Latest news with #MachuPicchu
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
How To Spend Two Days In Cuzco
The gateway to Machu Picchu has its own magnificence. The Peruvian city of Cuzco is the typical starting and ending point for trips to Machu Picchu, as it has the closest airport to the world-renowned attraction. Yet there's plenty to do in this historic city itself that makes it a worthwhile stopover. You'll want to explore Cuzco slowly. It's set high in the Andes Mountains at a breath-sucking altitude of more than 11,000 feet. Fortunately, if you base yourself at the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, a beautifully restored heritage property built around the 16th-century colonial Convent of San Agustín in the heart of the city, you can acclimate with a welcoming cup of mate de coca, an herbal tea used throughout the region to combat the effects of high altitude. Even better, the property pumps extra oxygen into each of its 153 guest rooms, making it a little easier to breathe. The hotel is a short walk from the Plaza de Armas — this main square is anchored by the grand Cusco Cathedral — and numerous museums, cafés and places to eat. Here's how to make the most of your time in that area and other parts of the city. JW Marriott El Convento Cusco is a beautifully restored heritage property. After a generous buffet breakfast at the luxury hotel, walk a few blocks through Cuzco's narrow streets to Qorikancha, where the ruins of a once-grand, sacred Incan temple are visible beneath the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, which the Spanish constructed in the 1500s atop the Incan site. Several Inca-era rooms are visible on the edges of the colonial courtyard, while paintings throughout the building document both Incan and Spanish heritage. Take time to wander the gardens, too. Your next stop is Mercado San Pedro, Cuzco's central market. Browse the crowded aisles for everything from fresh fruit juices to spices to religious objects. Enjoy a leisurely lunch nearby at Chicha, the Cuzco outpost of celebrity chef Gastón Acurio, where Andean ingredients appear in innovative preparations. You might sample cuy (guinea pig), served in the style of Peking duck, atop a purple corn pancake with a 'hoisin' sauce made from rocoto peppers. Or try alpaca carpaccio, the rich meat brightened with a pesto-style sauce. Mercado San Pedro, Cuzco's central market, is filled with fresh flavors. In the afternoon, you can visit two museums that will help you prepare for your Machu Picchu visit. The Museo Inka has informative exhibits about Incan culture while Museo de Machu Picchu, which claims the world's largest collection of Machu Picchu artifacts, takes you through the history of the site's 'discovery' during American explorer Hiram Bingham's famous 1911 expedition that brought Machu Picchu into the world spotlight. Both museums have captions in English and Spanish. Make sure you're back at the hotel in time for a late-afternoon lesson on crafting a pisco sour, Peru's best-known cocktail, or a tour of the property, which takes you through its restoration, its history as a convent and its even earlier heritage, visiting pre-Inca ruins visible on the Marriott's lower level. For a light supper, take a short walk to Organika, where many of the ingredients in the salads, soups and plates, such as quinoa with grilled vegetables, are sourced from their own Sacred Valley gardens. The tiradito de trucha, made with local trout and paired with sweet potato chips, is an excellent choice. The hotel courtyard hosts demonstrations and photo opportunities. The next morning, after breakfast, stop into the hotel courtyard, where women from the Sacred Valley community of Chinchero offer demonstrations of traditional textile weaving techniques. You can also snap your photo with Panchita, the resident baby alpaca. Afterward, take an Uber or taxi — or book a guided tour — to Sacsayhuamán, an impressive archeological site built in the 1400s at an elevation of more than 12,000 feet. Allow at least a couple of hours to properly explore the multiple areas. Its walls and gates were constructed of massive stone blocks, fit together precisely without the use of mortar. From several vantage points around the site, you'll have expansive views across the entire Cuszo region. When you finish, walk down the stone staircases and through the narrow lanes lined with colorful street art to the San Blas neighborhood. At Green Point, you can lunch in the garden on plant-based dishes that might range from vegetarian quinoa soup to the 'Vegan Cusco Grill,' consisting of stuffed rocoto pepper, grilled oyster mushrooms, fresh greens and local potatoes in a creamy golden huancaína sauce, made from aji amarillo peppers. Be sure to try one of the fruity kombuchas or opt for the tangy, slightly fermented purple corn variety. Sacsayhuamán is an amazing archeological site built in the 1400s. Nearby, refresh with a coffee or a rich dark hot chocolate at Xapiri Ground, an art