If you are doing the 2 day & 1 night hike to Machu Picchu, you may be uncertain about what to pack. When you go on this hike, you have to pack a day bag and carry everything you will need for the entire 2 day hike. There are no porters, so you will need to carry everything yourself.
If you are uncertain about what to do with your main luggage that you brought to Peru with you, Alpaca Expeditions will store it for you in their office. We paid for an apartment in Cusco for an entire week to use as our base, so we left our main luggage in the apartment.
What I Wore During the Hike
Athletic leggings. I only brought one pair of athletic leggings and wore them on both days of the hike. What I LOVED about these leggings is that they had pockets along the side of the leg, so I was able to put my phone in there and quickly access it if I wanted to take a picture.
Athletic Shirt. I brought 2 shirts (one for each day of the hike).
Athletic Long-Sleeved Zipper-Up Shirt. I sometimes wore this over my shoulders to protect my skin from the sun too.
Baseball cap. This was a last minute add-on to my bag and I’m so glad I packed it since it protected my face from the sun.
Sunglasses.
Hiking shoes. I purchased these from a store dedicated to hiking. They had a little bit of water resistance, and were really good quality. They looked almost like regular sneakers with a tiny bit of ankle support. Wear whatever is extremely comfortable for you!
Hiking along the trail!
My backpack
The backpack I used was just a regular backpack from Walmart. It didn’t have hip straps, or a water bladder compartment, or anything fancy. It had LOTS of pockets for organizing though, which I liked.
If I were to do it again, I would get a bag with hip straps so that less weight is carried on the shoulders. The 1.5LT bottle of water that I carried with me was heavy. I personally don’t think a water bladder is necessary, because reaching into my bag to get my water was a nice excuse to stop and take a break.
My fancy backpack (just kidding it wasn’t fancy at all)
What to pack for the 2 day & 1 night hike to Machu Picchu
My packable down jacket. I didn’t need this during the trek, but it was nice to wear on those early mornings and in the evenings before and after the trek when it was a bit more chilly. It was REALLY light and small, so I didn’t even notice it in my bag.
1.5 LT of water. Alpaca Expeditions refilled our water bottles at lunchtime too.
Snacks. (I brought cliff bars, and a few cookies)
Sunscreen
Bug Spray. I personally didn’t use this at all, but I hear that the bugs can get bad. So bring it just in case.
Lip Chap with SPF
External Charger. This was great to recharge my phone (which I also used a camera).
First Aid Kit:
Diamox for the altitude
Prescription medicine
Blister pads
Bandaids
Pepto Bismol
Imodium
Ibuprofen (for headaches)
Lacrosse Ball/Tennis Ball. I didn’t actually pack this myself, but someone in our group did and it was AMAZING. I rolled my foot on it every evening to give it a massage.
Athletic T-shirts. I had one shirt for each day. Alpaca Expeditions gave us a free T-shirt on our travels which I wore that evening to supper and on our second day.
1 Cotton Leggings (I wore these out for supper)
Underwear for each day, plus extra.
Socks for each day, plus extra for the evenings.
Baseball hat
Poncho. Just in case it rained!
Passport. You will definitely need you passport, so make sure you bring this with you!
Money Belt. This is optional, but I used this as a place to put my passport and wallet, and I left it at the bottom of my backpack. On our lunch break, we were able to drop off our backpacks at the campsite while they gave us a tour of a near-by ruin. I didn’t want to bring my heavy backpack with me, but I also didn’t want to leave my passport and money unattended, so I wore my money belt instead.
View of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
On our second day of the hike, we were able to leave our items with the hotel in the morning and pick it up before we left. So I gave them all of my extra clothes & my external charger, which made a huge difference in the weight of my bag the next day!
Packing for an extra day in Ollantaytambo
After the hike, we spent an extra night in Ollantaytambo, so we had to pack for a whole extra day. The only “extra” items I packed was one extra T-shirt which I didn’t need because Alpaca Expeditions had given me a shirt. I also packed one extra pair of underwear and socks. I wore the same pants for the entire 3 days (lovely, I know. But it wasn’t that bad).
Have you hiked to Machu Picchu? What are your essentials for a hike?
Planning a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the main reasons why people visit. For good reason too, it was incredible. The scenery was breathtaking (literally!). There are a few options available for how you can visit Machu Picchu: a 4 day hike, a 2 day 1 night hike, or the bus.
The well-known option is the 4 day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu. But if you really want to do this – book it as SOON as the permits become available! They sell out MONTHS in advance. We had planned to go in May, and they sold out in October!
Another alternative is to do the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu. We opted to do this hike, and I LOVED it. The 1 night is spent in a hotel, so it is basically just a one day hike to Machu Picchu.
A third option (and doesn’t involve hiking the Inca Trail) is to take the bus to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes.
Here’s my experience doing the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu. Hopefully this will help you decide what option is best for you!
What to expect on the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu – the short version
Day 1: On this day, you are dropped off at KM 104, and you hike up to the Winay Wayna ruins. They make you lunch and give you a tour of ruins. If you do the 4 day Inca Trail hike, this is where day 4 of the hike starts. After lunch, you then hike towards the Sun Gate and arrive in the afternoon. After briefly stopping at Machu Picchu and taking a few pictures, you then take the bus into Aguas Calientes where you will spend the night.
Day 2: Today you wake up early (at 4:30AM!) and take the bus to Machu Picchu so that you can watch the sunrise. You also go on a guided tour of the Machu Ruins. If you booked your ticket, you can also climb Wayna Picchu at 10:00am!
Day 1: The Trek to Machu Picchu
Morning: Hike up to Winay Wayna Ruins
Our morning started off bright and early in Cusco for a 5:00AM pick-up time. We were driven to Ollantaytambo where they picked up passengers who had opted to spend the night there, and then dropped off at the Ollantaytambo train station.
At the train station, we were given goodie bags from our Guide which had juice, an orange, cookies, a small chocolate bar, and a 1LT bottle of water inside. This wasn’t expected and greatly appreciated, so we ate these on the train. And to top it all off, the train staff also gave us a drink and snack!
The train that we took was with PeruRail, and this had all been organized and booked through Alpaca Expeditions. The train ride was beautiful, and the bathroom was also REALLY nice.
Our stop for the 2 day 1 night Inca Trail trek was at KM 106. Normally this trek starts at KM 104, however due to landslides it was closed. This meant that the trek we were going to do was shorter, but steeper.
When we got off at our stop, we crossed the bridge and we showed them our passports. If you need to use the bathroom again, they have toilets here but we warned – they are squat toilets!! I was NOT prepared for this, and didn’t even know how to use it! I managed to get by though..
Our stop at KM 106
Starting the hike up the mountain
The first half of the trail was the most challenging. I was out of breath very quickly and had to take a lot of breaks. Being in good shape helps a lot. I probably should have worked out more before this trip!
After lots and lots and lots of switchbacks, we made it to our lunch stop! If you are doing the 4 day Inca Trail hike, this is the base camp on your third night. When we arrived for lunch, The Alpaca Expeditions team had already set up the tents on the campsite for the hikers doing this trek.
