Group Trip to Arequipa, Peru and Machu Picchu

This trip was centered around the wedding of two close friends in Arequipa, Peru. Traveling from NYC, we had a quick stopover in Lima for about 12 hours before heading to the wedding destination. While in Arequipa, our hotel, Katari Hotel, was located right in the city square, allowing us to explore the cobblestone streets during our downtime. The hotel was cozy with authentic regional decor, and we enjoyed a daily al-fresco breakfast on the hotel’s rooftop. It's important to note that most rooms didn't have air conditioning. Our room facing the inner courtyard stayed fairly cool and comfortable due to the ceiling fan. Arequipa is very walkable with many charming cafes and restaurants. We visited 13 Monjas and had some delicious appetizers!

After the wedding, we went back to Lima to spend some time in the major city. We stayed in a rental property in the neighborhood of Miraflores, which I highly recommend. It’s a cute, trendy, safe and bustling area. One thing that stood out to me was the late-night schedule of their coffee shops. With many open until 7 pm or 8 pm, which was perfect for a post-dinner coffee lover like me!

From Lima, we boarded a flight to Cusco, where we spent some time before catching the Perurail Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. The views on this nearly 5-hour train ride were truly incredible and a great way to see more of the country. Aguas Calientes, the Pueblo of Machu Picchu, is a small town catering to tourists. There are plenty of bars and restaurants offering traditional Peruvian food and a Mercado Artesanal for all your souvenir needs. We stayed at Casa del Sol, a boutique hotel directly along the railroad line. We had a great stay with delicious breakfast featuring an omelet station, fresh fruit, natural juices, meats/cheeses and specialty coffee made to order.

When visiting Machu Picchu, we chose to walk Circuit 2, and the views were absolutely breathtaking. It's required to have a tour guide for your visit. Ours was incredible, offering so much insight and information into the history of Machu Picchu. We spent about two full days in the area, but I think a same-day trip would suffice. You can rest easily on the train to and from Cusco and don’t necessarily need extended time in Aguas Calientes.

I highly recommend Casa del Sol Machu Picchu and Katari Hotel Plaza de Armas to anyone traveling to Peru. These hotels are both centrally located, making it easy to explore the area, and they are absolutely beautiful! They would be perfect for a trip with couples, multi-generational travel, a group getaway and more.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Peru. In need of further inspiration? Check out Marc Scholnick’s guide, 10 Days in Peru: Can You Handle This Much Adventure and Culture?