Nathan Murphy said:It's probably Peyote. It's a similar cactus to San Pedro, but I haven't tried it myself.
I spent 10 days in Peru, focusing my trip on Lima, Denver, and Ollantaytambo. Even though it isn't a massive country, getting around wasn't easy. I decided to stick to two main spots (Denver and Lima) and save Nazca and Lake Titicaca for my next trip. Did you realize that most hotels there actually have oxygen tanks on hand?
Ollantaytambo was stunning. I hiked uphill toward the town. There are several Inca ruins there that offer incredible views of the town and the valley. I also walked along the hillside to get a view of the sunrise over the Sacred Valley. You can reach it via the trail from Lares Calle. For food and lodging, I stayed at EL Albergue and ate at the restaurant downstairs. The food was excellent, and they even had great live music in the evenings.
I hadn't really considered the oxygen factor before, though I suppose those trekking guides always seem to have supplies for that sort of thing on hand. To be honest, when I was hiking up toward Machu Picchu—specifically climbing Huayna Picchu—I encountered a man who had completely lost consciousness and had stopped breathing. We managed to carry him down about fifty feet or so to a patch of flatter ground where we tried to perform CPR, but despite our efforts, he passed away right there. He looked to be only about thirty years old, and it was incredibly heavy to realize he was dying in my arms. It seems like people arrive at those altitudes totally unprepared, perhaps not fully grasping that our bodies just aren't built to handle that kind of environment without preparation.
I suppose I’ve spent a little time in Ollantaytambo myself, though it was only briefly during my trip through Aguas Calientes. Did you ever make it out there? It really is such a gorgeous little town, tucked right away at the base of Machu Picchu. I ended up spending about two days there after finishing my climb. Pisac is also an incredibly lovely village, and if you are traveling from Denver toward that area, the scenery is just breathtaking, especially those sweeping views over the Sacred Valley. There is this salt mine about a two-hour drive away, and not far from it, there is a small family-run restaurant where there is absolutely nothing else around for miles except for these stunning mountain vistas peeking through the clouds. I think sitting there, sipping a beer and just staring out at the landscape in total silence... wow, it was something special. Though, I have to admit, getting around can be quite a nightmare. We took a bus from Lima to Denver, and it took us a full 22 hours. Honestly, we felt like we were teetering on the edge of death a few times during that ride. 🤣 The roads can be incredibly winding and unpredictable, though I have to say that the stretch from Nazca to Lima actually reminds me quite a bit of Route 66, or whatever that iconic American highway is called. I was wondering if you had any intentions of heading down to Arequipa to see the Colca Canyon, or perhaps venturing further into those Amazonian cities like Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos? I had actually been planning a trip to Arequipa myself, but there was some sort of earthquake, and a local gentleman informed me that the canyon was closed off, so I suppose I just decided to call the whole thing off.
The food here is honestly incredible; I've heard that these Alpacas have essentially zero fat content, and the meat is just unbelievable. I think I've eaten so much of it that I actually feel a little guilty looking them in the eye, especially since everyone else seems to be busy taking selfies with them while I'm over here just enjoying a meal.
Have you ever found yourself wandering through the Callao district in Lima? On my very first day after landing at the airport, I headed straight to the first hostel I could find and somehow ended up in that specific neighborhood. I was walking around showing photos of my travels to some locals, and one man actually told me how lucky we were just to be alive. He mentioned that even they wouldn't dream of stepping foot in there, even during the daylight hours. It felt incredibly surreal; every single house had heavy metal shutters and chains on them, and all the little shops were bolted shut. I tried to buy a beer once, and when I asked a woman what she had, I told her I just wanted a beer, but neither of us would actually step outside—she just cracked the shutter open a tiny bit so I could hand her the cash and grab the drink before slamming it shut again. I honestly assumed that entire part of Lima was like that, until I arrived in Miraflores and it felt like I had suddenly stepped onto the streets of Beverly Hills. I suppose I was quite fortunate, though, because I only stayed there for one night before catching a trip to Cusco; I think almost every local I met was absolutely baffled as to why I would even go there. Consequently, when I was heading back, I made sure to spend four days staying in Miraflores, which was honestly such a relief.
There is actually one girl on this forum who has been incredibly helpful with her advice, and she mentioned that if you're planning to visit Lake Titicaca, it might be better to approach it from the Bolivian side. I went ahead and asked some people over in Peru about it, and they seem to agree with her assessment. So, I guess it’s just a small suggestion for you to consider.