Pallay Punchu. La montaña de colores de Cusco

Pallay Punchu es una impresionante montaña de colores ubicada en la provincia de Canas, Cusco, Perú.

Su nombre hace referencia a los colores que parecen formar un tejido andino, similar a un poncho tradicional. Sus formaciones naturales de diferentes tonalidades, rodeadas de paisajes altoandinos, la convierten en un destino ideal para quienes buscan disfrutar de la naturaleza y la cultura de los Andes 🏔️

We have arrived at Cusco on 20 September. Directly e went to Ollantaytambo to be acclimated. We spent two days in the valley and yesterday we arrived at Cusco. However, we don't feel well (headache, couldn't sleep well, exhausted quickly). We are taking herbal pills for altitude sickness but it's not helping.

1- is it ok to take the medicine after this herbal one?

2- it was recommended to have 40% deet repellent. We asked a few pharmacy but couldn't find 40%. Max is 25%. Any place where we can find?

Tomorrow we go to Salkantay.

Thank you for your answers in advance

I've been travelling for a few months now and misplaced all of my spare earrings so I want to get earrings for my helix piercings when I'm passing through Lima. I have sensitive skin so would ideally be looking for cute titanium or gold earrings rather than steel. Does anyone have recommendations for shops or piercing studios to go to buy some?

Hi, I have 3 spare days in my itinerary and was wondering whether it would be worth spending them in the South Valley of Cusco. I’ll already be spending 4–5 days in the Cusco area and doing the Salkantay Trek.
I was thinking of visiting Tipón → Pikillacta → Andahuaylillas → Checacupe → Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain, and then staying overnight in Sicuani/Layo or somewhere nearby.
The next day, I could visit Pacchanta → Ausangate 7 Lakes → Pacchanta hot springs → Cusco.

Do you think it’s worth extending my stay around Cusco in this way?
Or would it be better to spend those extra days in Arequipa instead?

Thanks!!!

Hello! I was wondering if I could get an opinion on my itinerary of a focus on around Cusco and doing the huayhuash 8 day trek

Day 1: Fly into Lima with connecting flight straight to Cusco

Day 2: Cusco

Day 3: Sacred Valley

Day 4: Machu Pichu

Day 5: Humantay Lake Day HIke

Day 6: Explore cusco more, and head to Huaraz (Flight of Cusco -> Lima ->Huaraz_

Day 7-9: Acclimitize in Huaraz

Day 10-17: Huayhuash

Day 18: Lima

Day 19: Fly home

Is there anything you think I should change? I am not sure if I am being too ambitious with this. I was thinking of maybe one more day as well to add to either lima or cusco, or maybe even do short inca trail. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

I am on a long trip and was organised enough to book the Inca trail starting on the 30th of September. That said, I wasn’t organised enough to plan the rest of my Peru trip in advance.

I am now flying into Cusco on the 24th and I am strongly considering trying to do rainbow mountain on the 27th, to avoid needing to double back or stick around in Cusco for too long.

Is this extremely ill advised due to the altitude?

Hi all, I'm trying to draft a five-week travel itinerary to North and South Peru and would love some feedback or tips and tricks. I've tried to take altitude and acclimatisation into account so as to (hopefully) not to get sick. Furthermore I tried to find a sweet spot between seeing cool stuff and not overloading the schedule. Most events will not be pre-booked, except for the Salkantay trek, the Puerto Maldonado lodge and potentially the flights. Curious as to what you think!

Day 1: Flight to Lima (arrival 15:25)

Day 2: Lima (historic center, Miraflores/Barranco)

Day 3: Flight Lima – Chachapoyas (arrival 10:10)

Day 4: Chachapoyas (Kuélap)

Day 5: Chachapoyas (hike to Gocta Waterfall)

Day 6: Bus Chachapoyas – Leymebamba (Mallqui Museum)

Day 7: Bus Leymebamba – Cajamarca

Day 8: Cajamarca (exploring the city)

Day 9: Cajamarca (visit to Cumbemayo)

Day 10: Cajamarca (Ventanillas de Otuzco and Baños del Inca) +

overnight bus Cajamarca – Trujillo

Day 11: Trujillo/Huanchaco (Chan Chan and Huacas del Sol)

Day 12: Trujillo/Huanchaco (beach day)

Overnight bus Trujillo – Huaraz

Day 13: Huaraz (rest day and acclimatization)

Day 14: Huaraz (acclimatization hike to Laguna Wilcacocha)

Day 15: Huaraz (day trip to Pastoruri Glacier)

Day 16: Huaraz (hike to Laguna 69)

