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On a recent trip to Peru with a friend we did 2 hikes, one near Lima and the other near Cusco.

Near Lima, Marcahuasi is one of those open secrets that you hope it'll never become too popular. It's a stone forest filled with rocks that resemble human, animal, and alien faces and shapes. Some believe that it was laid out and constructed by aliens or unknown races, maybe even the Incas. I think it's all the work of nature, but no matter what, it is a mystical place that one can't forget. It certainly deserves more than a one-night stay but that's all we had time for.

Near Cusco is of course the famed Machu Picchu city/fortress but getting to it via a multi-day trek was most of the fun. We chose the Salkantay trek because the Inca trail was at capacity with only 500 allowed per day. In return we were treated to more nature than history/culture and less crowds. Salkantay offers majestic mountains with glaciers, green rolling fields, innumerable waterfalls, and pristine scenery that is hard to beat.

The final trekking day ended in the town of Aguas Calientes with its hot springs and finally Machu Picchu which doesn't need a description of its beauty. The hike to the top of the Machu Picchu mountain and the views from its peak left us breathless.

Here I'd like to take the opportunity to thank our local guides by sharing their web sites. We actually picked them at random and they both turned out to be outstanding. I assume most licensed guides in Peru are of high caliber, reasonably priced, and they can facilitate things greatly, so having them is definitely advised.

Marcahuasi - www.huancayaperu.com

Machu Picchu - www.salkantaycuscotrek.com

* This is unsolicited and I receive nothing in return for mentioning them.