First half of the trek looked like this the entire time
Exploring the Winay Wayna Ruins
When we arrived at our lunch spot, we had time to sit and relax. I used the bathroom again (this time the toilets had JUST been cleaned!) AND I ran into a few llamas!! However, I discovered after I returned from the bathroom, that Alpaca Expedition have their own toilets that are in tents, and in MUCH better condition. You can actually sit on them! How they carry them up the mountain, I have no idea.
An Inca Trail Llama just casually chilling
Before lunch, we went on a tour of the Winay Wayna ruins, which was a 5 minute walk away from the campsite. We had the option to leave our backpacks at their campsite, which I took advantage of. Since the bags are in the open, I didn’t want to risk it and wore my fanny pack with my passport in it, put my sunscreen and phone/camera in the pockets of my leggings, and carried a bottle of water with me.
The Winay Wayna ruins are SO incredible. Words and pictures can’t describe how high up we were, and how the scenery went on forever.
Winay Wayna ruins – it was sooo steep! So incredible!
Lunchtime!
After our tour of the ruins, we headed back to our campsite for lunch. What I really appreciated about the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu with Alpaca Expeditions was the attention to small details. Before lunch, they set up small little basins of water and little soap pumps – 1 for each person – so that we could properly wash our hands!
Now it was time for lunch. IT WAS SO GOOD. How on earth they bring enough food for everyone up the mountain, and prepare it, is beyond me. They are truly superheros. I was blown away by how good the food was, and it was served buffet style so we could have as much as we wanted. They also refilled our water bottles for us.
Only some of our delicious meal.
Hike to the Sun Gate
After lunch we made our way to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. This took another few hours, but this section of the trail was much flatter, shadier, and easier. If you take the 4 day Inca Trail hike, you will be waking up at 3AM to hike this trail (in the dark), so that you arrive at the Sun Gate for sunrise. I’m personally really glad we did the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu, because we were able to do this hike in the daytime.
Hiking towards the Sun Gate
The Sun Gate
Once we got to the Sun Gate, it was about 1pm. A few things to keep in mind:
The view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate isn’t the view that you see in all of the pictures. I felt a little silly asking if the mountain that I saw in the distance was THE mountain.
If you arrive in the morning it will most likely be so cloudy you won’t see it at all.
We arrived in the afternoon, so it was a lot less busy – but there were still A LOT of people there. I’m not sure how busy it would be if a bunch of tour groups started arriving early in the morning. We found a more quiet spot and sat there for a bit looking at the scenery and taking it all in.
The only way to enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is if you hike in. When you arrive at the Machu Picchu site by bus, you would have to hike UP to the Sun Gate. Not worth the over 1 hour, uphill hike to get there, in my opinion. But at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you!
The view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
Arriving at Machu Picchu!
After the Sun Gate, we hiked 45 minutes downhill (YAY!) to where you see the famous view of Machu Picchu. We weren’t allowed to go explore the ruins, but they gave us plenty of time to take pictures and walk around in a few designated areas before we exited Machu Picchu. Afterwards, we took the bus down to Aguas Calientes.
Before you leave Machu Picchu, make sure to get your passport stamped! It’s just for fun. There’s a table when you exit with a stamp on it, so you can do it yourself.
Spending the night in Aguas Calientes
That evening, we checked into our hotel and had enough time for a shower before dinner at 6:30pm. You won’t have enough time to go to the Hot Springs. They say that the Hot Springs are full of pee anyway, so don’t bother bringing your bathing suit for this trek!
The hotel we stayed in (The Cabana) was my favourite hotel during my entire trip of Peru. The rooms were sooooo luxurious. And the hot shower after a long day of hiking, and a comfy bed to sleep in? AMAZINGGG.
Day 2 of the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu.
The bus to Machu Picchu
Day 2 started at 4:30AM for breakfast. Our guide met us at 5:00AM, where he led us to the line to wait for our bus.
Some people arrive at 3:00AM to wait for their bus so that they can be at Machu Picchu the second it opens. Don’t bother doing this. The sun doesn’t start to peek out over the hills until about 7:30AM. The buses come so frequently, that if you get in line at 5:00AM, then you won’t need to wait in line for a long time. The gates to Machu Picchu don’t open until approximately 6:00AM anyway!
The bathrooms at Machu Picchu
Thankfully they have bathrooms outside of the entrance to Machu Picchu that you can use for 2./s. The line for the girls is ALWAYS long (when is it not?!), but it moves quickly and they are clean (and NOT squat toilets!!). If you need to use the washrooms while you are in Machu Picchu, you will need to exit and then re-enter.
Machu Picchu
Once we entered Machu Picchu, our guide took us to the exact same location we were the day before so that we could watch the sun rise. The mountain was entirely covered in clouds, and as the sun rose they slowly disappeared. It was so beautiful, and I’m so glad that we got to see it twice.
We then got our two hour guided tour of Machu Picchu. This is something I would highly recommend doing, because they pointed out a lot of things that could easily be missed. After the tour, this is where your tour with Alpaca Expeditions ends and you are left on your own to explore the Ruins or hike up Wayna Picchu.
Wayna Picchu
If you want to hike up Wayna Picchu, you will need a permit for this. Alpaca Expeditions gives you the option to include this when you book your hike.
Before hiking up Wayna Picchu (which started at 10:00AM), we exited Machu Picchu so that we could use the bathrooms. It is a 20 minute walk to the bathrooms from the beginning of the Wayna Picchu trek, but getting back into the park was quick.
I enjoyed hiking Wayna Picchu SO much, and found it easier to do than the first half of the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu. Read more about my experience here.
Whether you hike Wayna Pichu, or explore the Machu Picchu ruins on your own, you will have to leave the park at 1:oo PM so that you can catch the bus back to Aguas Calientes, and then your train back to Cusco (or Ollantaytambo). Don’t be scared of the bus line. They are long, but move really fast – we waited 15 minutes.
When we arrived back in Aguas Calientes, we got our bags back from the hotel. We had just over an hour to eat, but since we didn’t want to risk missing our train, we ate at the train station.
Staying in Ollantaytambo
If you are doing the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu, you will most likely return to Cusco at around 8:00pm. I really wanted to explore the town of Ollantaytambo, so we had asked Alpaca Expeditions if we could end our trip in Ollantaytambo. They were very accommodating and even offered to pick us up the next day in Ollantaytambo at 6pm! If you decide to spend an extra night in Ollantaytambo (either before or after the trek) make sure you let Alpaca Expeditions know in advance, and remind your guide.
The town of Ollantaytambo is a 10 minute walk away from the train station, and there were a few restaurants and shops along the way. A lot of other travellers stop in Ollantaytambo and walk into town as well.
I was SO happy we spent the extra night in Ollantaytambo, because we arrived at 5:30pm, and had the evening to walk around the town, eat supper, have another hot shower and be in bed early! It was a relaxing way to end a busy day. Read more about Ollantaytambo here.
4 day or 2 day hike to Machu Picchu?
