Wanderlust Nomad

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Showing posts from January, 2025

How to Hike the Inca Trail

Machu Picchu is one of those bucket-list activities people dream about. While most people visit on a day trip, you can also visit via the Inca Trail, a challenging multi-day hike through the jungles of Peru. In this guest post, my friend Gillian divulges the details of her trek while sharing some tips and suggestions to help you plan your trip to Machu Picchu. Hiking to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail in Peru remains the highlight of my year traveling. Looking out over the peaks of the Andes, and knowing that I hiked to get there filled me with joy and awe. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I won’t lie, though — it took some work. A lot of work, in fact. But it was totally worth it. Sitting some 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level, Machu Picchu was an Inca citadel built in the 15th century. The citadel was built as a royal estate, though it was used for less than 100 years before being abandoned due to the arrival of the Spanish, who were set on conquest. It wasn’t until...

The 5 Best Tour Companies in Peru

Peru is one of the most popular destinations in South America, owing to the fact that it’s home to the bucket-list favorite and Wonder of the World Machu Picchu . Around 500,000 people visit the ancient Incan citadel each year — a number that would be much higher if it wasn’t for the mandates put in place to prevent overcrowding. But there’s more to Peru than just Machu Picchu. And there’s more to the Andes than the Inca Trail. Peru is very geographically and culturally diverse (it’s the third-largest country on the continent) so there’s a lot more on offer here than most travelers expect. From the great dining destination of Lima to the floating islands off the Uros to the Peruvian Amazon to the pyramids and tombs of Batán Grande to the desert oasis of Huacachina, there is so much to see in this South American nation that limiting yourself to the Sacred Valley would be a missed opportunity. For the intrepid traveler with plenty of time, many of these destinations can be explored ...

Is Peru Safe to Visit?

Peru , the third-largest country in South America, and before the pandemic, was receiving over four million visitors each year . Whether it’s to visit Machu Picchu , the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines, or the vibrant capital city of Lima and its blossoming food scene, Peru lives up to the hype. I absolutely loved my visit here. It was everything I thought it would be! However, I also often hear and read about tourists getting mugged or their things being stolen. I get worried emails from travelers wondering if Peru is safe to visit due to recent political unrest. Today, I want to answer their questions: Is it safe to visit Peru? What do you need to look out for? What precautions do you need to take? In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know to safely visit Peru. Table of Contents 11 Safety Tips for Peru Is Machu Picchu Safe? Is Peru Safe to Travel Alone? Is it Safe to Travel to Peru with Kids? Is Peru Safe for Female Travelers? Can You Drin...

How to Create a Coffee Table Travel Book: A Guide

There’s something magical about flipping through the pages of a Coffee Table Travel Book filled with striking travel photos. It’s like returning to a mini holiday from the comfort of your own living room — a quick passport to adventure. But, why settle for a generic store-bought coffee table book, when you can craft something […] The post How to Create a Coffee Table Travel Book: A Guide appeared first on Inditales .

How to Create a Coffee Table Travel Book: A Guide

SafetyWing Travel Insurance: Which Plan Is Right For You?

Whether you’re traveling to Europe for two weeks or planning an epic round-the-world adventure, you need travel insurance. Seriously. I know, it’s not a fun topic to read about. And yes, it will add to your travel budget. But after almost two decades on the road, I’ve learned the hard way just how important travel insurance can be. I’ve had my luggage lost, I’ve popped an eardrum, and I’ve even been stabbed . Throw in countless delayed and cancelled flights and I’d be out thousands upon thousands of dollars. Fortunately, I had travel insurance. They were there to help me navigate the problems and ensure I didn’t go broke paying for emergency expenses. These days, SafetyWing is my go-to travel insurance company. I’ve been using them for years and have found their plans to be super affordable, their customer service fast and friendly, and their coverage to be sufficient for what I need. Currently, SafetyWing offers two plans for travelers: Nomad Insurance Essential Nomad Insu...

Announcement: I’m Releasing a New Book!

Big news! I am releasing a new book! It’s a massively updated version of my NYT bestselling travel guide, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day . Except this new edition is called How to Travel the World on $75 a Day . Why the new edition? Well, because of inflation…and the changed way we travel post-COVID. The last edition of my book came out in 2017 and, since then, a lot has changed. COVID forever changed the travel industry. A lot of companies/hotels/hostels closed during the pandemic while old methods of saving money became obsolete and new methods came into being. Destinations around the world have changed too. For example, when I wrote the book’s last edition, there was barely any train travel in Southeast Asia. Now Laos has a train line connecting all its major cities, Cambodia is reviving its train system, and Thailand is expanding theirs. And, since 2017, prices have gone up a lot. Not only because of natural inflation but because of the post-COVID inflation boom. It’s...

My Suggested Peru Itineraries: From 1 Week to 1 Month

Peru is a massive country. To do it justice, you need a lot of time. From the capital of Lima to the ancient city of Cusco to the jungles of the Amazon to the beach towns to the ruins of the Sacred Valley, Peru presents you with a lot of options. I spent 2.5 weeks there and absolutely loved it . But even at a fast pace, I still felt like I barely saw anything (even though I crammed a lot of activities into my trip). So, in such a large nation, how do you break up a trip? How do you pick what to see and do? What kind of itinerary do you make? Well, of course, a lot of that has to do with what you are going for: the Amazon, the hiking, the history, or the food? Most first-time visitors to Peru do the southern route: Lima, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, and Cusco/Sacred Valley. This route has the most historic sites and the biggest attractions. But there’s also the Amazon, the beach towns, and smaller ruins in the north. To give you some ideas on potential routes, here are my suggested it...

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Peru?

Peru is one of the best places I have ever visited (and that’s saying something). I loved every moment ( this blog post goes into more detail why ). Besides being incredible, it’s also an extremely affordable destination (provided you limit your fine dining in Lima and guided hikes). If you’re heading to Peru and wondering how much you’ll need to spend, look no further. In this post, I’ll break down how much I spent, where I went wrong, typical prices, and how you can save money. How Much I Spent During my sixteen days in Peru, I went to Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and hiked around the Sacred Valley. I spent $4,992.63 USD or $312 per day. That broke down as follows (in USD): Accommodation : $1,246.51 Food : $795.96 Guides tips : $45.90 Tours / Activities : $162 Transportation : $80.96 Private tours (see below) : $1,770 Internal flights : $480.06 Travel insurance : $73.92 Gear : $337.32 Now, I spent a lot more than you would in an equal amount of time. That’s for a few rea...