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Arequipa• Food• Peru• Peru Destinations• Travel• What to do

TOP 5 Things to o in Arequipa

Arequipa is also known as the “white city”, in the Spanish language “Ciudad Blanca”, due to its colonial elegant buildings made of white porous volcanic stone called “sillar”. It is the second largest city in Peru after Lima. It’s a great stop while visiting Peru and you can consider staying there for 2 or 3 days during your Peru trip.

Here is a list of things you can consider doing and places to visit in Arequipa:

Plaza de Armas: the social heart of the city, where you can find the popular white cathedral, the beautiful fountains, and the characteristic palm trees. Here you can relax and get in touch with local people who usually gather in the main square. The square is surrounded by arches where you can find bars and rooftop cafes to chill and enjoy the view of the square. After sunset the lighting is amazing and you can enjoy the square at its best.

St. Catalina Monastery: One of the most ancient spots in the city, the monastery is a large complex in the heart of the city center. It’s located only a 5 to 10-minute walking distance from Plaza de Armas and is easily recognizable due to the colors of the walls, which go from red to deep blue. You can visit the area on your own or through a guided tour.

Yanahuara: This is a middle-class residential district of Arequipa, famous for its Mirador and the Yanahuara’s Church. The area is not located in the city center, but it is worth visiting. El Mirador (lookout point) offers an amazing view of El Misti Volcano. The district is full of colonial buildings and churches.

El Misti Volcano: If you are into treks, and are an experienced climber, you should pay a visit to the charming Misti Volcano, located at more than 5,500 mt above sea level, which last erupted in 1985. Remember to bring with you coca leaves which will help you with the altitude if you want to do the 2-day trek to reach the top.

Sachaca District: This is another district of Arequipa famous for its mirador where you can enjoy a charming view of the city’s historic center and El Misti volcano. The plus of this district is definitely food since there you can find several “picanterias”, traditional restaurants serving local dishes such as “rocoto relleno”.

We did not include the Colca Canyon on purpose since we believe you need an additional 2 days to include it in your itinerary.

For more information, you can send us an email at info@magicalcuzcotours.com or call us +1 7038225311.

On 12 mayo, 2023 • By magicalblog

Galapagos• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Top Things to do in Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands are one of the best spots to visit in South America. Located 900 km away from the Ecuador’s coast in the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago of 18 islands, famous for its wildlife and amazing landscapes.

Snorkeling and Diving: get in the clean water and go snorkeling and diving as much as you can in the Galapagos. The world under the Pacific Ocean waters is amazing and full of species to discover and colorful corals. Sea turtles, sea lions, whale sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, reef fishes, among others are part of what you will enjoy during the immersions. You can go snorkeling everywhere in the archipelago, but some of the best spots are Floreana Island, San Cristobal Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santiago Island, among others.

Birdwatching: birdwatching is one of the most popular activities you can do in Galapagos islands. Let’s keep in mind that the islands were used by Charles Darwin for his researches and species classification for his theory of evolution; the site is basically a unique place for birdwatching. You can encounter flamingos, footed boobies, frigate birds, among others species you can spot.

Wildlife spotting: a part from birdwatching, you can engage in multiple others activities in the Galapagos archipelago, such as the wildlife spotting. You can encounter marine iguanas on the beach, sea lions, penguins, tortoises, seals and finches. All these species inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. You can engage in this activity everywhere in the Galapagos islands, since in all islands you will encounter beautiful species. However, the best spots are Isabela, Fernandina and Bartolomé Islands for penguins, Santa Cruz and Isabela islands for giant tortoises, Santa Cruz, Fernandina and Isabela Islands for land iguanas.

Hiking: in the archipelagos you can also go hiking thought exciting trails, such as the Sierra Negra Volcano trail on Isabela Island, which is located more than 1300 meters above the sea level; Playa Mann, Playa Punta Carola and Cierro Tijeretas trail on San Cristobal Island where you can enjoy stunning landscapes and do birdwatching; North Seymour Island trail where you can hike through cactus and Palo Santo trees and there you can spot many wildlife species.