If you are planning to go to Machu Picchu, and debating on whether you should take the bus, or go on a 4 day or 2 day hike to Macchu Pichu, then I hope my experience helped with that decision! I can’t compare the two hikes since I only did the 2 day hike to Machu Picchu. I highly recommend Alpaca Expeditions to book your hike, they were incredible.
What I liked about the 2 day 1 night hike to Machu Picchu was that we got to see Machu Picchu twice. We also had the opportunity to go up Wayna Picchu without being overly tired. I heard that the second day of the 4 day hike is very challenging (all uphill, and at a very high altitude). Based on how tired I was on the first day of hiking to Machu Picchu, I think I would have had trouble doing it. It was also nice to sleep in a bed and have a hot shower at the end of the day. It’s all up to you and what you prefer!
Have you hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, or planning to go there? Let me know what you did (or are planning to do) in the comments below!
Packing in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru takes carry-on packing to a whole new level. There are SO many different climates in Peru that you have to pack for hot sunny days, and cold rainy days ,and everything in between. Somehow I managed to do it, and even have room to bring stuff home with me. Below is a list of what I packed in a carry on for 2 weeks in Peru.
What we Did on Our Trip
To give you an idea of what types of activities we did to pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru, we spent a couple of days in Lima, went on a boat tour in Paracas and sandboarding in Huachachina, and did the 2 day, 1 night hike to Machu Picchu. We went to Rainbow Mountain, and did day trips to the Sacred Valley which also required a small amount of hiking.
My Luggage
To pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru, I used a small carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Anything that I needed during my flight I put in my backpack. For anything else I didn’t need during the flight I put in my suitcase.
While I was in Peru, my backpack was used on the trek and as a day bag/purse.
My backpack was just a regular sized backpack from Walmart. What I love about it is how many compartments it has to organize everything. HOWEVER, I would NOT recommend this bag for multi-day hikes up steep mountains. It doesn’t have hip straps or a water bladder or anything fancy. I didn’t mind not having a water bladder (it gave me an excuse to take a break while getting my water bottle out). But I wish it had hip straps to take the weight off my shoulders (it got heavy with 1.5LT of water in it!)
My backpack in all of it’s glory
Clothes to pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru
Packable Down Jacket. This was one of the best items I brought with me, and it’s PERFECT to pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru. It rolled up SO small. Once we got to a higher altitude (Cusco and the Sacred Valley) and the weather started to vary more, I was able to take it off and put it in my bag when it got warmer. I wore it every evening. Oh, and it has zipper pockets. Love. Just make sure you get one with a hood for added warmth and comfort.
Fleece Sweater. I originally brought this for the hike to Rainbow Mountain, but I ended up wearing this to bed every night since it was SO COLD in our Cusco apartment at night. I ended up buying an Alpaca sweater and wore this to Rainbow mountain instead.
Athletic Wear long sleeve zipper-up shirt. I wore this pretty much every day during the trip. It was good to wear in hotter weather to protect my skin from the sun, and was warm enough to wear over my tank tops during the day.
4 workout shirts. I re-wore a lot of these shirts throughout Peru. Since they were quick drying I was able to hand wash a couple of them at night and they’d be dry the next day.
3 Cotton t-shirts. I wore these as sleep shirts each night.
1 dressy tank top.
3 pairs of work out capris (two long and one 3/4 length). The long leggings I wore during Machu Picchu hikes, Rainbow Mountain, and on day trips in the Sacred Valley. They were amazing because they had pockets in them, so I would put my phone (that I used as a camera) in them for easy access. I brought 3/4 length workout leggings as well which I wore to go sandboarding in Huachachina, and a couple of other times during the trip when the weather was warmer.
2 pairs of cotton leggings. I wore these on the plane and bus rides, and in the evening after our hike to Machu Picchu.
Fleece Pyjama Bottoms. I wore these in Cusco since it was so cold at night in our apartment. It gets hot during the day and cooler at night, so bring something warm.
2 shorts. I brought one pair of cotton shorts to wear as sleep bottoms, and other pair of shorts to wear during the day in the warmer climate areas (like Paracas, Huachachina and Lima).
Hiking Shoes. Good hiking shoes are a MUST. The ones I brought were by the band Merrell (similar to these ones) Every foot is different, so the shoes I wore might not work for everyone. My tips for buying hiking shoes are:
Go into a store and try on what feels the most comfortable. I bought them from a store dedicated to hiking so they were really good quality.
Make sure they have a great return policy, so that you can try them out. I could wear mine inside for 90 days to test them out.
Crocs. I probably could have left these at home to be honest. They gave me blisters on the first day wearing them. They were meant to wear in the airports, after swimming, and while wandering around Cusco or Lima. If you have small comfortable shoes, then bring them (if you have the room) to give yourself a break from your hiking shoes. In the end, I wore my hiking shoes everywhere and had no issues.
Slippers. They were cozy to wear in the apartment each evening, and on the plane rides.
Bathing Suit. I thought I’d be doing more swimming than what I actually did. I brought them for the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, but our tour group didn’t take us there because they said that the hot springs were full of pee. I did wear my bathing suit in Huachachina, though, so it did come in handy!
Underwear. I was there for 14 days, and brought 16 pairs. Overkill? Maybe.
Athletic socks. Everywhere I read said to bring Smartwool hiking socks for hiking. I couldn’t bring myself to spend over $10 for one pair of socks, so I purchased athletic socks from Wal-Mart that had cushioning on the heels and balls of feet. They were really comfy, and I didn’t get any blisters from my hiking shoes!
2 Sports Bras. So comfortable, and great for hiking and getting all sweaty in!
Baseball cap. I wore this everyday. It kept the sun out of my face and eyes.
Winter Hat. I brought a hat with me for the hike to Rainbow Mountain. I didn’t end up using it, because I bought an Alpaca Hat when I was in Peru and wore that instead!
Gloves. I DID end up using these, only because I didn’t buy a pair of Alpaca gloves when I was there. The gloves I brought were able to be used with cell phones, so I didn’t have to take them off when I wanted to use the camera on my phone.
Scarf. This was also rolled up in my carry-on backpack. The only time I really used this was during the hike to Rainbow Mountain.
What I wore around Lima, and in Paracas: Dressy shirt, shorts & my hiking shoes (because my crocs had given me blisters).My outfits that I wore for hiking and day trips: Athletic, moisture wicking tank top, long sleeved zipper-up shirt mostly to protect me from the sun), leggings, hiking shoes, sunglasses and my baseball cap.My rainbow mountain outfit: My down jacket that I LOVED and wore everyday, my Alpaca hat, and my athletic tank top, long-sleeved zipper-up shirt, and leggings.
Toiletries/Accessories
Packing your toiletries in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru can be a bit challenging because of the liquid restrictions on airplanes. The key tips for this is to purchase travel sized liquids.
I also put my liquids in a spot that I can easily grab them while I’m going through airport security.
Toilet paper. Peru toilets don’t always have toilet paper, so bringing this with you everywhere you go is essential.
Hand sanitizer. A must.
Hairbrush
Hair ties
Deodorant. To save on space, I brought a travel sized deodorant.