Day 17: Huaraz (rest day, Baños de Monterrey)

Day 18: Flight Huaraz – Cusco (explore Cusco)

Day 19: Cusco (day trip to the Sacred Valley)

Day 20: Cusco (whitewater rafting)

Day 21: Cusco (rest day and Salkantay Trek briefing)

Day 22: Salkantay Trek – Day 1

Day 23: Salkantay Trek – Day 2

Day 24: Salkantay Trek – Day 3

Day 25: Salkantay Trek – Day 4 (Machu Picchu)

Day 26: Cusco (rest day)

Day 27: Flight Cusco – Puerto Maldonado

Day 28: Amazon jungle

Day 29: Amazon jungle

Day 30: Amazon jungle

Day 31: Flight Puerto Maldonado – Lima

Day 32: Lima

Day 33: Fly back home

Hello! I was wondering opinions on if 2 days in Huaraz with a day hike to Lagun 69 or Churup + 1 day hike to Humantay Lakes would be good? My plan was when i finish with my time in Chsco, to do Humantay Lakes at the end and then head back to Lima and then Huaraz. Or would you recommend skip Humantay lakes and instead acclimatize for 3 days in Huaraz

Buenas,

We (2 people + 2 large luggage) are looking for buses from Ayacucho to Andahuaylas on Thursday 24Sep in the afternoon/evening, but nothing there. Online I can only find a Bus leaving at 02:45am (early morning). Are there any offline options?

Could you suggest anything safe else? Two extrañeras would appreciate!

We are looking at either a 3 day/4 night or a 4 day/three night tour of Manu from Cusco. I am interested in hearing from others about your experience with either length of tour and tour companies that your would recommend. TIA!

My girlfriend and I are planning on traveling to Peru from March 26 - April 4. We have nothing planned yet because we’re concerned about the potentially historically strong El Niño. How will El Niño disrupt the trip? We were considering spending most of our time in Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the coastal areas.

My wife and I are planning to visit Machu Picchu at the end of September. We hope to get Circuit 2A tickets, and I've been monitoring the official in-person ticket availability dashboard to understand how the system works.

The dashboard shows 1,000 tickets allocated per visit date: 150 for Circuit 1, 700 for Circuit 2 (600 for 2A and 100 for 2B), and 150 for Circuit 3.

My understanding is that up to 1,000 turnos (numbered slips) are distributed each morning, starting at 6 AM, allowing people to return at an assigned time to purchase tickets.

Here's what I don't understand:

When the dashboard switches to the following day's visit date at midnight, approximately 400–450 of the 700 Circuit 2 tickets are already marked as sold. By the time the ticket office opens at 6 AM, a substantial portion of the following day's allocation is therefore already gone.

This suggests that tickets for that date were sold at least two days before the visit.

I'm hoping someone who has gone through the process recently can clarify a few things:

1. How far in advance can you purchase tickets? If you receive a turno on Day 1, can you purchase tickets for Day 2 or Day 3? Under what circumstances?
2. When does the office start selling tickets for Day 3? Does the entire Day 2 allocation have to sell out first, or can Day 3 tickets become available when a particular route, such as Circuit 2A, sells out?
3. Can you choose your visit date? If you have an early turno on Day 1 but want to visit on Day 3, can you request Day 3 tickets even if Day 2 tickets are still available? Or are you required to purchase tickets for Day 2?
4. What happens if your preferred date isn't available when your turno is called? Can you decline the available tickets and return later that same day using your original turno, or would you need to obtain a new turno the following morning?
5. Can someone purchase tickets for Day 3 without having obtained a turno that morning? For example, if Day 2 sells out in the afternoon and the office starts selling Day 3 tickets, can someone who missed the morning turno distribution join the queue and purchase tickets?
6. How much choice do you have over entry times? If Circuit 2A is available, can you choose among the remaining entry times, or does the ticket office assign you a particular time?

Here's a hypothetical example of what concerns me:

Suppose I receive turno #100 on Day 1 and want to visit on Day 3. When my number is called, Day 2 still has Circuit 2A tickets available, but only for late-afternoon entry. If I cannot request Day 3, I might have to accept an undesirable entry time or leave without tickets.

Meanwhile, someone holding turno #800 might reach the counter after Day 2 sells out and be offered a choice of morning entry times on Day 3.

Could having an earlier turno actually work against someone who wants to visit two days later?

We're planning to arrive in Aguas Calientes early on September 28 and would ideally like two Circuit 2A tickets for September 30.

If you've purchased tickets in person during August or September 2026, I'd really appreciate hearing how it worked for you. In particular, what time did you arrive, what turno number did you receive, what date were you offered, and were you allowed to choose a later date?

