Unless you live under a rock or are not a fan of travelling, then you will have surely heard of Machu Picchu, the 15th century Inca site, named one of the new 7 wonders of the world in an Internet poll and designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

Set amongst an amazing mountainous backdrop, Machu Picchu is indeed a sight to behold. Built in around 1450 and abandoned during the Spanish conquest, the estate was hidden from the outside world until its discovery by Hiram Bingham, an American historian in 1911.

Fast forward to 2015 and it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in South America and the most visited attraction in the whole of Peru.

What is amazing about Machu Picchu is that it sits so neatly in amongst its surroundings. It seems so serene, yet surreal, at the same time and certainly needs a few hours of exploration to appreciate.

Machu Picchu is open every day, all year-round, however peak season is generally somewhere between June and September, with July and August being the busiest. Note that the rainy season is from October to April however Machu Picchu is always a popular tourist destination regardless of the weather.

Please note that tickets to Machu Picchu must be booked in advance - they are not sold at the gate. Entry is also limited to 2,000 visitors a day, so once sold out, you have no choice but to wait until another day.

How To Get There

To get to Machu Picchu you have a variety of options.

Train from Ollantaytambo

You can catch a bus, collectivo (a minibus) or taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then one of the trains to Machu Picchu Pueblo (or Aguas Calientes), the town nearest to the site itself. This was our preferred method and we really enjoyed the scenic train ride along the Urubamba River both to and from the ruins. If you know your dates make sure to book a little way in advance as the trains can sell out during the busy season. The train takes approximately 2 hours to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Both Peru Rail (www.perurail.com) and Inka Rail (www.inkarail.com) service this line.

Train from Cusco

Peru Rail does offer the option of a train direct from Cusco in three classes: Expedition, Vistadome, Hiram Bingham all at varying prices. You can book online direct at www.perurail.com. This journey will take approximately three and a half hours.

Hiking

If you choose to hike you have a number of options.

Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is the most popular of hikes and takes a few days of your time. It must be booked through a reputative tour agency and the hike is limited to only 800 vistors per day. It often sells out months in advance although if it is sold out, dont panic as there are other hiking options.

Salkantay Trek

This 5 day, 4 night hike is the second most popular trek to Machu Picchu. It connects Mollepata to Machu Picchu and will take you through snowcapped mountains and tropical rain forests. It is not currently limited in numbers like the Inca Trail.

Choquequirao Trek

These seem to range from 4-8 days and take you through the ruins of the same name. It is still rated from moderate to difficult in terms of fitness, so be prepared for some strenuous activity whichever trek you opt for.

Lares Trek

The Lares trek takes 3-5 days and passes through the hot springs of Lares providing welcome respite. You also pass by many high altitude lakes and mountains ending near the ruins of Ollantaytambo where you will need to board the train for the final stretch.

Whichever way you choose to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo, be prepared for an early morning rise. You can opt to walk up the mountain (about a 90 minute hike) or take the bus (a 20 minute ride), but either way you will want to depart early so you have plenty of time to explore. The buses start leaving for Machu Picchu at 5.30am and there will be long queues to board. Do not expect to jump on a bus immediately, you will be extremely disappointed.

Huayna Picchu

If it is your intention to climb Huayna Picchu, you will need to book your ticket in advance as there is only a limited number of tickets available each day (400 at the time of publication). The views I am told are worth it but the climb is quite strenuous. If heights are not your strong point, then it is best you leave this one to those who like a bit more of an adreneline rush.

Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)

The town of Machu Picchu Pueblo is only small however you can choose to visit the thermal springs located on the edge of town or visit the handicraft market. There are also plenty of accommodation and dining options ranging from the excellent to the dire, so read reviews accordingly.

Visiting Machu Picchu is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is well worth the effort of getting there. Despite the large number of tourists who visit you can still appreciate the vast ruins relatively interrupted.

Have you been to Machu Picchu?

Heading out on the road this summer or even some beautiful season changing travelling in the fall, and have little ones you're bringing along? Here are 10 tips for a successful road trip.

1.       Snacks

I can't emphasize this enough! It does not matter if everyone had three full plates at the hotel buffet breakfast, 20 minutes down the road someone will be asking for snacks. Granola bars, cheese sticks, raisins/nuts/seeds, and fruit or raw veggies make for quick and easy snacks while travelling. Fill up water bottles before you're out on the road too to save from buying overpriced roadside bottled water.

2.      Coloring books/crayons/workbooks/puzzle books

I had a backpack for each child in front of them so they could get out what they needed, and they kept the pencil case between them so they could share.

