Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Peru Channel

Friday morning Peru woke up to its 7th President in the last 9 years with only two actualluy being elected. In this episode I'll explain what has happened and what you can might expect in the coming days, week, and months.

When more comes out -- and this is a very fluid situation at the moment -- you can check out the link on the Show Notes page to learn more.

Nothing will ruin a trip for which you may have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars to visit one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World only to find out you can't get a ticket or your dream of hiking the Inca Trail is not possible because tickets are sold out months in advance.

In this episode, I give you advice on how to make sure your once-in-a-lifetime trip actually occurs and that you are not left terribly disappointed because you waited too long to plan ahead.

I talk about not only the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu tickets which are generally straight forward processes, but spend a lot of time explaining how to pick the right train which can be quite daunting when looking aty the websites of the two companies with all their options.

I close out the episode talking about how last month's crisis at Machu Picchu has been averted, but perhaps only for the moment with the rest of 2025 looking as if things will be smooth.

You can find links to everything I talk about (train companies, where to buy official MP tickets, and the Inca Trail companies that I recommend) on the Show Notes page.

You can also leave any questions or comments on that page.

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.

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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).

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

In this first episode of a series, I talk about about guides, tickets, buses, and trains. There's so much to talk about, that I had to start somewhere and these are some of the topics that come up most of all.

There are a lot of links to things like where to buy tickets for Machu Picchu, the trains, and the buses as well as great sources for more detailed information on the Show Notes page here: 

In this epsiode I talk about a variety of topics that come up often for people considering Peru including tipping, money, all things money, weather and what clothes to wear, electricty concerns for electronics, and restrooms!

You can leave any comments or questions on the Show Notes page here: Podcast Episode 28 - Questions About Visiting Peru (Part 1) . 

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!

Please follow or subscribe to this podcast to be notified when the next episode is available.

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.

Please subscribe to this podcast and share it with others. Thanks again for listening!

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.

Everyone who knows me, knows that my passion in Peru is Machu Picchu. I have probably spent more time there over the past five years than anyone except those who work there. I am constanetly researching, exploring, and studying the site and the surrounding National Sanctuary of which it is only one very small part.

In this podcast I try to explain why it would be a shame to go all the way to visit the site only to spend just a couple of hours walking through quickly because you'll miss so much!

There's not much in the show notes this week, but at the bottom of the page there is a place to express your comments which are really appreciated. You can reach the Show Notes page here: Podcast Episode 17 - Why You Should Spend More Time at Machu Picchu.

While Cusco ands Machu Picchu are the most popular places to visit in Peru, the Amazon Rainforest is easily the second most famous place. Many people are uncertain about choosing between the country's two most popular places -- Iquitos in the northern rainforest and Puerto Maldonado in the southeastern jungle. 

Because I know both of the regions extremely well, I thought it would be a good topic to discuss the difference between the two -- and there are some major difference -- that should be taken into consideration when deciding where to go.

You can read a little more and get some more background information including some video links here in the Show Notes: Podcast Episode 16 - Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado: Which Jungle in Peru?

Everyone who knows me knows that Machu Picchu is my passion. They also know that I have an obsession with truthfulness about the site and can't stand the massive amounts of misinformation shared -- even more so when it's done deliberately to make someone more money.

In this episode I talk about a few facts about Machu Picchu that most people don't know. I found it difficult to go with only five, but that leaves many more "facts" to be shared in future episodes.

I also talk about some news including the current social and political situation in Peru as well as news on train travel between Cusco and Puno.

In the Show Notes I added some links to the best YouTube videos if you want to learn more about Machu Picchu from reputable sources.

Anyone concerned about coming to Peru after seeing all the negative news this year should know that right now things are as close to normal across almost all of the country as it has been since before the COVID pandemic over three years ago.

In this episode I talk about what has happened, the current situation, and also answer a few questions relating to visiting Machu Picchu.

You can read the show notes which includes some important links here: Episode 14 - Why Now is (Almost) the Perfect Time to Visit Peru.

As someone who flies more than just about any other traveler in Peru, in this episode I talk about frequent flyer benefits no matter what airline you use, transportation, the best seats to reserve, how I get the best airfare deals, airport security, luggage, the reality of some airport terminals, transportation from and to the airport, and a lot more.

You can get links to all the airlines who fly domestically on the Show Notes page here: Podcast Episode 13 - Domestic Air Travel in Peru - Everything You Need to Know

It's hard to describe how deeply I love the rainforest, but in this episode I give it a try by talking about experiences with animals and how I dealt with my own personal deep phobia.

You can read the Show Notes here and see a few of my favorite wildlife photos from the jungle: Episode 12 - Why I Love the Rainforest (Part 1) - Animals.

In this episode I talk a little more about visiting Machu Picchu including recommendations on how to get there and using guides.