Shampoo & Conditioner (travel sized, of course!)
Disposable Razor
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Contacts (for those glasses wearers out there). I brought two sets of contacts just in case.
Contact lens solution. I brought two travel sized bottles since I was going away for two weeks and one small bottle wasn’t enough.
Eye drops. If you wear contacts, or get dry eyes, then these help.
Sunscreen. The higher altitude makes the sun SO much stronger. I brought SPF 110 with me because I’m really pale and burn easily, but it’s all up to you!
Sunglasses.
Bug spray. So I heard that the bugs are super aggressive in the jungle climates on the Inca Trail. I may have gotten one bug bite, so I didn’t find them that bad. I was wearing my athletic long-sleeved zipper-up shirt for most of the hike (to protect me from the sun), so that may have helped protect me from the bugs too.
Moisturizer. The higher altitudes makes your skin literally dry right up and shed from your body. I didn’t really notice it on myself, but everyone else who I was travelling with did. So if your skin tends to be more dry, this will definitely help.
First Aid/Medicine
I carried around my little first-aid kit with me everywhere, and put it in my backpack so that I could easily access it during the flight too.
Diamox. This is used to prevent altitude sickness, and you get this from your doctor.
Any other type of prescription medicine that you may take.
Ibuprofen and/or Advil
Imodium
Gravol. We had to take an overnight bus along really twisty and turny roads. This helped SO much. I got really tired from it too, which helped me sleep on the bus.
Pepto bismol
Blister Stick
Blister pads
Band-aids (big and small-sized)
Alcohol wipes
Polysporin
Thermometer (maybe a bit overkill, but just in case someone got a fever or got really sick).
Electronics
Phone/Camera. I just brought my phone with me to use as a camera. I carried my phone with me, but my leggings had pockets that I would put it in while I was hiking. If I was going through a busy area where I didn’t need my phone, I would put it in my backpack.
Adaptor. Peru has the same sized outlets as North America, just a different voltage. We were able to charge our phones without any issues. If you are using a hair straightener then you will need one.
External charger. THIS SAVED MY LIFE. Ok, I’m probably being a bit dramatic, but on our first night in Cusco we got separated from our group and couldn’t find our apartment. We were using an offline map and translator to have locals help us find our apartment, and my phone was almost dead. If it wasn’t for my external charger, my phone would have died. We would have had no way of knowing where we were, the directions to get to our apartment, and how to communicate with others. We would have been completely lost, and probably still trying to find our way around Cusco. So, to make a long story short, get an external charger, it is worth every penny.
Entertainment. I listen to audiobooks on my phone, or watch Netflix shows that I downloaded in advance. Other people in our group brought Gameboys. If all depends on what you like!
Other Essentials
Money Belt. I put my passport, health cards, credit cards and money in this (and boarding pass when I was travelling in the airport). For the most part I would put it in my money belt at the bottom of my backpack. If I didn’t want to bring my entire backpack with me, and wanted to make sure my passport was safe, then I would wear my money belt underneath my clothing.
Travel wallet. I would only put the money I needed for the day in my travel wallet, and a copy of my travel heath card. I left this at the bottom of my backpack (or you can put it in a sock, like what some people in our group did).
Luggage lock. Sometimes you will need to store your bags with your hotel, hostel, or AirBnb. I lock up my bag just to be on the safe side. I NEVER leave my passport in these. Your passport is literally the most important thing you will bring with you on your trip, so I take my passport with me if I need to store my bags anywhere.
Pen. You will need this on the airplane to fill out your customs declaration form.
Plastic Bag. For dirty laundry.
Cliff bars.These came in handy on long bus rides, on the airplane, during hikes, and any time when food couldn’t be found quickly enough. I brought 7 and ate all of them.
Water Bottle. I brought a 1.5 LT water bottle with me and found this to be plenty. During our travels, we would buy a really large bottle of water at a local store (they had 7 LT bottles!) and re-fill our smaller water bottles to save money and the environment.
Neck pillow. This was attached to the outside of my backpack during the flight, so it didn’t take up any space. I can’t fly without a neck pillow, I get too uncomfortable without one. Blow-up neck pillows take up less space, but I personally don’t find them comfy enough.
Fleece blanket. I have a small travel blanket that rolls up into a really small bag that I like to bring on flights in case they are freezing. I store it in my book bag so that I can access it quickly and easily.
Microfibre Towel. This came in handy when I went swimming in Huachachina and when my towels hadn’t dried yet in Cusco. it also came in a little bag that was really tiny.
Rain Poncho. You can get these from the dollar store, and they’re really tiny and take up no space. We luckily had great weather the entire time we were there, so we didn’t need these.
Rubber Ball. After a long day of hiking, it feels really good to use a rubber ball to massage your feet.
I hope that this helped give you ideas on how to pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Peru! Have you been to Peru before? What are you essential items that you would recommend bringing? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
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Exploring the Sacred Valley in Peru is an experience that I will always remember. The scenery is absolutely stunning. If you are planning to take day trips to the Sacred Valley from Cusco, or would like to know how to get to and from Cusco and Ollantaytambo (the gateway to Machu Picchu), then this post will help you know how to travel to the Sacred Valley safely and easily.
How to go on day trips to the Sacred Valley from Cusco
There are a couple of options for how to explore the Sacred Valley from Cusco.
Tour Groups: There are lots of guided day trips to the Sacred Valley. The tour guide will explain the sites to you. These are a great option if you are a solo traveler, or want to have each site explained to you. The only downside is that your time at each site is limited.
Private Tours: These are great option if you are traveling with a group of people, since the more people that go the lower the cost.
Taxis: Similar to private tours, it’s more affordable if you go with other people. I would only recommend going with a registered taxi company that specifically offers day tours. Using a taxi company is how I went on day trips to the Sacred Valley from Cusco, AND how I traveled from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco after exploring Machu Picchu. They are easy, safe and reliable and one of my favourite memories of Peru. I explain how in detail below.
How to go on day trips to the Sacred Valley in a Taxi
With a lot of research (and I mean A LOT), I stumbled across a taxi company called Taxidatum. They had amazing reviews on TripAdvisor, and my experience with them was also great.
On their website, they have a menu called “Taxi Tours” where you can choose which day trip of the Sacred Valley you want to go on. When you make the booking you can indicate where you want to be picked up, dropped off, what time you want to start the tour (and any other special requests).
If you want to start a tour in Cusco and end your tour in Ollantaytambo, you can do that.
Or, if you want to hire a taxi to take you to a certain location, they will provide a quote.
Tour Group or Taxi: which one to choose?
The difference between going with Taxidatum and a Tour Group is that Taxidatum will only drive you to each site, and wait in the car while you explore them on your own. They don’t go inside the sites with you and explain them to you, and most of the time they don’t speak a lot of English. They are there to simply drive you around.
With a tour group, you are either with other people (if you go with a group), or you can pay additional money to have a private tour. They go in the sites with you and explain them to you, but they cost a lot more money depending on how many people are in your group.
If you go with a taxi, you will need to find a guide once you arrive at a site IF you want it explained to you. Don’t worry, once you arrive at a site, a guide will find you and ask you if you want a tour. You will need to pay the tour guide directly for this, since it’s not a part of Taxidatum.