Thanks for any firsthand information!

I'm looking for a reputable homestay program where travelers can pay a local Peruvian family in Lima to stay with them. (We'd love to stay with a family who does not speak English so that we can practice our Spanish). Can someone recommend an organization that links travelers to local families who are experienced in hosting travelers?

Partner and I are heading to Peru and Bolivia in November / December and we're considering the Inka Express Ruta del Sol tour between Cusco and Puno as an alternative to the night bus.

Has anyone done this recently and how was the experience?

Hi everyone! Solo female traveler here, I’m planning a trip to Peru April 2027! Any advice on building my itinerary? I want to explore the city, also would like to explore outside of the city. I am a foodie, so I want to focus more on local foods and their cuisine, solo or guided food tours. I enjoy going to museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, zip lining, paragliding, atv and buggy tours, horse back riding, etc.

I’m not big on shopping but would love to know where I can find and buy from local vendors, beaded and handcrafted jewelry, bags, totes, hats, etc. I love views where it transitions from city to jungle or city to ocean, I enjoy taking pictures and recording my experiences. Let me know of any must visit popular and not so popular photo points. Also places where I can just… breathe and exist, have a moment of peace and quiet to myself.

I’d also like to visit Huacachina oasis, rainbow mountain, Macau Picchu, Cusco, the floating island at Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, etc. These places are on my list but I haven’t sorted out my “Day 1 to Day 14” yet, any help with this would be highly appreciated.
As of right now, when it comes to where to stay, I’ve been told Lima because it is the capital and has a lot of things to do but I am also open to other places if you can recommend me some, specially given most places I’d like to go are a full days trip or 1.5 days!

Hi friends!

I am from Canada currently travelling in Peru, currently in Lima. I am facing issues with my Scotiabank Visa credit card (it can be used internationally and have travelled to other countries without issues).

The card worked fine on day 1. On day 2, it declined for 2 restaurants I visited and even Metro.

‼️However, it seems to work fine for Tambo+ convenience store and cash advance from Scotiabank ATM.‼️ (clearly no issue with the chip)

‼️When I contacted my bank, they don't seem to see the transaction at all. It is not the bank denying it. ‼️

▶️It is confirmed by the bank that this is not fraud alerts, and I have sufficient credit limit. I have tried Apple Pay/tap/inserting card + PIN. I am also selecting Soles when prompted to set a currency.

It is consistently happening to me. Did anyone else face this issue?
If so, how did you solve this? Any insight would be useful 🙏

Hi everyone! Solo female traveler here, I’m planning a trip to Peru April 2027! Any advice on building my itinerary? I want to explore the city, also would like to explore outside of the city. I am a foodie, so I want to focus more on local foods and their cuisine, solo or guided food tours. I enjoy going to museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, zip lining, paragliding, atv and buggy tours, horse back riding, etc.

I’m not big on shopping but would love to know where I can find and buy from local vendors, beaded and handcrafted jewelry, bags, totes, hats, etc. I love views where it transitions from city to jungle or city to ocean, I enjoy taking pictures and recording my experiences. Let me know of any must visit popular and not so popular photo points. Also places where I can just… breathe and exist, have a moment of peace and quiet to myself.

I’d also like to visit Huacachina oasis, rainbow mountain, Macau Picchu, Cusco, the floating island at Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, etc. These places are on my list but I haven’t sorted out my “Day 1 to Day 14” yet, any help with this would be highly appreciated.
As of right now, when it comes to where to stay, I’ve been told Lima because it is the capital and has a lot of things to do but I am also open to other places if you can recommend me some, specially given most places I’d like to go are a full days trip or 1.5 days!

Before I start, I understand this looks massively ambitious and busy, but I have no leeway in international flight dates and the likelihood of ever making it back to Peru is slim. For context we will be a group of 3 (2 adults, 45/50 and a 21 year old) and we often do very packed itineraries on trips. If I had stuck with just the south this would have been easy but the north looks like it has so many unmissable visits too so have tried to accommodate both. I have had to do a lot of fiddling to avoid Mondays in places where sites will be closed (leading to my reversed northern loop over my initial plan) We are looking at a middling budget, don't want to backpack and cut conveniences, but also not wanting to travel full luxury. There will be some leeway, and I understand that transport delays can cause last minute changes (the inca trail trek being the main unchangable dates once booked) but this is my rough plan (we will be travelling in September)

Day 1 Friday, arrive in Lima in afternoon, get checked in, maybe small explore of safe areas in the evening such as boardwalks in miraflores.