For more information you can contact us at anamaria@magicalcuzcotours.com or call us (+1) 703-822-5311

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On 9 febrero, 2023 • By magicalblog

Cusco• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Best Things to do in Cusco

Cusco is a must-seen when traveling to Peru. You should definitely add 3 or 4 days in Cusco when planning your Peru trip. For many travelers visiting Peru without exploring Cusco is like writing a story without a real plot, since you cannot catch the essence of the country. Cusco is a vibrant city, rich in history and culture. Considering that, and being sure that you all have added a stop in Cusco in your Peru’s itinerary, in this article we tried to list top things and activities to do in Cusco area.

Sacsayhuaman: do not forget to pay a visit to this archeological Inca site located on top of the city, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman is a mural complex, made of huge stones of approximately 300 pounds each, and reachable on foot from Cusco city. The site is located more than 3500 mts above sea level, so if you suffer from altitude sickness consider taking a taxi.

Historical Centre: do not forget to visit Cusco’s main square, ranked as one of the most important square in the world. There you can visit the magnificent cathedral, and enjoy the vastity of the square. Take a stroll in the little street around the square, where you can find cozy cafes and restaurants. This spot has been considered the real essence of the Inca Empire.

San Blas district: San Blas is the vibrant, boho and creative district of Cusco, where you can find clothes shops, Peruvian artisans’ shops, art galleries and workshops and some of the city’s best restaurants and cafes. Its cobbled streets are fascinating, as well as its colonial architecture.

Rainbow Mountain: this is a popular spot for trekking lovers. You can hike the route by yourself in approximately 2 hours or you can rent a horse to make the experience a bit lighter, in one day you will have an amazing trekking experience and enjoy a stunning view. Once you reach the famous rainbow mountain you will enjoy an amazing and not-ordinary colorful landscape. Do not forget your camera!

San Pedro Market: to catch the essence of Peruvian culture you should visit this huge market, located only 10 minutes from Cusco’s main square. This is a great place to try Peruvian authentic food, do not forget to negotiate prices, that’s the funniest part.

Here are only few things that you can do in Cusco, but Cusco is an amazing city where you can find pretty much everything depending on your preferences and specific needs.

On 30 marzo, 2022 • By magicalblog

Peru• Travel Tips• What to do

Five Places to buy a Delicious Turron de Doña Pepa

October is the “mes morado” in Lima, it can be translated in English as “purple month”, and it is a holy month to celebrate the Señor de los Milagros, one of the most important religious festivals in the country. You can notice people dressed in purple as an offer to the patron during the month. A traditional sweet eaten during the Señor de Los Milagros celebration is the traditional Turrón de Doña Pepa. The turrón has become Peruvian family’s favorite treat and also travelers and expats love it.

In October the turron starts appearing in the pastry shop’s shelves, in the grocery stores, in the food stalls. It’s a sticky anise-flavored pastry, filled with “chancaca” syrup (a sort of honey) and topped with colorful candies and sprinkles. It’s a sort of eternal dessert, Peruvians love traditions!

Here a list of places where you can buy a delicious turrón de Doña Pepa if you happen to be in Peru in October.

Pastelería San Martín

This historic pastry shop is located very close to the Plaza San Martín, it was open in 1930 and it is a mandatory stop if you want to taste a delicious turron de Doña Pepa in Lima’s downtown.

Pastelería Italo

This pastry shop is also very old, it was opened 40 years ago in Magdalena district in Lima, today it also has a branch in Callao Monumental. It offers a wide variety of tasty desserts, but it is its turron de Doña Pepa the most delicious and popular dessert on its menu.

Antigua Panadería Huérfanos de Lima

The turron de Doña Pepa of this traditional pastry shop stands out for its dough and flavor, which makes the shop a mandatory stop during the “purple month”. The place is located in Lima downtown.

Turron Isabel

Made with fruit honey and an original recipe since 1947, this turrón de Doña Pepa is one of the most traditional in Lima downtown.

La Bonbonniere

This place has become another favorite of Limeños to taste their turrón de Doña Pepa. The dough and the syrup used create a perfect combination of flavors, which will make you want to try more. You can find La Bonbonniere in several Lima’s district.

