The Inca Rail To Machu Picchu Is the Prettiest Train Ride in South America

A travel illness can ruin a dream vacation, which is why you should be sure to get vaccinated or acquire some medication before taking certain far-off journeys. A new report from GetGoing Insurance points out the most common travel illnesses and conditions to take extra precautions for, and some of the most common places real-life travelers get them.

No matter how many photos you’ve seen, nothing prepares you for the wonderment of Machu Picchu. Abandoned a century after completion and forgotten for over three, the Lost City is now Peru’s crowning relic of the Inca Empire. Any Machu Picchu vacation starts with a good night’s sleep. Named for its thermal springs, Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo) is the location for the majority of hotels near Machu Picchu. Otherwise, it’s possible to take a day trip from the Sacred Valley either by hopping on the train at Ollantaytambo or booking a tour. Across both areas, these are the best Machu Picchu hotels for exploring the sacred city of the Incas and connecting with Peruvian culture.

If you’re looking for an immersive outdoor experience in Cusco, Peru, the Mountain View Experience is pretty true to its name. These A-Frame cabins sit high in the stunning Andean mountains, offering breathtaking views and a rusting lodging experience without sacrificing comfort.

Machu Picchu is a must-see destination for any traveler. Located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru, this 15th-century Inca citadel stands roughly 8,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by lush vegetation and steep escarpments. It’s an extraordinarily beautiful setting that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visiting Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience that will leave you with lasting memories. From its stunning natural beauty to its mysterious archaeological wonders, there’s something for everyone at this incredible site. These Airbnbs near Machu Picchu will help you grasp the historical importance of this sacred site.

The Waikiki Hostel in Lima, Peru is situated in the heart of Miraflores, an upscale district known for its vibrant nightlife and trendy restaurants. This hostel offers a unique experience for travelers looking for a more social atmosphere than traditional hotels. The hostel common area consists of a variety of spaces such as a lounge, bar, kitchen, and terrace, providing ample opportunity to mingle with other guests. The hostel also boasts a beautiful rooftop terrace with seating and a small swimming pool, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.

You can’t expect to fit everything South America has to offer into one trip – or two or three or four, to be fair – and we don’t suggest you try. For those taking a big, extended trip around the continent you could join a few together, but remember that the distances you’ll be covering can be vast. Plus, there's lots to discover off the beaten track.

A year out was once the preserve of 18-year-olds seeking direction in life but today things have changed. Forget spending 12 months in a haze of alcohol, harem trousers and sunburn. Travel in your late 20s and early 30s is now an acceptable, and often far more rewarding, time to explore the world.

Backpacking can be one of the most rewarding ways to travel – with little more than your clothes on your back and an onward ticket in your hand. But where are the world’s best backpacking destinations? We asked our readers, and here are the results.

Forget Paris. Lyon is currently where it’s at, and whilst it’s reputation as France’s culinary capital is fully justified – twenty-two Michelin stars and counting – there’s a great deal more to this colourful city than gluttony.

Rough Guides authors and editors have made some pretty unconventional journeys over the years, but crash-landing in the steamy Peruvian jungle is a new one on us. That said, for an adventure as epic as the one you’re about to take, it’s an entirely appropriate beginning. For from the moment you set off from the crash site, your senses tingling and on high alert, you’ll be moving from one increasingly eventful encounter to another. To put it another way, you’re not going to be short of things to write about on the postcards you send home…

Taken from the Rough Guide to South America on a Budget , these are our top nine tips for backpacking South America.

Psychedelic tourism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there is nowhere on Earth where so many shaman serve such magical brews as they do in Peru. The typical setting for a session with an ayahuasquero or jungle shaman, is to meet him at a rainforest lodge on the edge of an Amazon tributory. After giving each guest a bitter, small gourd-full of psychotropic hallucinogen, the shaman begins to rattle, chant or drum. The effects can be challenging – the drug’s purging qualities mean many people vomit, while the colourful visions may be spiritual, sexual or just plain terrifying – but most people, helped by the shaman’s guiding songs and vision, make it beyond this to a healing and ecstatic session.