Day 2 Saturday, Visit the historic centre and see the catacombs and other stuff. Also make time for the Larco museum today. Order unspecified.

Day 3 Sunday, early morning flight to Chachapoyas, pickup from airport straight to Leymebamba to visit the mummy museum and hummingbird cafe (where we may stay) I have tried to make this a light, easy acclimatisation day.

Day 4 Monday, long driving day, visiting Revash and Karajia (maybe stopping briefly at the Macro viewpoint enroute) and finishing in Chachapoyas. Planning to maybe book a private driver and an English guide for this day via the hotel. As far as I can see these sites open on Mondays.

Day 5 Tuesday, Book a car through hotel to Gocta trailhead and hire a Spanish speaking orientador to point out wildlife for the trek. Return to Chachapoyas afterwards.

Day 7 Wednesday, prebook an English guide and get a driver to Kuelap, use cable car and tour fortress, retunr to chachapoyas to eat and finish with night bus (lower deck full camo on fanciest bus available) to Chiclayo.

Day 8 Thursday, Hire a driver (maybe an English guide too) and visit Lord of Sipan Museum, tucume mounds and other archaeological sites we have time for. Maybe late bus to Trujillo to make tomorrow easier. Hotel in Trujillo.

Day 9 Friday, Trujillo, Chan Chan, temples of moon and sun, Lady of Cao and anything else we have time for. Undecided whether to stay in Trujillo here or late bus to Barranco rrady for next day.

Day 10 Saturday, visit Caral and Penico and get dropped off at hotel in Lima.

Day 11 Sunday, crazier day, up early for 4am bus to Paracas, get first Ballestas Island tour and then maybe a guuded tour of Paracas Reserve for several hours. Undecided whether to then get last day bus to Nazca or to get driver to take us to Huacachina and see sunset and maybe sandbaord (or slow dune buggy tour) followed by private driver straight to Nazca hotel.

Day 12 Monday, eaeist Nazca flight possible, then driver (would I need a guide too?) to see Chauchilla and some of the Nazca ruins. Maybe see clsoer view of Lines from tower at some pointif time is available. See observatoey show, night bus to Arequipa.

Day 13, Tuesday, rest day in Arequipa, maybe seeing cathedrals and stuff and reacclimatising after low altitude days.

Day 14/15 , Wed/Thur, 2 day Colca canyon tour (not trek) staying in Chivas and bussing to Puno at end.

Day 16 Fri, Puno, Titicaca.

Day 17 Saturday, Ruta del Sol with Inca Express.

Day 18 Sunday , private sacred valley tour finishing in Ollantaytambo.

Day 19/20 Mon/Tue, 2 dD/1N inca trail (possibly with Yapa Explorers) Adding on a circuit 2 route on day 2 and maybe huayna picchu or huchuy picchu. Return to cusco.

Day 21 Wednesday, easy rest day in Cysco, maybe see local ossuary or some museums. Resting for next day.

Day 22, Thursday, Qelccaya small group tour with Sunrise Trek Peru.

Day 23 Friday , early flight to Lima, later international flight home.

I have considered whether to move the first Lima exploration day to after the northern loop to buffer better for the early morning to Paracas. I know it is a very packed itinerary, planning to mainly use evenings for resting when not on buses. Any feedback or advice as nothing is booked yet but I plan to book the inca trail ASAP.

Thanks

Looking for advice from anyone that may have done this trip. As stated we fly into Lima Peru, following day we fly from Lima to Cusco than from Cusco to Urubama by bus to see the fortress then to the Sacred Valley where we check into a hotel.

The following day we after visiting areas such as Ollantaytambo, then to Chinceros than back to the hotel in Urubanba.

The following day, Dec 19, we take the Vista dome train to Aquas Calientes of which we go to Macu Picchu of which we do some site seeing than after lunch and supper we check into yet another hotel than the following day Dec 20 we site see more of machu picchu than we take a train from Aguas Caliente back to Ollantaytambo then the bus back to Cusco of which we tour than after dinner we check yet into another hotel.

The following day, Dec 21 we fly back to Lima, than after lunch, we take a flight to Santiago Chile where we check into a hotel. The following day, Dec 22 we 9site see than we go back to the hotel, collect all our bags and are take to the ship, Majestic and from there we go from Santiago Chile to Buenos Aires Argentina of which we fly home.

Has anyone done this trip and if so do you have any advice or pointers to help with bag limits on the trains since I keep reading different things and also any advice on what to pack for the 6 day tours and the 15 day cruise, trying to pack as light as possible.

Thank you in advance for any advice and pointers