On 4 noviembre, 2021 • By magicalblog

Food• Peru• Travel• What to do

Best Outdoor Dining Experiences in Lima

COVID-19 has changed several aspects of our lives, and it has also changed our dining habits. We now prefer outdoor restaurants and dining places to the fancy indoor restaurants, since we definitely feel safer there. That is why we want to give you some of the best outdoor dining options in Lima, so that you can enjoy our delicious food without any risk and being able to fully enjoy the dining experience. Yes, that is what it’s about, having a meal in one of these restaurants is a true life-changing “experience”.

Huaca Pucllana Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/restauranthuacapucllana): this restaurant is merged into an ancient pre-Incan Huaca, located in the middle of Miraflores district. You will dine outdoor with a stunning view of the Huaca enjoying delicious traditional food with a modern twist. The site is charmingly illuminated at night, so we suggest to have a romantic dinner there.

Osaka (https://www.facebook.com/OsakaOficial): when in Lima do not lose the opportunity to try Nikkei cuisine, a fusion between Peruvian and Japanese food. The result is an amazing mixture of tastes, savors and textures. You will definitely love it. This restaurant is one of the best places to have a real Nikkei experience and get to know it. The restaurant is located in San Isidro district.

Astrid & Gastón (https://www.facebook.com/AstridyGastonLima): You cannot live Lima without dining at this restaurant if you are a foodie. Here you can catch the real essence of Peruvian food. Do not forget to try their delicious drinks as well.

La Plazita (https://www.facebook.com/laplazitalima): this is a more casual option, where ou can find gourmet Peruvian traditional food in the heart of Miraflores district. This is a real win-win option for lunch if you want to try Peruvian cuisine in a casual atmosphere.

La Lucha Sanguchería (https://www.facebook.com/laluchasangucheriacriolla): Are you more in fast food style dining experience? You do not want something too fancy and you’re looking for comfort food and fast meal? This is the perfect option for you. The chain has several points in the main Lima’s districts. This is a sort of Peruvian fast-food, where you can taste delicious sandwiches, native fried potatoes or sweet potatoes, that we call camote, and delicious juices and shakes with local fruits. We definitely recommend his option if you are looking for a real Peruvian experience. Many locals dine there as well during the week.

Cebichería La Mar (https://www.facebook.com/LaMarCebicheriaPeruanaLima): this is not a suggestion, but take it more as an order: do not live Lima without tasting a real ceviche. Ceviche is the traditional dish from Peruvian coast, made of marinated fish, Peruvian boiled corn and sweet potatoes. At this historical restaurant you can taste the real essence of Peruvian ceviche, as well as other delicious seafood dishes. The restaurant is located in Miraflores district.

As you can see there are plenty of options for outdoor dining in Lima. COme to Peru and discover our amazing food culture.

RESTAURANT ADDRESSES AND CONTACTS

Huaca Puccllana Restaurant

Calle General Borgoño, Miraflores
T: +51 (1) 445 4042

Osaka Restaurant

Felipe Pardo y Aliaga 660, San Isidro
Phone: +51 (1) 222 0405

Astrid & Gastón

Av. Paz Soldán 290,San Isidro

Phone: +51 1 4422777

La Plazita Restaurant

San Fernando 380, Miraflores, Lima

Phone: +51 994 972 336

La Lucha Sanguchería

LARCO 999, MIRAFLORES/AV. DIAGONAL 308, MIRAFLORES/ PASAJE CHAMPAGNAT 139, MIRAFLORES/ AV. SANTA CRUZ 814, MIRAFLORES

Cebichería La Mar

Calle Mariscal La Mar 770, Miraflores

Phone: +5114213365

On 28 octubre, 2021 • By magicalblog

Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Best Tips for a Safe Travel

After a year of pandemic we definitely need to get back on track with traveling. Many people have lost their sense of traveling, their habits and the necessary measures they usually used to travel safely. That is why we felt necessary to write this article including all the best tips we could share for a safe trip. They are good if you’re traveling by yourself, or for family trips or couple trips. Here our list:

Always travel with one or two hard copies of your travel documents: passport, IDs, health insurance cards. You can definitely lost all of them or some of them and you might need a backup, especially for your policy report. Also, it is advisable to go sightseeing with hardcopies of the documents and leave them locked at your accommodation.

Bring a lock in your suitcase, it could be useful if you have some documents or items you need to lock in your suitcase or a cabinet. If you are stay in a hostel it will definitely come handy to lock your stuff up. It is better to use a lock with a combination of numbers or letters that the ones with keys. If you lost those keys you’re screwed.

