Guide to CUSCO, the fabulous gateway to the Valle Sagrado

A guide to Cusco, the gateway to fantastic places such as the Sacred Valley, Sacsayhuamán, Ollantaytambo, and, of course, Machu Picchu.

Guide to Cusco, gateway to the Valle Sagrado: Pachacútec Yupanqui, overlooking the Plaza de Armas
The 9th ruler over the Inca empire, Pachacútec Yupanqui, overlooking the Plaza de Armas; even the sky chips in to increase the dramatic view.

But the city of Cusco as such is an extremely charming place, too. Therefore, here is an introduction to some places not to be missed.

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How to visit MACHU PICCHU. A Once in a Lifetime Experience

No words can describe the view of Machu Picchu – the once-in-a-lifetime experience: Those majestic mountains, the mysterious remnants of palaces and dwellings, and the roaming llamas.

Machu Picchu
Going up. The next floor is already in heaven.

Machu Picchu was not only the highlight of my trip to Peru. As a matter of fact, it was one of the highlights of all my life’s travelling.

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PUCALLPA – Gateway to the Amazon

Pucallpa is the gateway to Perú’s Amazon region and has the charm of a B-movie.

It’s the jungle. Therefore, you can watch birds and sloths and fish for piranhas in the river Ucayali as well as the Yarinacocha lagoon.

On the banks of river Ucayali that goes into the Amazon in Pucallpa.
On the banks of river Ucayali.

So I had seen Lima and Paracas on the costa, Perú’s pacific coast. I also visited Arequipa, Cusco, and Machu Picchu in the sierra of the Andean region. Hence, all that was missing was a little selva, the jungle.

That would make the Peruvian trilogy complete.

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Guide to Peru ‘s Five Mountainous Highlights

So here comes my guide to the Mountainous Highlights of Peru – and this pun is totally intended!

Indigenous Man in the Andes, the mountainous highlights of Peru
The indigenous people living in the Andes still wear their traditional attire – and not for touristy purposes.
(Photo: Fred Wanderley Fred on Pixabay)

While Peru does invite its visitors to experience the sierra, selva, and costa – hence, the mountains, the jungle, and the coast – the first-mentioned is definitely the most unique and alluring of those regions.

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Guide to SÃO PAULO – Brazil’s Art Hub

I will not beat around the bush – São Paulo, Brazil’s Art Hub, was my favorite Brazilian city.

Mural of a boy at SÃO PAULO - Brazil's Art Hub
There’s a lot of truly amazing street art in São Paulo.

Although Bonito enchanted me with its natural beauty, Foz do Iguaꞔu impressed me with the power of nature – São Paulo is the place where I see myself living and working and being part of the cool, artsy crowd.

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Guide to BRAZIL – Travelling the South

Let me guide you to Brazil, a country that should be on everyone’s bucket list and that I’ve started to explore by travelling the South.

Collage of the Iguazu Falls in the South, Cristo Rey and the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro when travelling Brazil
These are only three highlights Brazil has to offer – a kind of appetizer.

Actually, I think there are countries that are automatically on every traveller’s bucket list: Australia, India…and Brazil is a country like that, too.

For me, the danger with these standard bucket list countries is that since they are permanently there, I feel no rush to visit. I always knew that I wanted to explore Brazil one day. Yes, one day….

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LOS ANTIGUOS – borderline serenity

Argentina is Latin America’s second-largest country and shares with Chile one of the world’s longest international borders – and at Los Antiguos, you can cross this borderline walking. From North to South, those two countries snuggle on about 5,300 kilometers!

Lago Buenos Aires at sunset
The sun is tenderly setting over Lago Buenos Aires.

Unless you are flying, these dimensions can make travelling a bit challenging. Routes can be very long, trips of about 15 hours are not unusual.

An invitation to include some stops – for instance in the border town of Los Antiguos.

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EL CALAFATE & EL CHALTEN – Argentina’s Winter Wonderland

The mountains and glaciers around El Calafate and El Chalten are an eternal winter wonderland and therefore an unmissable highlight of a trip through Patagonia.

Couple taking pictures of the Perito Moreno Glacier close to El Calafate in Patagonia, Argentina
…and this is only a fraction of the gigantic glacier Perito Moreno!
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BUENOS AIRES – from the must-sees to the hidden gems

Buenos Aires and me – from the must-sees to the hidden gems: It was love at first sight. The stately baroque architecture like in Barcelona, the elegant cafés – even a bit more charming than those in Paris. Old-fashioned gelato parlors like in Rome. The powerful street art of Bogotá next to the picturesque decay of old Havana.
In short: This city simply has it all.

Couple dancing Tango at the Cafe Tortoni in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tango – that’s what Buenos Aires stands for. But it’s only a fraction of what Argentina’s capital has to offer.

The beauty and energy of Buenos Aires took me by storm – and was definitely the highlight of my trip to Argentina.

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