If you decide you want guided tours of each area, comparing the costs of tour companies and taxis may be beneficial.
Costs
Costs for taxi tours
The cost to do a day tour around the Sacred Valley in a taxi was 200 soles ($65 USD). This is the cost for the taxi, not per person. A van is more expensive, but you need to contact Taxidatum to provide you with the price.
To pay for the tour, you will give the money to the driver after it is over. There are no negotiations involved. The price of a tour is set once you make the booking online.
Since we opted to explore each site on our own, we didn’t have to pay additional costs for a guide. At Pisac Ruins, a guide said that it would cost about 60 soles for a one hour tour.
Costs for group tours
The price for day tours with a tour group vary in price. If you opt for a guided private tour, the costs will be lower the more people in your group. These are much more affordable if you are traveling solo or with one other person.
What to expect: Our experience going on day tours of the Sacred Valley in a Taxi
We went on three separate day tours and opted to just explore each site on our own. We still had an AMAZING experience and never felt rushed. I liked how we could choose what time our tour started, so we could go during the less busy times.
Every taxi we used was in excellent condition, clean and had a safe driver. The drivers were SO nice. Despite the language barrier they still attempted to point stuff out, and offered to take our pictures at viewpoints.
We could lock our bags in the car too.
The cute animals we saw at the Awanacancha animal sanctuary
The day tours of the Sacred Valley that we did
Pisac Ruins, Pisac Market, Ccochahuasi and Awanacancha Animal Sanctuary. I asked to be picked up at 9:00AM at our apartment in Cusco, and the tour lasted until about 4:00PM. As we were driving along, we went by the Awanacancha Animal Sanctuary which I had initially opted out of doing, but he could tell how excited we were to see it and stopped there for us on our way back home.
View from the Pisac Ruins!
Salt flats, Moray, and Chinero Market. Since we had spent the night in Ollantaytambo, we wanted to spend the morning exploring the area first. We decided to have Taxidatum pick us up in Ollantaytambo at 12:30pm. We were dropped off in Cusco at 5:30pm.
Salt Flats
We also used Taxidatum to take us to the water show in Lima, and for our airport transfers. However, for getting to and from the water show in Lima it would have been more convenient to use an Uber. With Taxidatum you need to book a pick up time. We could have spent a lot more time at the water show. If we had used Uber we could have just booked a ride home once we were ready.
Water show in Lima!
Tips
Don’t get in a taxi until the driver confirms your name. While we were waiting for Taxidatum to pick us up, a lot of other taxis kept stopping and asking us if we wanted a ride. If you don’t know the language, this can be confusing. Taxidatum will have your name, so make sure they tell you what your name is before you get in.
Remember the license plate of the taxi you are taking. It’s easier to find your taxi after you are finished exploring a site.
Download the Google Translate App. Since the majority of drivers do not speak English, this will help a lot! Download the Spanish translations so you can use it offline. For example, we wanted to know if we could roll the windows down in the car, so I was able to type it into the app and ask him. Learn more useful Spanish phrases here.
I can only speak about my experience with Taxidatum. There are other registered taxis that you could probably go with, but I don’t know what their services or prices are like. The reason I went with Taxidatum is because their reviews were very good on TripAdvisor, and the booking process was very straightforward.
Have you been to Peru before, and did you use a taxi or tour groups on your trip? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
When travelling to Peru (or any country where you don’t know the language), it’s REALLY helpful to learn a few basic phrases/words to help you out. Below are useful Spanish words to know for travelling in Peru.
Before I went to Peru for 2 weeks, I made the mistake of not really taking the time to learn some of the language beforehand. Instead I had to quickly learn as I went. I fumbled along and heavily depended on Google Translate and other people to get me though.
So to make life a bit easier for you, here are some useful Spanish phrases and words thatI used almost everyday while traveling in Peru.
Basic Essentials
Name: Nombre. Even though it sounds like “number”, they are actually asking for your name. If you meet someone, you order from anywhere, or if you have a reservation, etc. you may be asked what your name is.
Hello: Buenos Dias/Buenos Noches/Hola. Depending on the time of day, they will either say “good morning” or “good evening/night”, or just “hello.”
Please: por favor
Thank you: gracias
Yes: Ci
No:No. You will be saying this A LOT in the main tourist areas, since you will be approached to buy something constantly. A firm “no, gracias” will help!
Bathroom: Bano (“Ban-yo”)
Numbers
Really useful Spanish words to know for travelling in Peru are numbers! Learn numbers 1-20, and higher if you can.
If you ask how much something is, it helps to know numbers so that you know what their response is! I carried around a small notebook and pen with me, just in case I didn’t understand I could get them to write it down.
At the markets it is accepted, and expected, to negotiate. It will help to know a few numbers to communicate how much you would like to pay for an item.
In Peru, you negotiate the rates for your taxi (BEFORE you get in it!). We had pre-booked all of our taxies with Taxidatum (read about my experience and how to do day-tours with them here), and used Uber, so luckily we didn’t need to negotiate rates with taxies. But if you decide you want to hail a taxi and ask them how much the taxi ride is, and then what you want to pay, knowing your numbers will help!
Food
The menu: carta. Luckily, a lot of restaurants in the main tourist areas had English translations underneath, or had separate English menus. However, when the menu was entirely in Spanish I used Google Translate to help me out.
Would you like a drink with that?: Quieres una bebida? This is something that you will probably be asked if you order a meal in a restaurant.
Take-away: para llevar. The portion sizes in Peru are massive, so we found it helpful to ask for our food to be put in a take-away container so that we could eat some of it the next day.
Bottle of water WITHOUT carbonation: botella de agua SIN gas. Bubbly water is really common in Peru, so if you want normal flat water, this is what you ask for.
Bottle of water WITH carbonation: botella de agua CON gas.
Coffee: café
Milk: leche
Sugar: azúcar
Without: sin
With: con
Beer: cerveza
Spicy: picante
Tip: If you’re travelling with a group, they will usually put all of your meals on the same bill.
We tried the ENTIRE trip to get them to split up our bill. We tried to say it in Spanish in tons of different ways, but with no luck. So… keep that in mind if you’re travelling with multiple people!
In the end, what we found what worked the best was after we got our bill we would go up to the cash, point to what we ate on the bill, and take turns saying “I would like to pay for this” (Me gustaria pager por).” If you have experience with this, and how you asked for it – please let me know in the comments below!
How much does it cost?: cuanto cuesta? I also found out that just asking “cuanto?” helped when I couldn’t remember the entire sentence.
And again, it helps to know numbers up to at least 20, so that when they reply to you with a cost you will understand how much it is!
Directions
As a traveler, getting lost can happen soooo easily, so knowing directions can definitely help. Even if it’s just to find the bathroom!
Where is: donde esta…?
Left: Izquierda
Right: derecho
Here: aqui
Exit: salida
Tips
Download the Google Translate app on your phone.
Download the Spanish translation manual on Google Translate so that you can use it anytime and without wifi.