Travel with city maps: they are extremely useful for sightseeing and going around the city. But still do not be afraid to lost since this is also a good part of traveling. Getting off the beaten paths is always an experience and will allow you to get to know the real essence of the place you’re visiting.

Try to have written down or to learn basic phrases in local language. They could be very helpful since you never know what happen while you’re exploring the place.
Have a first-aid kit with you: add paracetamol, antibacterial cream, pads, roller gauze, bandages, medical tape, thermometer. If you are taking any remedies, bring it with you, as well as a prescription from your physician. If you are traveling with kids you should know that the amount of remedies you should bring with you is basically tripled. Just play on the safe side.

Take picture of your luggage before approaching the counter, this will help you in case the airline lost it.
Get vaccinated: apart from COVID-19 vaccine, some countries require you to do specific vaccines to enter it. So be prepared for it and get your shot before traveling.

Carry extra cash, this is always useful for last minute shopping or for emergency reason. You can also consider to carry an extra credit card in case you experience any problem with the one you usually use.

Get travel insurance: this is a must have for any kind of travel. So get yours and learn all the conditions of the contract before purchasing. This is the best expense you can do for your trip.

We hope that these tips can help you planning your next trip, and remember: get whatever you can to travel safely all around the world.

On 21 octubre, 2021 • By magicalblog

Travel• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

8 Tips on How to Travel with Kids

We here at Magical Cusco Tours love to travel with our kids but it can get a little complicated unless you know how to keep them busy and happy. Here are our top 10 tips to travel with kids and teens.

Make sure that daily activities are spread out well: Don’t visit 10 different monuments in one day, let your kids rest and have some downtime.

Bring lots of snacks and water: In our experience, kids and teens often forget to bring their own food and water so when they get annoyed or hungry, you make sure that you have all the options that they might need. It also doesn’t hurt to double-check and make sure that they have water and snacks.

Ask for their opinions when planning the activities: The activities that you do during the trip should be a mix between things that you want to do and things that your kids find interesting

If you’re flying somewhere take an earlier flight: The flights can be less crowded and people are more likely to sleep, your kids included.

Pack lots of activities: Keeping busy is a great way to pass the time and having activities suitable for a kid of any age is always useful. This can include coloring books (of any level), pens, cards, toys for smaller children, and more.

Bring lots of layers and other supplies for any kind of weather: You never know what the day will bring and you want to be prepared for anything to happen. Examples are flashlights, toilet paper, rain jackets, hats, mosquito repellents, sunblocks, comfortable shoes, etc.

Bring a light blanket in case your kid gets cold on the airline.

Be prepared for long flights: Many airlines now offer free entertainment if they have a specific app o check if your airline has one of those. If you have a subscription to a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+, have them download movies and episodes to watch.

Those are just a few of the many tips we have for you. Make sure to check out our blog on how to stay safe while traveling so you know how to keep yourself and your kids safe. We hope that these tips will help you out.

On 19 agosto, 2021 • By magicalblog

Travel• Travel Tips• What to do• World travel

Requirements to Travel to Peru

It has finally come time to start traveling again. The world is opening up and there are more and more adventures to be had. And what better place to start with than Peru! If you want to travel to Peru but have no idea what the requirements are, let me help you out.

To be able to visit Peru you must have:

A negative RT-PCR test that was done less than 72 hours in advance. OR An Antigen Test from less than 24 hours before your trip. Usually, a PCR is more expensive and hard to find. In the US, a major pharmacy chain (like CVS or Walgreen’s) provides the Antigen test for free.

A signed “Health Electronic Sworn Statement, and commitment to carry out the traveler’s isolation or quarantine”. Here’s the link to the statement: http://e-notificacion.migraciones.gob.pe/dj-salud/

Both the Test and Statement must be kept on hand because they’ll probably be requested once you’re in Peru

If you are an international passenger and you have any symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of your arrival to Peru, you have to contact the health authorities of your country.

If you don’t wear a mask and/or comply with the rules that the airline/airport/etc have, your boarding to Peru could be rejected.

Those are all the things that you need to have in order to travel to Peru. Make sure to check out my blog about safety tips while traveling.Stay safe and have happy travels!

