It is that time of the year again when people plan trips to Peru, mostly to hike the Inca Trail (or any one of the alternative Inca Trails) and visit Macchu Picchu. I hiked the Salkantay Trail two years ago and posted my first restaurant and hotel recommendations in Cusco. This year, my partner went back to Cusco and Puno (on the shores of Lake Titicaca) and submitted a few more recommendations.
Cusco: Casa San Blas boutique hotel and Fallen Angel restaurant
Casa San Blas boutique hotel: Located in the San Blas area, a five-minute walk from the main square, this small boutique hotel is quiet, personal and avoids the large groups of tourists that some of the larger hotels accommodate. Their restaurant, Tika, serves excellent gourmet food.
Interior of Fallen Angel restaurant in Cusco
Fallen Angel Restaurant: a unique restaurant serving excellent local food. The restaurant decor is unique with eclectic paintings on the wall; there is barb wire in the toilets. One of the dining tables is set on top of an aquarium teeming with fish, so you can dine and watch fish at the same time. Fallen Angel also runs a guest house.
Puno, Peru: Intiqa hotel
Intiqa Hotel: a friendly hotel in the center of Puno, nice rooms and great breakfast buffet included. All Ways Travel is a good local travel agent that specializes in off-the-beaten track tours and cultural excursions around Lake Titicaca (see my photo below).
Side Note: Airlines that fly to Peru
In addition to recommending hotels and restaurants, I also urge people to travel to Peru via two carriers: LAN (now with direct flights from San Francisco to Lima) and TACA (short stopover in the modern San Salvador airport, connection to Lima). Both airlines have new airplanes and best of all, friendly and professional staff.
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