I wrote in the app what I wanted to say, and either showed them the translation or tried to say it myself. Sometimes, they would type their response to me in the app.
In restaurants, I could use the camera to instantly translate menus and signs from Spanish to English. It definitely helped A LOT.
Have a positive attitude
Getting angry at someone having trouble understanding you does not help. Remember, you are a guest in their country, and also representing your own country, so be respectful and patient. A smile and hand gestures ( and google translate! ) can go a long way.
However, if you feel like you are being led into a dangerous situation, then that’s a whole different story. Aside from that, it was actually quite an inspiring experience communicating with others who are unable to speak the same language, and how at the end of the day we are still able to (somewhat) understand each other.
Do you have any useful Spanish words to know for travelling in Peru, or anywhere else in the world? Let me know in the comments below!
If you’re planning a trip to New York City, The New York CityPASS may be a good option depending on what New York attractions you want to see, and how long you are staying in New York. You get free admission into New York’s most popular attractions, so this may help save money too.
Below I will share what New York attractions are offered in the pass, and what we were able to do in 4 days. Hopefully this will help you decide whether it will be worth it or not!
The list of New York attractions that are offered in the pass are:
The Empire State Building
American Museum of Natural History
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Top of the Rock Observations Deck
Guggenheim Museum
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
What passes to choose from
You can buy it online before you go, and there are two passes to choose from:
New York C3: You can ONLY choose 3 attractions above. This is the cheapest option.
New York CityPASS: The more expensive option, you can see a total of 6 attractions.
However! 3 of the attractions MUST be the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For your other 3 attractions, you must choose between:
Top of the Rock OR Guggenheim Museum
Statue of Liberty OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
9/11 Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
So if you want to go into Top of the Rock AND the Guggenheim, for example, you can’t go to both using the New York CityPASS – you have to choose between the two.
Which New York attractions did I see in 4 days?
On my trip to New York, I chose to get the full New City CityPASS because a lot of the attractions on the list were places I wanted to visit.
I opted to get the full pass. We were in New York for 4 days, but did not manage to do all of the attractions.
This is what New York CityPASS attractions we saw in 4 days:
American Museum of Natural History
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Top of the Rock
CircleLine Sightseeing Cruise (goes by the Statue of Liberty and under the Brooklyn Bridge)
9/11 Memorial & Museum
What to Expect at each New York CityPASS Attraction
The Empire State Building
We had originally planned to go up in the morning, since with this ticket you can then return the same day later at night. This is the only attraction that we missed (we ran out of time).
We saw the Empire State Building quite a lot while we were walking around New York. We also saw it from Top of the Rock, so I personally feel like we didn’t miss out.
Empire State Building lit up
American Museum of Natural History
There was a line to get into the museum, but since we had our Pass we got to skip the line.
This museum is huuuuuge, so if you plan to go make sure you reserve pretty much the whole day for this. We were there for FOUR hours, and only saw 2 out of 4 floors. They have a really cool dinosaur exhibit on the first floor, which took up a lot of our time.
The museum was featured in a few movies. If you’ve watched Night at The Museum, you will recognize a few exhibits. There will probably be more people than usual taking photos if it too.
This statue was featured in the movie “Night at the Museum.” It was a pretty popular exhibit at the museum, and this photo took awhile to get without other people in it!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
I made the mistake of trying to see this Museum on the same day as the Natural History Museum. This museum is soooo gorgeous. I loved the artwork, and they have a rooftop bar you can go to (which also has really great views of Central Park).
Again, definitely allow yourself plenty of time to wander around this museum, since it has so much to offer. You could definitely spend an entire day here.
Look how gorgeous it is!
Top of the Rock
In my opinion, the views from Top of the Rock are better than what they would be from the Empire State Building, because from Top of the Rock you can SEE the Empire State Building! You can also see Central Park, which is really cool.
With our passes, we still had to wait. I had originally planned to go up here to see the sunset, so we arrived at 5pm. They gave us a scheduled time we would be allowed to go up (at 7pm), and by the time we got up it was 8pm. The sun had already set, so I only got to see the views at night-time. It was still beautiful, but if you want to go up at a specific time, call ahead (or visit their box office) to book your time slot.
Night-time view from Top of The Rock
Guggenheim Museum
This museum has impressive and modern art and architecture. Since the New York City Pass makes you choose between this attraction and the Top of Rock, we weren’t able to go into this one (unless if we paid admission to go in).
If you don’t have a lot of time, they have a route you can take so that you can see their permanent collection in an hour. But really though, why rush?
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
With the New York City Pass, you also have to choose between this attraction and the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise. We chose the Cruise, but from the boat we got really close to the Statue of Liberty.
On one Island is the Statue of Liberty and on Ellis Island there is an Immigration Museum. Allow about 5 hours if you want to visit both islands. If you want to go into the crown, you will need to pay extra money.
CircleLine Sightseeing Cruise
We choose this option (instead of the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island). This cruise departs multiple times a day, so it’s easy to fit into your schedule. There is a wait to get on the boat, and the tour is about 2 hours long.
I enjoyed this cruise since it gave us great skyline views of New York City. We went by the Statue of Liberty, and got to go under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge!
Statue of Liberty and New York Skyline view from the CircleLine Cruise
Intrepid Museum
We didn’t go to this Museum, since we had decided to go to the 9/11 Museum instead. This museum is RIGHT next to where the CircleLine Sightseeing Cruise departs from. If you’re in the area it would be easy to do the cruise and this museum in the same day. Just like the other museums on this list, make sure you plan to be here for most of the day.
One of the Ships at The Intrepid Museum
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Seeing the memorial itself is free and outside of the museum. If you want to go inside of the museum, then you will need to use your pass.
The Memorial itself is very beautiful. If you go in the evening, the pools are lit up.
We also went into the Museum, and it was honestly one of the most memorable aspects of the trip. I would highly recommend going. We were there for about 3 hours. The exhibits were very powerful, and I got a bit emotional. I still remember them to this day.
The Memorial during the day (at night it is lit up)
Tips for the New York Attractions
If you are going for a short trip (2-4 days), I would recommend getting the New York C3 Pass. It’s all you will probably have time for. We were there for 4 days and went into 5 attractions. (read about what else we did in New York City!)
If you plan to go to a museum, make that as your ONLY planned activity that day. I had mistakenly planned to go to TWO museums in one day. There is definitely not enough time to do two. If you do, you will have to rush, which isn’t fun.
Even though the New York CityPASS says that you skip the lines, you will still need to wait. It did speed things up, but since New York is so busy it mostly just puts you in the faster line.
Don’t Rush!! My biggest tip is to not rush. Plan 1 New York attraction per day – MAYBE 2 at the most. Experiencing New York in line-ups won’t give you that true, authentic feel of a city. So if any of the New York Attractions offered in the New York CityPASS are places you really want to visit, weigh out your options and decide whether getting the pass will be worth it or not for you.
I hope my experiences and tips helped you with planning your trip to New York! Depending on what you are planning to see, the New York CityPASS may help you save some money.