On 11 agosto, 2021 • By magicalblog

Peru• Travel• Travel Tips• What to do

How to stay safe while Traveling

We have many clients who love to travel but have found themselves unsure of how to be safe and stay healthy while doing so, especially with COVID-19 still circling the world. After consulting with them and with our team, we’ve found a couple of tips and tricks for you. Of course, the easier way to stay as safe as possible is to get fully vaccinated. It will help you to have much less stress about the trip.

Now onto the tips!

Essential items

Disinfectants – We would never go anywhere without a disinfectant and CLOROX wipes (we use these to wipe down chairs and tables, they’re especially useful on planes, buses, and other public areas).

Mask – Does this even need an explanation? Carrying more than one surgical mask is better, just in case, and wear them whenever you’re inside to protect yourself and others.

Social Distancing – This is always good to practice, not just while traveling. The farther away from strangers, you are, the safer you are. If you do find yourself in close quarters with others, make sure to wear your mask.

Stay hydrated – Regular advice for when you travel but very important to stay healthy. You should drink about half a gallon or 2 liters of water every day

And finally the most important:

WASH YOUR HANDS! The easiest and most convenient way to stay safe and healthy. Wash your hands whenever you get a chance and especially before eating or doing activities that require the use of your hands.

Those are all of our tips to be safe and healthy while traveling. We hope they’ll help you as much as they’ve helped us. Please check out our post about the requirements to travel to Peru so you can put some of these tips to use. Happy adventuring!

On 5 agosto, 2021 • By magicalblog

Travel• Travel Tips• What to do

PHOTO VIDEO MEMORIES PROJECT

Do you want to cherish memories and support Peruvian tourism at the same time?

Call us: 1-866-217-1542 / 703-822-5311 or 703-8225312 /+51 997 593 818 (also Whatsapp)

Email us: info@magicalcuzcotours.com

WE WILL MAKE YOUR MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!

The current global crisis due to Coronavirus pandemic opened our eyes on the importance of the work made by our tour guides and local drivers who are on the front lines of tourism industry and they do not have the financial ability to survive in this time of crisis. They are now basically unemployed and they have no income to support their families. That is why we decided to work on a way to help Peruvian tourism and especially our people stay afloat during this difficult time.

We launch a brand-new memories video project; for each video sold we will make a donation to our knowledgeable and reliable tour guides and drivers. The price for the video is US$150.00 total and 100% of our profit will go directly to them.

We can produce memories videos to share it with your friends and family or simply to have lifetime memories of a special occasion. Our videos are ideal to celebrate a special occasion, a special trip anywhere else or just to celebrate the life of a loved ones as tribute. An anniversary, a birthday, a wedding, a vow renewal, the arrival of a new-born are all special occasions that deserve to remain engraved in our memory. We will help you make it special with a commemorative video made of unedited video shots, photos, visual effects, soundtrack and a customized script. They are also a great gift idea for a dear friend or family member!

HOW IT WORKS

Send us meaningful photos and video shots
Tell us your story or highlights to be able to create a script
Choose up to 4 music tracks to use for your video
Give us a week to work on it!
Your video will be delivered to your email.

VIDEO FEATURES

Duration: up to 7 minutes
Customized script based on your story
Linear edition
Visual effects
Colorization (the quality depends on photos and video shots provided)
Photo editing
Soundtrack (up to 4 music track)
Sound quality
Voice over (optional)
The video can be delivered in the following formats: full HD; MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV. This is totally up to you!

THE VALUE OF WORKING WITH US

Commitment to local suppliers: we are committed to support Peruvian tourism and to value the work of those guides who are working on the field with our passengers.

Competitive prices: we offer best value prices for our services compared to other suppliers. Please consider that part of the revenues will be donated to our tour guide.

Flexibility: we are flexible with changes to the video and soundtrack (considering the options you sent at the beginning). As for the script, we will work on it and send it to you for approval, before finalizing the video. Once the video, the soundtrack and the script are approved, you cannot make any change.

Reliability: we are reliable supplier and if we offer you to have a video ready for a specific date, we will keep the promise. We always meet deadlines!

Communication standard: we are always an email or a call away from you. We proud ourselves to be very quick in replying to our clients for any requests or issues they might have.

On 5 mayo, 2020 • By magicalblog

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