as canyons, cliff sides, and valleys. They say that no building can be taller than a coconut tree which might be why this island feels a little more wild and untamed.
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