Have you been to New York, or any of these attractions? Which one was your favourite, or what would you recommend doing there? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
Winnipeg is definitely one of the most under-rated cities in Canada. Before I went, I’ll admit that I didn’t really have much interest in going because I didn’t know what it had to offer.
I am SO glad I went.
The historic architecture, artsy vibe and abundance of culture is what makes Winnipeg so, so amazing. There are sooo many beautiful outdoor parks to explore, a zoo (with polar bears!), an abundance of museums and historic architecture, AND a Nordic Thermal Spa (to name a few). I already want to go back!
If you are planning a trip to Canada, Winnipeg should definitely be on your list of places to go. If you are already planning a trip there, or trying to decide if you should go there or not, then check out how you can spend two days there.
So many cool sculptures!
Day 1
Explore The Forks
This is an absolutely beautiful and historic area by the Red River and Assiniboine River. You can eat and go shopping in the Forks Market, and walk around the pathways along the river and also across the bridge. I could have spent an entire morning there exploring.
The Market at The ForksThe Forks
Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The architecture of this museum is stunning, and the museum’s content is so important. At the top level, there are amazing views of Winnipeg which are worth checking out. What surprised me though was how the museum is laid out. To get to each level you will need to walk up lots of ramps. While you’re walking on the ramps, the only thing to look at is the architecture of the building since there are no exhibits. The floor space gets smaller and smaller the higher you go up. The content is dark and heavy at the beginning, and gets more light and inspiring by the top level which I really liked.
The Canadian Museum for Human RightsAll of the ramps to get to each floor in the museum!
Walk around the Exchange District
The Exchange District is a National Historic Site with an artsy vibe and incredible architecture. It covers 20 city blocks and is a great place to walk around, window shop and admire the historic buildings. To really learn the history and appreciate the buildings, go on a walking tour. They are 1.5 hours long, and cost $10.
Evening Activities
There are so many evening activites you can do, whether it be having a drink at a restaurant or seeing a live show. A few things you can do are:
Royal Winnipeg Ballet Watch a ballet performance at the longest operating ballet company in North America.
Winnipeg Symphony Listen to a musical performance by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. They have concerts that play a variety of music from classical to popular (one of them was all about Harry Potter – sign me up!!). Their season runs from September to May. I went in June, so I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to go. (That’s for my next visit!)
Burton Cummings Theatre If you’re coming in the summer, then the “The Burt” is the place to go! They have theatre performances and live music that range from classical, pop and rock.
Day 2
Assiniboine Park
Make sure to go here in the morning, since the majority of activities and places you can do here close in the evening (at around 5pm). You could spend an entire day here, there is so much to do! You can walk around the lovely English Gardens, The Conservatory (a botanical garden with thousands of plants, towers, and trees), visit the Assiniboine Park Zoo, and go to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.
Thermal Spa
Head over to Thermea Spa and spend the rest of the evening relaxing and experiencing their heat treatment therapy and massages. They have saunas, outdoor baths (hot and cold!!), relaxation rooms, and a fire pit. Ever since I went to Iceland (read about it here), I am obsessed with thermal spas. Thermea is 20 minutes from Downtown Winnipeg, and closes at 10pm, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to spend here! I mean look at how gorgeous this spa looks. Can I just go there now?
Look at thisssss! This photo is from Thermea’s website.
Where to Stay
I stayed in the Delta Hotels by Marriott, which is right in the middle of downtown Winnipeg. It isn’t the cheapest hotel in Winnipeg, but it is within a short walking distance to most of the places in downtown Winnipeg.
A pretty church in downtown WinnipegMy house – Just Kidding, it’s the Manitoba Legislative Building.
Getting Around
Rent a Car: Driving around Winnipeg is really easy. On your first day there, you won’t need a car to get to each destination since downtown Winnipeg is a walkable city. However, on your second day you will definitely need a car since the destinations are a 15 minute drive outside of the city.
Taxi: You can also take a taxi to get to each destination with Unicity Taxi. They have an app you can download which makes it even easier to get a ride!
Hopefully all of these recommendations have inspired you to visit Winnipeg! My short itinerary is just the tip of the Iceberg. You could definitely spend more than just 2 days here (even in the winter!) to visit the abundance of museums that they have, and experiencing the culture that this beautiful city has to offer.
Winnipeg Art GalleryThe Forks
Have you been to Winnipeg? If so, what would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below!
Before I went on my trip to Iceland, one thing I heard the most was how expensive it was. So, I thought I was prepared just knowing this bit of information. Welll… this wasn’t the case.
The million dollar question is (no pun intended!): “Is Iceland Expensive?” And yes, it is! When I saw the cost of a meal I nearly fell down.
BUT there are ways you can save money so that it isn’t as painful for you or your bank account. I’ll break down the cost of my trip, and how we saved money, to give you an idea of what to expect, so that you can actually be prepared!
Flights
This will vary greatly, depending on deals at the time and where you are flying from. I like to use an app called “Hopper” which watches flight prices for you, the cheapest days to fly, and tells you if you should book a flight or keep waiting. The cost for my flight from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Iceland was $701 CAD roundtrip (although, I have seen deals for as low as $500).
Accommodation
My first choice for accommodation is AirBnb, I love it. Depending on where you stay, you can get a lot more value for your money (like a kitchen, laundry, etc.). Make sure to read the reviews, so that you know what to expect and if the apartment fits your needs.
We stayed in a very central neighbourhood in Reykjavik (read this post for the best areas to stay in), so that we could be within close walking distances to what we wanted to see.
Prices will fluctuate during high and low seasons. We went in September, when the cost for accommodations was a bit lower. For 5 nights the total cost was $576 CAD.
Food – is it expensive in Iceland?
Ah, the food. Now this is where it can get expensiveeee! Before my trip, I heard that it would be expensive, but nothing could prepare me for how expensive it actually was. The cost for one meal is, on average, $30 CAD (at an inexpensive restaurant) to $65 CAD. Tipping is not expected in Iceland.
If you’re eating 3 meals a day this can definitely add up fast. We saved money by buying breakfast foods and snacks from a local grocery store so that we wouldn’t be eating out for every meal.
You can try and cook supper too, but if you’re anything like me the last thing you want to be doing on vacation is slaving away in a kitchen and missing out on local dishes (and more exploring!). I don’t mind breakfast foods because they are quick and easy.
The cost for food can vary in each grocery store, and some are more expensive than others. Check out Bonus for the better deals, or Krónan which is slightly more expensive but has more of a selection.
Enjoying an expensive (and delicious) meal of Lobster soup ($25 CAD) and an open-faced trout sandwich ($15 CAD).
Drink
Alcohol is also really expensive in Iceland. On average the price for a beer in Iceland is $13 CAD. I know, I almost fell down writing that! If you want to save money, a good tip is to buy it duty-free at the Airport when you arrive.
And whatever you do, don’t waste your money on bottled water. The water is so clean. Bring a water bottle with you and fill it up from the tap.
Transportation To and From the Airport
This can also vary depending on if you are renting a car or not. We didn’t rent a car, so to get to and from the airport there are a couple of different options.