gallery/café close to the Plaza San Blas that shows work by contemporary artists from the Peruvian Amazon. Head back to the hotel for a rest or to lounge in the relaxation pool in the lower-level spa. As dusk approaches, visit Planetarium Cusco, a family-run star-gazing site, for an informative presentation that explores the Incas' view of the cosmos. You'll hear the Incan names for various constellations, learn some of the differences between the skies in the Northern and Southern hemispheres and, weather permitting, look through a telescope to spot celestial bodies. The planetarium offers presentations in English and provides transportation to and from the city center. When you return to town, a pisco sour in the JW Marriott's bar makes for a fitting finale to your two days of Cuszo adventures.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sainsbury's shoppers heartbroken as store axes ‘best' coffee
SHOPPERS have been left disappointed after Sainsbury's axed a popular coffee. One frustrated customer got in touch with the supermarket after struggling to find the Taste the Difference Fairtrade Indian Monsoon Malabar Ground Coffee on shelves. "Have Sainsbury's stopped selling the Monsoon Malabar coffee?? Tried to find it in various stores but it is not available anywhere," they said. To their disappointment, Sainsbury's confirmed the coffee variety had in fact been discontinued. The Sun also searched for the coffee on but it's been listed as "currently out of stock in every store". The coffee had come in a 227g pack and was described as having dark chocolate, smoke and spice flavours. A description on the website says the product was ethically sourced and laid on the Malabar coast in southwestern India during the monsoon season. Shoppers on Trolley gave it glowing reviews. One raved: "This is the best coffee that I've had in recent years and decent price." Goa and for me it is perfectly good." The Sun has reached out to Sainsbury's for comment. Coffee fans can still get their fix of Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fairtrade coffee though, as there are plenty more varieties still in stores. The 5 health benefits of coffee There's the Peruvian Machu Picchu Ground Coffee, which has a milk chocolate, caramel and almond flavour. It's from the Sacred Valley which is home to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Another option is the Colombian Coffee Strength 3, which is grown in the foothills of the Colombian Andes. It has a smooth, sweet and nutty flavour. Then the Kenyan Coffee Taste the Difference Strength 3 is from the high plateaus of Mount Kenya. It's described as having a zesty, citrus and blackberry flavour. All are priced at £4 for a 227g pack. How to get free cofee Virgin Media O2 customers are cutting back on Greggs freebies including coffee. But there are plenty of other ways to get a free brew. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains.. Download the Greggs 's app and sign up to its loyalty scheme for the first time to get a free hot drink. The offer includes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. You'll be able to collect loyalty stamps through the app, too, which add up to freebies. Octopus energy customers can also get a complimentary hot drink every week at Greggs by signing up to the Octoplus section on the power provider's app. Pop into Ikea during the week to get a free cup of tea or filter coffee with the store's loyalty card. It costs nothing to sign up to Ikea Family. You can also bag a free hot drink at Waitrose if you're a MyWaitrose member when you make a purchase instore. Get a tea, coffee, cappuccino or latte with the deal. And the purchase need not cost a lot – buy a piece of fruit or a cheap chocolate bar. Sign up at Plus, don't forget about loyalty schemes at the high street coffee chains. Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero all offer free drinks after a certain number of purchases — usually around nine or ten.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Dan Snow & The Lost City: Like the foggy view, Dan Snow's trip to Machu Picchu is a damp squib
Dan Snow & The Lost City (Channel 5) The fabled Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru is apparently the wettest place in South America. It certainly was on the day Dan Snow visited. Panting for breath, nearly 8,000ft up in the Andes, the historian and his camera crew found themselves engulfed by mists. Every time it looked as though we were going to get a glimpse of the jagged mountain landscapes, on Dan Snow & The Lost City, another layer of cloud swept in. Dan was forced during one deluge to take cover in a restored Inca house with a thatched roof. Rain was pouring off the straw, coming down in a curtain of water. It occured to me that Machu Picchu ought to be twinned with Britain's soggiest city, Cardiff. But, when I looked it up, the reality was even stranger — the Inca capital's twin town is Haworth in Yorkshire, home of the Brontë sisters. Well, they are both Wuthering Heights. Emily, Charlotte and Anne B all had a taste for the macabre, and would have enjoyed Dan's discovery of a 500-year-old Inca corpse, frozen in ice. The victim was a 13-year-old girl, a human sacrifice. Archaeologists believe she was raised in luxury, before being ritually killed with a blow to the head and her body placed on a mountaintop as a gift to the gods. The extreme cold preserved her hair, clothes and skin — 'literally frozen in time,' Dan pointed out. Helping museum curators to weigh her remains, checking that she was not decaying while on display under glass, Dan was first fascinated and then repulsed. 