Visiting somewhere and actually living there are never the same. In this episode I talk about some of what life is like as an expat living in Cusco. While there's a lot to talk about, I focused on shopping, food, noise, and getting around with some quick comments about things like laundry and health care. Please leave a comment on the Show Notes page here: Episode 27 - Some Thoughts on Living in Cusco. Thank you very much for listening!

Safety, getting around, and general experiencing travel -- lots of people tell you all kind of tips about visiting a place -- some good, some bad, some relevant, and some not... I wanted to discuss a few things that always seem to come up when people come to my city that might make your visit a little more enjoyable. There are, of course, lots more to talk about, but they will have to wait until another episode.) Cusco is a one-of-a-kind place to visit and I hope that everyone can get a taste of what I'm lucky enough to experience every day. There aren't many Show Notes this time, but you can visit them here: Some Tips for Visiting Cusco (From Someone Who Lives Here)

When to visit? Is Peru safe? Is Machu Picchu really worth it? Why do I live here? These are some of the most common questions I get and in this episode I try to answer each. Also, I talk about a new announcement affecting last minute ticket purchases for Machu Picchu -- a major issue since online ticket sales are often sold out in weeks in advance and getting one of the 1000 tickets set aside at Aguas Calientes can be a challenge (if not impossible) if you don't know what to do.

You can find more information here on the Show Notes page:  Podcast Episode 25: 4 Questions I'm Often asked About Peru.

I'm lucky to have been able to travel many places in Peru by just about every means possible from airplanes to buses to cars and even to boats along the Amazon. In this episode I talk about how it's not as challenging or confusing as you might think and how it's possible to go anywhere you want easily and cheaply in Peru using public transportation.

You can check out the Show Notes here - Podcast Episode 24: Traveling Peru by Road and River - where you can find all the links tralked about in the episode as well as leave a written and even a voice message!

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Thanks for listening.

In this episode I talk about 7 places that will give you a taste of what the city, it's history, and its culture are really like. As someone who lives here, these are among my favorites because they are most representative of what Cusco really has to offer from modern life going back through its centuries of history.

You can always follow me on Instagram: (@ThePeruChannel) and YouTube (The Peru Channel) or join our Facebook group (Explore Cusco and Peru).

I've added something different on the Show Notes Page (Podcast Episode 23: The Seven Places You Have to Visit in Cusco) -- the option to record any questions, suggestions, and/or comments that you would like to share with me.

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Peru has been a political volatile country for a long time, but recently things have been even more uncertain and undercurrents of social unrest and disenfranchisement are rising again.  As new and potentially even bigger protests are planned for this coming week during Peru's Fiestas Patrias celebrations of the country's independence, I thought it would important to discuss the underlying tensions behind these protests and explain a little of how they have actually been going on for centuries. Should things develop as I expect this week, besides News updates on the News page of ThePeruChannel.com, I'll also be doing regular updates on my long neglected Twiiter account, @ThePeruChannel. You can find more information here in the Show Notes: Podcast Episode 22 - Understanding the Current Social Protests in Peru.

This episode covers all of that you need to know to plan a trip to Machu yourself to avoid paying a someone else to do the exact same thing for you. For many people, planning a bucket list trip like giong to Machu Picchu can be very intimidating, but fortunately it's really not hard at all thanks to the internet. The challenge is navigating through all of many the options such as choosing which Machu Picchu route to take or which train on which to travel. In this epsisode I discuss in detail all of the different options so you can make informed choices about your trip and avoid making choices that youll regret later. All of the links described in this episode can be found on the Show Notes page: Epsiode 21 - How to Plan a Trip to Machu Picchu.

My three favorite cities in Peru plus some important news about Machu Pichu and the serious health crisis that is affecting hundreds of thousands and will likely continue to do so well into next year. This episode could have been a LOT longer, but I had to keep telling myself to only summarize why I love these cities. (I guess I can talk about each in more detail in the future episodes, right?)  You can check out the show notes here: Podcast Episode 20: My Three Favorite Cities in Peru. 

June in Cusco is a magical time and it all is centered around the Inti Raymi celebration, but the story behind the big event is one that is little known even aming locals. This epsiode talks about the reality of Inti Raymi today and how it is not what most people believe. In the Show Notes (Podcast Episode 19 – The Story Behind the Modern Inti Raymi) you can find links to a recent blog post detailing all the events surrounding the 2023 Inti Raymi as well as a link to the Teleticket site to buy tickets online.

My two biggest passions are Machu Picchu and the rainforest. When they come together as they did last week, it's a story I have to share! You can read the Show Notes here: Podcast Episode 18 - Finding Inca Ruins in the Rainforest.