3.      Kid friendly music

We hit up the library before we left and borrowed a handful of CDs including some children pop mixes, classic children's songs and lullaby CDs for nap time travelling. If you have them on your phone or tablet, that will also work great.

4.      iPads/tablets/portable DVD players/other media

We made a deal the day of leaving to leave the tablets at home and bring portable DVD players for the car and hotel. We brought a few favorites and a few new ones they never knew about and it would guarantee an hour of good behavior. We had kid safe earphones so they could watch their own movie choice, or turn it down low and sit it between them if they wanted to watch the same one.

5.      Car games

The only ones our kids know so far are I Spy and the Silent Game (ok, that one was more for mommy and daddy's benefit) but it kept them entertained for periods of time. If your kids are a little older, Animal, Vegetable or Mineral (20 questions), License Plate Game or Telling a Story, Word by Word are great for keeping them occupied.

6.      Favorite small toys from home

My girls are big into Polly Pocket dolls, so I filled up a resealable freezer bag with dolls and accessories. It would work with small cars, action figures, small puzzles or games.

7.      New small toys/items

When you have left the last rest stop before your final destination of the day, and the kids and begging for supper (even though they have been eating every 30 minutes), now is the time to pull out something new. I packed a couple new coloring books, board books, DVDs, and a few new small sensory stimulating toys. You don't need to spend much, but a small initial investment can make for some calm road tripping.

8.     Plan your day on the road

Make sure everyone has a good breakfast, it will help get the day started right. You'll need to plan for lots of bathroom breaks and feeding stops if you have little ones or you breastfeed. Also figure out when the best time would be for a run around activity. Sometimes right after breakfast is the best time to go to an attraction before leaving town, able to get in early before the crowds, get out before lunch time, and if all goes right, kiddos will be ready for a nap after a snack. Or head out on the road right after breakfast and use your lunchtime stop as your additional activity for the day. Find a cool playground, go for a short hike, or check out a quaint little town to get the kids out of the car and moving for a bit.   

9.      Roadside rest stops

Most roadside stops are commercial gas stations and restaurants, but if you don't need to fill up be on the look out for a rest stop with a green space. We found lots of nice ones in Quebec, with green space to run around and play tag, tables to have a quick picnic, and some have small playground areas.  

10.  Relax and take a deep breath

Yes, there will be some arguments, you might take a few wrong turns, you might of booked a hotel for the wrong weekend (yes I did that) but in the end you will see and experience lots of cool stuff beautiful scenery. So take it all in and watch your children's wide eyes and excited expressions when you go over a large bridge or down into a scenic valley. They love all the little things along the way like horses in a field or a large roadside attraction.

While Machu Picchu is the draw card for hikers and historians alike, the Sacred Valley offers up other interesting ruins which are definitely worth adding to your list if you have the time.

Sacsayhuaman

Of all the ruins in Cusco, Sacsayhuaman is by far the most impressive. Totally accessible from Cusco on foot or by car, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman is indeed a sight to inspire. What is so amazing about the structure is the size of the rocks which fit precisely together without any mortar. Sacsayhuaman was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1983. Qenko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay are also a short distance away from Sacsayhuaman and worth visiting if you have the time.

There are many interesting things to see and do in and around Arequipa. You can stroll the historic centre or visit the nearby Colca Canyon. Here are some of our favourite places to visit within the city of Arequipa itself outside of the popular historic district.

Fundador Mansion

While perhaps not a mansion by today’s standards the property was once home to Arequipa’s founder, Garci Manuel de Carbajal. It is located approximately 9km from the city centre and has been restored with original furnishings and paintings. The mansion is set in immaculate grounds and even features its own chapel. This building is a perfect example of the widespread use of sillar, the white volcanic ash which was used to build many of the stately homes in the area. This white stone ultimately gave rise to Arequipa being known as the white city.

Sillar Quarry

If you are fascinated by the sillar which is at the foundation of many of the local buildings, then it is worth visiting the quarry, located a short distance outside of the city centre. Here you can begin to understand the grand scale of the quarry operation and even see some of the workers cutting the stone blocks. 

Sabandia Mill

Sabandia Mill, built in the late 1700s out of sillar in the Sabandia district, was Arequipa’s first stone mill. It provides an interesting view into the past where you can still see the stone grinding wheel techniques for wheat processing. Now also a popular picnic spot, it features hiking trails, horseback riding, a petting zoo with pristine views of El Misti in the distance.