'That was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had,' he mused. 'I kept thinking, why would a family willingly give up the most precious thing in the world, one of their own children? It's just very difficult for us to understand today.' It's a poignant question, but one he did not attempt to answer. Instead of scratching his head, he could have sought out anthropologists to help us make sense of how human sacrifice was viewed by these ancient people. Was it an honour, or just one more of life's cruelties? The same lack of depth marred his visit to a local cook named Elena and her mother, both Inca descendants, where he tried the traditional cuisine. The women were wearing tall white stovepipe hats with black ribbons, but Dan didn't ask whether their Inca ancestors might have worn the same style. He did, however, inform us that his own wide-brimmed fedora was a tribute to Indiana Jones. Then he tucked into a bowl of freeze-dried potato soup, washed down with chicha beer made from maize (or, as we call it, sweetcorn). The potatoes looked like shrivelled chestnuts and the beer like a rancid milkshake. But how did it taste? Dan didn't think to tell us. We could have learned so much more. But, like the foggy view, this show wasn't nearly as spectacular as it could have been.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
8 Things To Do In Lima
If you have time, explore Lima's beautiful Miraflores district. This is the last installment in a four-part journey exploring Peru's dramatic landscapes — from captivating cities to pristine coastlines to towering Andean peaks. (Read parts one, two and three.) Peru's largest airport, Jorge Chávez International in Lima, unveiled a new terminal on June 1 that's three times the size of its predecessor. The $2.4 billion expansion dramatically increases capacity, welcoming an additional 40 million passengers per year, who likely are bound for ancient marvels like Cuzco and Machu Picchu. But don't just pass through — Lima itself offers rich experiences well worth a dedicated stopover. Lima is a fascinating destination. It's the second-largest desert capital in the world after Cairo, yet it hugs the Pacific Ocean and has three rivers running through it. With a population of 11.2 million, Lima ranks as Peru's largest city by far — about a third of the country lives in the metropolitan area. And it has everything from ancient ruins to hot new restaurants. If you're on a layover and want to get a taste of what the vibrant city has to offer, visit some of these top spots: Visit the pristine Pacific coastline. One of Lima's best features is its Pacific coastline. If you don't have time to surf or swim, take in the water views from El Malecón, a six-mile coastal path that cuts through various neighborhoods and connects green spaces, cafés and more. Get all warm and fuzzy at this green space. Along El Malecón in Miraflores, a clifftop neighborhood that overlooks the ocean, stop by this park with curved, colorful mosaic walls and 'LOVE' spelled out on the grass with flowers and plants. While everyone from families to solo travelers frequent the park, it's meant for couples. Appropriately inaugurated on February 14, 1993, Love Park features El Beso, a larger-than-life sculpture from famed Peruvian artist Víctor Delfín of lovers passionately kissing. Go back in time with a stop at Huaca Pucllana. You don't have to climb the mountaintops of Machu Picchu to see Peru's famous ancient ruins. In the middle of upscale Miraflores across from the modern Carnal steakhouse is an unexpected find: an archeological site called Huaca Pucllana. The pyramid served as a pre-Inca temple and played a part in various ceremonies. The structure is surprisingly still intact — it was made using the bookshelf technique, which stacked the adobe bricks vertically to protect the pyramid from Lima's earthquakes. Marvel at the well-preserved pyramid and visit the onsite museum to learn more. Dédalo Arte y Artesania is an essential stop. The pedestrian-friendly Barranco serves as the artistic heart of Lima. Writers, poets and artists live and work in this bohemian district filled with vivid European-influenced architecture amid palm trees. Come here to peruse spots like Dédalo Arte y Artesania, a mansion-turned-gallery that showcases everything from jewelry to furniture made by Peruvian artists. Walk to the back