My 9 Favorite Free Things in Cusco

No matter how amazing Machu Picchu is, once again incompetence is making it look like a bad choice of places to visit. The possibility of a strike stopping transportation for yourists up and down the mountain in a few days is of great concern as walking is not recommended except for the very strong. In this short, last minute episode, I talk about what's happening there as of today, September 10, and give some background on why it has gotten this bad so quickly. I'll add anything new on The Peru Channel's "News" page with a link in the Show Notes. Hopefully this will all work itself out quickly, but there seems to be so much ill will and, with a LOT of money involved, it's very possible that things will get worse before they get better.

This was a lot of fun and focuses on absolutely free things to see and experience mostly around Cusco's central historical center. Some you can probably guess, but not all.  You can learn more at the Show Notes where I'll include some relevant links and pics of the different places I talk about.

This episode took a long time to prepare as I simply have a LOT of adventures to tell you -- things like dealing with miners and loggers in the rainforest, searching for wild (and even sometimes dangerous) animals, and so much more. It was a lot of fun to prepare, but keeping things fairly organized and trying hard to avoid my tendency to ramble in my storytelling -- epecially when given the backstory and background information -- is hard for me! Yoiu can found some more information in the Show Notes including a link to some of my relevant YouTube videos (or just look for The Peru Channel on Youtube). They're not going to be picked by Netflix, but I think they're still a lot of fun to watch and show what it's REALLY like exploring here as opposed to the fake "adventures" shared by professional influencer on social media.

In this episode I answer questions that I've seen come up the most so far in 2025 from people planning a trip to Peru. I read social media and watch YouTube videos constantly to get a feel for what people are thinking about when they plan a trip to Peru. Sadly, so much of what is shared is simply wrong.  As I mention in this episode, it's frustrating to have someone who spent five days in Peru try to tell people "everything they need to know" and even become angry if someone questions what they say.  For many social media influencers, it's often all about making money instead of helping others. You can visit the Show Notes page here: Podcast Episode 36 - Most Asked Questions About Visiting Peru in 2025. Thank you for listening!

With the new Lima airport opening a couple of days ago, another robbery and kidnapping of tourists near Iquitos, and the death of a U.S. tourist in Huacachina, the past few days have been extremely busy and I thought it would be a good idea to record another episiode a little quicker than usual as ther's so much to share. There's really nothing much in the Show Notes this week to see other than some links that might help you in coming to Peru through the new airport, but you can leave a comment on the page if you have anything to say including any questions that I might be able to answer. ----- YouTube Instagram Our "Explore Peru"  Facebook Group (0ver 5000 people and growing!) 

There's a lot going on Peru as the tourist season really gets underway. The new Lima airport is set to open ina few days and problems with tourism continues to plague the industry based on crime and questionable tourism companies. You can read more about this week's episode with some useful links for travelers at the Show Notes page here: Podcast Episode 34 – Lima Airport to Finally Open and Tourist Terror on the Amazon. 

Learn about the routes from someone who has actually been on every single one. In this episode I give a little description with some comments about each of the 10 routes through Machu Picchu to help you make a decision on which is best for you. You can read the Show Notes here:  Episode 33 - Which Machu Picchu Route to Choose

Tourism in Peru has some very real issues. While it's a magical place to visit, there are things that you should know about that might make your trip better and maybe even save your life. Show Notes: Podcast Episode 32 - The Dark Side of Tourism in Peru    

There's really not much on the Show Notes page this week, but you can access it here and leave any comments, questions, or suggestions. I promise -- everyhthing is really appreciated.

This is the second part in the series about Machu Picchu in which I talk about more about getting there, the best time of the year to visit and even the best time of the day, plus some assorted tips including my two favorite restaurants where the food is plentiful and cheap, and finally what to do if tickets are sold out because you DO have an option. You can find the Show Notes here at Podcast Episode 30 - Questions About Visiting Machu Picchu (Part 2). ---------- You can always follow me on Instagram: (@ThePeruChannel) and YouTube (The Peru Channel) or join our Facebook group (Explore Peru).