Carmen Alto Viewpoint

For wonderful views over Arequipa, the mirador is a lovely spot to relax in. Perfect for panoramic shots and a popular spot for the tourist buses, it is still worth making your way to the top if you have the time. With a café at the top, you can enjoy a cold drink overlooking the nearby Misti and Chachani volcanoes before making your way down the natural scenic spot.

When you travel on a long term basis and world school at the same time, you are bound to get asked a lot of questions. While we do try to answer these frequently asked questions, when they arise, we have decided for ease to list some of them here.

How long have you been travelling as a family?

I guess the simple answer to that is as long as we have been a family. My husband and I travelled extensively before we met and when our daughter and son came along, we just never found a place that felt like home so travelling became the norm for us. We are currently coming up to over 10 years of travelling.

How do you afford to keep travelling?

That is a tricky one to answer. We partake in what we term slow travel – we generally spend a long period of time at each destination so we have the ability and capacity to earn money as we go. I am an online ghostwriter and e-book publisher and my husband is an experienced hotel manager and English teacher. We manage to make it work for the most part.

Do your kids go to school?

While world schooling is a big part of what we do – facilitating learning from the world around us, we dip in out of online programs such as Time4Learning, Minecraft Homeschool and Reading Eggs. History is brought to life with excursions to such interesting places as Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. Emilia has been to school in Australia, Canada and Peru and has participated in dancing classes, singing classes and writing groups. When in Cusco we joined up with a hiking group for regular outings – we believe that a solid education is found from all parts of life and not just in the classroom.

Where have you travelled to?

For us it is not so much the number of countries we have visited but the experience we get from each destination. We have lived in China, Canada and Australia on a long term basis and have travelled to the United States and Thailand as well. We aim to add many more destinations as we head home to Canada in our VW Kombi.

Where is home?

While Michelle is originally from Australia and Matt from Canada, at the moment we don’t have a permanent base but that may change in the future. We are hoping to settle in Canada for a while once our South America to North America journey ends to regroup however we may find another more suitable alternative along the way. For the most part we don’t tend to plan too far ahead.

Arequipa, Peru is a wonderful family-friendly destination and during our time here we have discovered many fun things to do with the kids. Here are some of our favourites.

Cooking Classes

My 10 year old daughter and I did a cooking class with the amazing restaurant, Zingaro, and we got to try our hand at making Causita de Pollo and Lomo Saltado. I also had the pleasure of trying my hand at making a Pisco Sour - a definite favourite of mine. We definitely enjoyed the experience and of course were able to sit down and relish in our work once the meal was cooked. There are a few cooking opportunities available around town but we especially liked this one as Zingaro is a quality restaurant and we enjoyed the "behind the scenes" experience it gave us.  This experience was actually part of a half day tour with Peru Inside Out which also takes in the local market and the volcanic rock quarry.

Mundo Alpaca

Mundo Alpaca is a great place to wander around with kids - they have llamas and alpacas there to see, an informative area to view the wool and the dying and weaving process as well as a museum of wool processing machinery all set in a lovely garden complete with art gallery and cafe.

La Cueva del Pirata Minigolf

Located in Parque Lambramani, four floors down, we discovered this pirate glow in the dark minigolf course. Featuring 18 holes, the kids had fun trying to putt the balls and sink a hole in one. A fun way to spend an hour, the course costs 12 soles per person.

Parque Los Ccoritos

As the weather in Arequipa is so agreeable, it makes sense that you would want to spend much of your time oors. Parque Los Ccoritos is a great little park for dinosaurs lovers featuring dinosaurs, swings, slides and much more to keep the kids amused. We went on a week day and it was extremely quiet, although saying that, not everything was open. We were told however it got very busy on the weekends so pick your days wisely.

Selva Alegre Park

Selva Alegre Park is a lovely park in walking distance from Plaza de Armas. You can choose to take a picnic and just hang out in the grounds, purchase some Queso Helado at the gates and enjoy it on a park bench, play on the climbing equipment or rent a boat and paddle around the lake. Quite often on weekends, there are food fairs or markets there providing an opportunity to sample the local food and other delicacies.

City Bus Tour

You can't miss the Arequipa city bus tours - there seem to be many companies offering the same tourist route but admittedly it is a lot of fun for the whole family. The tour takes four hours and for 25 soles this is a real bargain, however if you enter the Fundador Mansion and Sabandia Mill, you will be expected to pay the entrance fee for those on top of the tour. Starting at the main square, the tour will take you from the historic district to Yanahuara, Cayma, Sachacha and beyond giving you a good feel for the city of Arequipa.