of the gallery to discover a charming brick courtyard with an ancient ficus tree's leafy branches and origami bird installations dangling over café tables. It's a great place to refuel after a day of exploring Barranco. Make another stop at Jade Rivera World, a gallery dedicated to the eponymous Peruvian painter, ceramicist, sculptor and muralist. The multi-talented Rivera's work revolves around themes of Latin identity and the environment — his El Hogar de un Suspiro ('the home of a sigh')mural on the building's side, for example, shows a man removing a heart-shaped face mask to reveal a colorful bird. That's not the only street art you'll encounter in Barranco. Walk around for a revolving exhibit of colorful graffiti adorning buildings, bridges and more. Look for Lima-born artist Bronik's women-centric murals, like Recia('strong'), where a girl struggles to hold a basket on her shoulders filled with books, vegetables, people and other responsibilities. Make a wish on this bridge. This Barranco attraction was built in the 1870s to connect two sides of a ravine. It's a favorite spot for photos and some magic. According to local lore, if visitors cross the 144-foot wooden pedestrian bridge while holding their breath, their wish will come true. While tourists flock to Love Park, you'll find locals strolling through Olive Park in the financial district, San Isidro. The less-crowded green space offers an oasis with walkways that take you past more than 1,600 olive trees, which the Spanish brought over more than 400 years ago, and a pond with fish and turtles. Keep an eye out for the park's more than 60 bird varieties, like the noisy scrub blackbird or the bright-gold saffron finch. Sip the country's most famous drink at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center. When in Lima, you must try the country's most famous drink, the pisco sour. It combines pisco — a Peruvian grape distillate that's considered a Cultural Heritage of the nation — with lime juice, egg white, simple syrup and a few dashes of Angostura bitters as a garnish on the foamy top. The cocktail was invented in the 1920s by American expat Victor Morris in Lima's Morris Bar. The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center's Lobby Lounge Bar serves all kinds of classic cocktails and mocktails, but glowing tall walls of artfully displayed bottles of pisco point you toward the local spirit. The pisco offerings, ranging from a pisco mule to an algarrobina (similar to eggnog but with pisco and Peruvian carob), are the most popular orders. We sat at the white marble-topped bar and enjoyed the sweet and tart pisco sour underneath sprawling murals with stylized characters, like a mermaid, drinking — perhaps pisco. As the culinary capital of South America, Lima is a draw just for its food. Fine-dining institutions like Astrid and Gastón, Central, Mayta and Maido showcase the best of Peruvian cuisine and its different facets. But you don't need to dine at an upscale restaurant with a tasting menu to sample the country's gastronomy. Seek out local street food like anticuchos, grilled beef heart skewers; butifarra, a sandwich stuffed with country ham and salsa criolla; and aji de gallina, shredded chicken in a creamy, spicy sauce. And save room for desserts like picarones, pumpkin and sweet potato doughnuts drenched in chancaca honey, and mazamorra morada, a rice-pudding-like dish made with purple corn and fruit.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney ‘blocks-buster' showing a world where humans are replaced by Lego
Once upon a child's playground, Lego was those annoying plastic bricks that would endlessly entertain preschoolers. Today, it is a recognised artistic medium, fascinating for adults and children alike, seeding a TV show and a new Australian Museum exhibition. Relics, A New World Rises – opening in August – imagines a future world where humans have pushed the environment one step too far and it has been repopulated by some 2000 mini-figures. Best friends Alex Towler and Jackson Harvey, winners of the first Lego Masters television series, have built 15 miniature civilisations within forgotten and reclaimed objects. A version of Manhattan's 88th Street has been installed inside a hollowed-out piano, and a 1950s-inspired Studz Diner comes to life inside a 75-year-old jukebox. 'Lego has changed so much since we grew up with it. If you remember those classic red, blue, yellow bricks, now there's so many colours and parts,' Harvey says. 'It's just a really fascinating creative medium that you can use for just about anything.' The Australian Museum's chief executive and director Kim McKay announced Relics as its winter 'blocks-buster' on Tuesday, a follow-up to Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. Towler and Harvey conceived of the exhibition in 2020. It took them two years to build in their workshop in Perth and they have since toured their Lego realms to the South Australia and Melbourne museums and New Zealand, adding as they go.
