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Travel Journals
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Peru and the Inti Raymi Festival
Full Itinerary
My husband Paul and I have traveled extensively, sometimes with a tour company, sometimes on our own. This trip to Peru was our first time traveling with Cox and Kings, and after such a positive experience, I know it won't be our last. This was a ten day group tour with four other couples. As I was planning this trip I told my husband that I was very impressed with my dealings by phone and e-mail with Rachel Robar, and that if the trip went as well, we were in for a treat. I had many questions about our itinerary and each one was answered quickly and with all the information I needed.
We choose Peru at this time because our youngest son, Doug, was doing volunteer work in Cusco and so we decided to combine visiting him with seeing Machu Picchu and the sights of Peru.
We enjoyed the entire trip but the most memorable experience was when we viewed the sunrise at Machu Picchu. During the previous day we spent several hours with Alex, our guide, who showed us around the ruins and gave wonderful explanations of the site and its history. Since we were staying at the Sanctuary Lodge, which is located within the grounds, we were able to go back to the ruins the next morning for sunrise and then walk around for a few hours by ourselves. This is when we were truly able to experience the wonder and beauty of it, so much more than any pictures can show.
Another special day was when we attended the Inti Raymi festival, a reenactment of the ancient Inca Sun Festival, held at the Sacsayhuman fortress above Cusco. It was a spectacular and colorful celebration. A highlight of the event was when the Inca Chief, to the astonishment of the crowd, coaxed the sun out from behind the clouds.
We also enjoyed the special lunches and dinners we had in beautiful private homes.
Every day was filled with new sights and I felt Cox & Kings made very good use of our time. Our guide Julia Huaman was with us the entire trip, and you could not ask for a better guide. She was very knowledgeable on any subject that arose, and she was also very accommodating in arranging extra requests, such as having our son join the group for dinner. In addition to her wealth of information about the sights, she also kept us well informed about what we would be doing each day.
For anyone thinking of going to Peru I would highly recommend they time their trip to include the Inti Raymi Festival. And in the week leading up to the Inti Raymi, there are numerous festivities taking place in Cusco. As with traveling to any country, I always find it helpful to read and learn as much as I can about the sights before we leave. Once there look for experiences and tastes one would never consider trying at home. The fun of traveling is all about saying "why not?" I would also suggest that one be aware of, and prepare for Cusco's high altitude. Our guide had lots of good suggestions for how we could better adjust to the altitude. Another thing I would recommend is to arrive in Lima a day before the tour starts. We arranged with C&K for a guide & car and this allowed us to get around quickly and see more sights than we could have on our own.
Peru was a wonderful introduction for us to South America. The hotels were all excellent, especially the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, which was originally a 16th century monastery. In the morning, a recording of monks chanting really added to the ambiance.
Everything about the trip from being met at the airport, luggage handling and connections, all went smoothly. This was due to the good planning of Cox & Kings and the smooth execution by our local guides. We look forward to traveling with Cox and Kings again soon.
Do you have a C&K travel story you would like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Submit your travel tales and reflections to tours@coxandkingsusa.com.
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Life Along the Ayeyarwady
North Island, Seychelles
Our Honeymoon To Kenya
Our Stay at North Island
Bali and Sumba Islands, Indonesia
Peru and the Inti Raymi Festival
Northern Thailand & Myanmar
Going Native in Malaysia
Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia & Thailand
Exploring Ethiopia
Falling in Love—with India
A Perfect Safari to Kenya and Tanzania
A Thai Wedding
Indochina Sojourn
Family Safari to Tanzania
Exploring Malaysia
Our Dream Family Safari to South Africa
Safari to Botswana
Bhutan
Nepal: Trekking and Heli Trip
East Africa and Rwanda
Bangkok to Bhutan—A Father-Daughter Journey
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