Sabandia Mill

While the city bus tour does take you to Sabandia Mill, it is also possible to see it on your own and spend an extended visit there. Sabandia Mill was Arequipa's first stone mill built in 1785 and restored in 1973, after which it was subsequently opened to the public. You can picnic in the grounds, go horse riding, see the animals in the petting zoo or just relax while enjoying the views of El Misti in the background.

Chocolate Making Classes

Chaqchao Chocolate Factory offers chocolate workshops to kids aged 7 and up, who are accompanied by their parents. The smell of their chocolate kitchen is enough to tempt anyone and their store offers a fun range of chocolate goodies to purchase. Even visiting their store or enjoying a hot chocolate in their upstairs cafe, is a fun way to spend an hour or two if you choose not to partake in their classes.

Santa Catalina Monastery

Whether you choose to go during the day or in the evening, Santa Catalina is an enjoyable destination for the whole family. While not seemingly kid friendly at first glance, kids will enjoy wandering around this picturesque mini-city and learning about the history of this fascinating place.

Parque Aquatico de Tingo

We always try to source out a swimming pool wherever we go and the kids definitely favoured the one at Tingo. It had a lovely pool for kids complete with water slides of all sizes and was cheap to enter. Admittedly it was out of town a bit, but definitely worth the visit in our opinion. The only issue we had was the pool was not heated but they had fun nonetheless. Note that swimming caps are necessary in order to enter the water, generally a non-issue as you can purchase them there on the premises.

Mono Blanco Aventura

Mono Blanco Aventura is the name of a centre on La Marina filled with a myriad of climbing walls for kids of all ages (and adults as well). There is a section where the kids can just free climb "for fun" or there is the harder wall where the kids need to be harnessed with a helmet. Definite fun for all ages and good value as well. We visited on a Monday when the centre opened at 4pm so it is definitely worth contacting them ahead of time to check their schedule.

Arequipa is really a family-friendly city and we spent countless hours just wandering around the streets and seeing what we could find. If you have anything you would add to this list, let us know.

We get asked a lot how people can help us with our journey. So for ease, I thought I would put a blog post together letting you know just how you can help us. We have a myriad of supporters - some just follow our journey, others share our stories, some have pre-purchased our book, others have donated some money along the way. We have hostels and lodges who have opened up their doors for us in exchange for promotion or social media assistance and we have brands who are happy to share a meal or provide a product in exchange for our honest feedback. Here are some of our suggestions for those who would like to see us continue on the journey ahead.

Like our Facebook Page
Stay in the loop at And Off We Went and keep up to date with where we are and what we are doing.

Subscribe to our Newsletter
If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter to hear all the behind the scenes activities, send us your name and email details and we will add you to the list.

Pre-order our Travel Book
If you love hearing about our travel adventures, then I recommend you pre-purchase our book "And Off We Went". Visit our pre-order page for more information.

Book Michelle's Writing Services
Michelle is an accomplished ghostwriter and content writer and would love to help you with your next blog post or article. Click here to view her rates or email Michelle at [email protected] for more information.

Sponsor us
We are open to a variety of corporate sponsorship options including book advertising, product endorsement, promotion or otherwise; contact us for more details.

Accommodate us
We are only happy to review or write an editorial feature about your hotel, bed and breakfast, hostel or lodge in exchange for accommodation. Matt is a hotel manager by trade and is more than qualified to help provide honest reviews about the way you are managing your hotel. Michelle is also a whiz at social media and blogging and is only too happy to provide advice on the subject should you need it. 

GlobeDrop Donations
From time to time we will ask for donations for various GlobeDrop charities and we would love if you could support us and them. We will shop for the items and hand them directly to the charity in need - no need for a middle man. Meaningful travel is very important to us.  

Volunteering and Housesitting
If you know of any volunteering or housesitting opportunities available during our travels, we would love to hear about them. We are travelling with open minds and seeing where the road takes us.

Donate
Any and all monetary donations are welcome. While we work and volunteer as we travel, sometimes the money doesn't stretch as far as we would like. We seem to have quite a number of wonderful supporters who are living their dreams vicariously through us and we appreciate them all.

We welcome all the support that we get from our friends, corporate sponsors and supporters and know that we couldn't have gotten this far without each and every one of you. We don't know how long our journey will take or what we will encounter along the way so every little bit helps.

Thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Wherever you walk to in Arequipa, there is undoubtedly someone selling queso helado on a street corner. Queso helado translates to something along the lines of "cheese ice-cream" or "frozen cheese" which sounds quite odd in itself. But interestingly enough there is actually no cheese in it at all. Recipes vary depending on where you purchase it, but it generally contains fresh milk, unsweetened evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk - along with eggs, coconut, vanilla, sugar and a dusting of cinnamon on top.

My kids and I are quite the fan of this Arequipenan specialty - especially as the weather can quite warm in the middle of the day. You can choose to eat it from the street vendors in a cup complete with the cinnamon dusting, pre-frozen on a stick at Chaqchao Chocolates, in a tub at your local supermarket or order it from any city-wide restaurant with a variety of sides. Some servings have more of an ice-cream consistency while others can be likened to a shaved ice. Either way it is very delicious and extremely refreshing!

Here are just a few variations on our taste testing opportunities...

Photo by Jenny Guerrero

Photo by Jenny Guerrero

If you talk to anyone about visiting Peru, the general consensus is that Machu Picchu is totally worth the visit, and without a doubt it is. However there is so much more to this part of Peru that many travellers just don’t seem to be aware of. Tourists book their trip to Machu Picchu avoiding many of the nearby gems, however our recommendation is take the time and add these to your itinerary as well.

Cusco – This historic capital sees approximately 2 million visitors a year however many just use it as a stepping stone to get to Machu Picchu. Take your time to embrace the city, visit the ruins, sit atop the double decker bus, shop at the markets, dine at the restaurants – there is so much culture and tradition to be found here that it would be a shame to miss out on it.

Pisac – Just a short ride from Cusco is the wonderful little town of Pisac, with a strong bohemian vibe. There are many quality eateries and accommodation options and it is well worth staying a night or two to check them out. Pisac has a slower pace than neighbouring Cusco, so you will have plenty of time to walk the ruins, visit the market, go for a hike, take a swim or just relax.

Ollantaytambo – Ollantaytambo is the gateway to Machu Picchu, whether you are choosing to walk the Inca Trail or take the train directly to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Not stopping to take in the sights as you pass by would be slightly remiss. It is a lovely town with some very interesting Inca ruins situated directly in the town centre and on the outskirts. You can choose to explore the town on foot or by even by horse if you are so inclined.

Puerto Maldonado – A 10 hour bus ride or a short plane flight away from Cusco, is the Amazonian jungle city of Puerto Maldonado. There are many tours on offer to explore the inner jungle area but for those staying in and around the town, we recommend a tour up the river to view the local wildlife and a trip to Mariposario Tambopata Butterfly Farm. While there aren’t many quality accommodation options available in Puerto Maldonado itself, you can’t go past The Anaconda Lodge. It features jungle style bungalows, a swimming pool to relax in and the in-house restaurant offers the best Thai food around.

Lake Titicaca – Again using Cusco as a base, you can easily head to the lakeside town of Puno. Most visitors don’t tend to spend a lot of time in town, instead opting to tour the largest lake in South America, Lake Titicaca. You can visit many of the islands and even stay overnight on the island of Amantani to experience traditional island life. The islands of Uros, although extremely touristy, are fascinating to view as they are made entirely of reeds.

Arequipa – Known as the ‘white city’ because of the myriad of white buildings situated around the centre, the city is popular because of its locale to Colca Canyon, a canyon which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. You can choose to hike down into the canyon or stop by to view the Andean condors which call this region home. The Monasterio de Santa Catalina, the Museo Santuarios Andinos (home to the Ice Maiden Juanita) and the picturesque Plaza de Armas are worth visiting in Arequipa itself.

Nazca – You may or may not have heard of the Nazca Lines but if you have, these are not the only fascinating thing to see in Nazca. The Palpa Geoglyphs, the Cahuachi Pyramid and the Chauchilla cemetery are all worth a look as well although you may find it easier with a vehicle of some kind as there are quite a stretch of kilometres between these locations. There is so much history in one small area as well as a number of museums which look to provide some kind of background for the sites, that it is a must-see travel destination for those who love history and mystery.

Huacachina – A real life oasis in the desert and this is your chance to visit, but beware the mermaid in the lake, or so the legend goes. Mermaids aside, Huacachina is a great place to hang out by the pool, visit a winery and take on some of those sand dunes via a dune buggy ride. And be prepared, once you are at the top you will be presented with a sand board to make your way down the massive dunes where your designated driver will be waiting for you. Much fun in the sun to be had here.

Peru sounds amazing doesn’t it, and that doesn’t even begin to cover the wide variety of things you can do in Lima and the North of Peru. It’s a vast country, rich in history, with so many great experiences on offer.  So what are you waiting for?