Show Notes are available at Some Thoughts on Visiting Machu Picchu.

I spent a couple of days in Arequipa focusing on photographing and finally visited the Monatserio Santa Catalina as well as the lesser known Convento la Recoleta. Both. while completely different, turned out to be two of the most interesting places i've ever visited in Peru. Santa Catalina, in particular, might be the most photogenic place I've ever visited in years of travel across the country.

I also talk briefly about some issues I had with the hotel I'd used once before, Bella AQP. I was quite disappointed with the level of service by some of the staff, though others did their best to make up for it.

You can check out the Show Notes for this episode here: Monasteries and Convents in Arequipa

Last week I took a short trip to the small town of Abancay about five hours from Cusco by bus. While it really wasn't long enough to do much exploring in the town itself., this episode focuses on information about the bus ride that might be useful to anyone thinking about traveling across the country in this slower and far cheaper mode of transportation.

I also talk about a development with the availability of tickets for Machu Picchu as well as a brief update on COVID in Peru.

You can read the show notes here: Episode 9 - Abancay and the South Central Andes by Bus.

In this episode I talk about noise, traffic, and how Peruvians approach time -- all things that visitors commonly have a bit of uncertainty in dealing with as they are frequently quit a bit different from what visitors are used to in their home countries.

You can check out the show notes here: Episode 8 - Peruvian Cultural Differences (Part 2)

In this episode I talk about some of the differences in Peruvian culture that might be a little more challenging to deal with by a visitor from a foreign place. Some of these may be inconsequential to you, but others may be a little harder to accept.

As I always say, visitors must remember that they are guests in someone else's country and it is up to those guests to accept the culture of Peru without expecting Peruvians to change for them.

Also in this episode I talk quite a bit about some of the things that are happening  at Machu Picchu including one major change that will affect thousands of people looking to visit the site through what I call the "back way" along the train tracks form the hidroelectrica. 

I also warn you about problems that have arisen from dishonest agencies who have basically ruined the lifelong dream to visit Machu Picchu of apparently hundreds of people in recent days.

I've got some useful information in the show notes here: Podcast Episode 7 - Cultural Differences (Part 1)

The idea for this episode came from some social media posts I've seen recently by p[eople planning trips to Peru. Their concerns were very real and echoed comments I'd seen many times in the past, but some of the responses were, at best, incorrect, so I thought I'd share some facts and experiences from someone who lives here.

In this epsiode I also briefly touch upon about how COVID has not reached the level where 20% of those tested are infected.

Even more important to a lot of people is that there is a good chance of increased flight cancellations in the next few days as there is a shortage of jet fuel that won't be remedied for at least another week.

Be sur to check out the show notes at Episode 6 - ATMs, Food, and Safety.

In this epsiode I had a little fun sharing my thoughts on the eternal debate about tourists vs travelers. 

You can catch up on some of the news and hopefully share your own thoughts with a comment at the bottom of the Episode 5 Show Notes page.

In this episode I talk about the two routes coming into Aguas Calientes which is the jumping off point for Machu Picchu. People can come in from either upriver by train or from downriver by train or hiking along the railway. There are no roads to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu from anywhere outside.

I also talk about the continued rapid rise in the spread of COVID across the country and the expanded mask rules which affect the entire country beginning immediately.

Show notes can be found at Podcast Episode – Tips on Visiting Machu Picchu (Part 2)

In this episode I start the series about visiting Machu Picchu in which I talk about the best times of the year and day to visit as well as if you should hire a guide. I also try to give a little clarity to the confusing routes that visitors must choose from when visiting the site.

I also talk about the rising spread of COVID in Peru as well as potential travel disruptions that could be coming this week thanks to strikes and protests.

Show notes can be found at Podcast Episode 3 – Tips on Visiting Machu Picchu (Part 1)

Two weeks ago I traveled back to the rainforest in southwestern Peru at Puerto Maldonado and nearby Lago Sandoval in the Tambopata National Reserve.

In this podcast I talk about how to get to Puerto by air and on a bus, where I like to stay, and what to do there.

My focus is on Lago Sandoval and the amazing experiences that you have at what is probably the best place to go to experience the rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon.

Show notes can be found at Podcast Episode 2 – Puerto Maldonado and Lago Sandoval.

Next week I'm off to Machu Picchu to film -- weather permitting -- the winter solstice sunrise that cereates a very special event in the Temple of the Sun.

In this first episode I talk about Machu Picchu myths that drive me crazy! (Look for a lot more discussion on some of these in more detail later, too.) News: Peru v. Australia World Cup news; strikes and protests will disrupt travel plans in the coming months; a new low-cost airline begins operations to and from Peru.

Show notes can be found at Podcast Episode 1 – Machu Picchu Myths