Machu Picchu

The Peruvian government announced that Machu Picchu will be closed until April of this year. This is a result of the recent torrential rains which brought mudslides to the area, damaging sections of the rail lines which provide the only access to and from the World Heritage Site. I feel for the locals, and my friends and partners in travel who are dependent on the tourism industry. Hopefully things should be up and running again by the time high season arrives this Spring!

Update! Machu Picchu will reopen to tourists on April 1, 2010.

I was fortunate enough to have visited Machu Picchu with my family exactly one year ago. We were all left in awe by the incredible beauty of Peru: the lush, green hills of the Sacred Valley, the colonial charm of the town of Cusco, and the incredible vastness of the Colca Canyon.

We stayed at the top hotels in the area: the Miraflores Park hotel in Lima, the Monasterio in Cusco and, my absolute favorite, Las Casitas del Colca, located in the Colca Canyon in the southern part of Peru. We also traveled on the ultra-luxurious Hiram-Bingham train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. I definitely recommend this as a special once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Peru has so much to offer and is one of the most biodiverse of any South American country. It is also becoming a capital of gastronomy. Lima is easily reached from most U.S. gateways with no jet-lag to contend with. Please contact me for any information on this fabulous destination!

Fun fact: Did you know the potato originated in Peru? There are over 4,000 varieties, many of them only found in Peru!

Tip: Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Colca Canyon are located high in the Andes mountains. To avoid altitude sickness, it is important to stay hydrated, don't exert yourself too much upon arrival, and drink the local Coca tea (it really helps, although the taste leaves something to be desired!)