The first option is if you want to head directly to Reykjavik. If you do, then you can take the Flybus. They have Wi-Fi on board and comfy reclining seats. You can opt to be dropped off at your hotel when you purchase your ticket, or at the Reykjavík BSÍ Bus Terminal. If you choose to be dropped off at your hotel, they will take you to the bus terminal anyway, and you will be transferred onto a minibus which will take you to your hotel. The bus terminal is really small, and very organized, so it isn’t too overwhelming once you are there.
If you are staying in an AirBnb, check Google Maps to find the closest hotel to your accommodation and ask to be dropped off there. A return bus voucher (with hotel drop off) starts at 4000 ISK ($50 CAD).
The second option is if you want to go to the Blue Lagoon before (or after) Reykjavik. For convenience, we booked our transportation through the Blue Lagoon’s website. When you buy your Blue Lagoon ticket you can add on transportation. This costs an additional 5500 ISK ($70 CAD), and includes return vouchers and pick ups/drop offs at your hotel.
Excursions
Now time for the fun part – exploring! But is Iceland expensive to explore? This all depends on how you explore it. A big decision before going to Iceland is whether to rent a car, or take day trips.
The cost to explore using a rental car, or going on day trips will all depend on how long you are staying in Iceland, what you want to do, and what your budget is like. For us, during our 5 days in Iceland it was much cheaper to go on day trips than to rent a car.
Day Trips
If you decide to go on a day trip, there are SO many tours available. Like riding an Icelandic horse, or going inside a volcano! Are these tours in Iceland expensive? It all depends on what you want to do, and also how much time you have.
The cost for the most popular day tours are:
Hot Golden Circle Tour: 10.900 ISK (or $140 CAD) – this includes admission to the Secret Lagoon!
South Coast Tour: 10.900 ISK (or $140 CAD)
Reykjanes Tour: 9.900 ISK (or $130 CAD)
Northern Lights: 9.900- ISK (or $130 CAD)
We traveled with the following tour companies, and really liked how small the groups were:
We booked the comfort package for 6.990 ISK (or $90 CAD). This includes Entrance to the Blue Lagoon, Silica Mud Mask, a towel, and a drink. Compared to the other packages, the main things that are missing is a robe, slippers and an algae mud mask. To save money, we brought our own robes and slippers (flip flops). For a complete guide to the Blue Lagoon, check out this post.
Reykjavik Costs
In Reykjavik, you can go up to the top of Hallgrimskiirkja church for under $10 CAD dollars. Well worth it for those iconic views of the city!
What a beautiful view!
Museums
The average price to go in a museum is about 2.000 ISK. However, if you plan to go to a lot of museums you can save money by purchasing A City Card. This gives free (or discounted) admission to museums, pools, and shops, and public bus transport.
We personally did not use this card while we were there, but if you are planning to check out a lot of museums, and want to go swimming in the local pools, then it may be worthwhile. The prices vary depending on how long you want the card to be valid for. For more details, check out their website.
One of the many museums you can visit during your trip to Iceland!
Shopping
Usually when you go somewhere new, you might want to go shopping and buy a souvenir or something to remind you of the country. One popular thing to buy is an Icelandic Sweater. They are on average $200 CAD.
A tip for shopping in Iceland: If you are not from there, you can take advantage of Tax Free Shopping. If you purchase something that is over 6.000 ISK (about $75 CAD), you can claim up to 14% and get money back! This doesn’t apply for food, accommodation or tours, though.
Claiming your refund is REALLY easy and is done in the following 3 steps:
In the store: When you buy something, ask the store clerk to fill out a tax free form. They will stamp or sign it and give the form back to you.
Fill in your name, address, country, passport number, signature and credit card number.
At the airport: BEFORE you check into your flight, follow the “Tax Free Refund” signs to a counter. There will probably be a line, but it moves quickly. They may ask to see what you purchased. Then, they will then ask if you want your refund by cash or credit card. Easy peezy. You are then ready to check in to your flight and go home!
Hopefully these tips and cost breakdowns of my trip to Iceland will help you with your trip! Are there any tips that you would recommend on how to save money on a trip? Let me know in the comments below.
I spent a long weekend in New York, and while you are there you can definitely feel that “New York magic.” The yellow taxis, skyscrapers, different boroughs, and the overall energy makes New York feel like more than just another big city. While I did enjoy my trip, I made mistakes visiting New York that caused not-so-enjoyable moments. To help you out, here are the 8 mistakes I made visiting New York, and what I WISH I had known before going.
1. Can’t see everything
You’ve probably already heard this (I know I did before going) but you can’t see everything in one trip. You just can’t. New York is massive. You could live there your whole life and still not see everything.
Before I went on my trip, I wrote down all the places I wanted to see, and things I wanted to do. But getting to each location took more time than planned, and visiting each place took A LOT longer than planned. My original itinerary was so full compared to what we actually did, simply because we ran out of time.
Learn from my mistake: When you go to New York, don’t try and jam everything into one visit, because you will end up feeling rushed. Give yourself a lot of extra free time. My sample itinerary of what you can do (realistically) in four days is here.
2. You will need to wait in lines to see popular attractions
Depending on where and when you go, you will run into lines. We went to the “Top of the Rock” at around 5pm expecting to be able to go up right away, but they told us to come back at 7pm. When we came back at our starting time, we still had to wait in a line to go up. Once we got to the top, it was probably closer to 8pm, which was a lot longer than originally planned (and I didn’t get those sunset photos I had planned…oh well!). When we finally got to the top, it was a lot more relaxed and didn’t feel busy. The views of New York, even at night, were really beautiful.
View of the Empire State Building (from Top of the Rock) at night.
3. Don’t walk everywhere
There are all sorts of ways to explore New York: walking, taxis, subway, Uber, and the Hop on / off bus (to name a few). While we were there, we ONLY walked! By the end of the day our feet were killing us, and we were pretty tired.
Learn from my mistake: If I were to go back to New York, I would take advantage of Ubers, taxis, a bus, or the subway. It will save time, and your feet!
4. Use offline maps
Before I went to New York, I thought I could depend on wifi. This was one of my mistakes visiting New York City. Wifi was sometimes really hard to find. Before going, make sure you either get a SIM card so that you can use data, or download an offline map of New York on GoogleMaps so that you can still navigate your way around the city.
If there’s an area or restaurant you want to go to, make sure to save the location on your map so that you can find your way there.
5. Have Reliable Airport Transportation
When we arrived in New York, we landed at JFK airport and at the last minute decided to take the subway to our apartment. It was actually pretty easy and saved ~ a lot ~ of money. To learn about the different options and instructions on how to get from the airport to your hotel, Check out this really helpful post here.
However, one of the biggest mistakes visiting New York City (that I made) was getting back to the Airport from New York.
First, it was hard to find an available taxi. When we finally saw one that was free (the light on top of the taxi was on which meant is was available), I raised my hand the air and it pulled over for us. Success!! Or so I thought. We sat in the cab, and while we were in the taxi I told him we would like to go to Airport. Well, he refused. He probably wasn’t allowed to do this, since we were already sitting in the cab, but we got out and tried to find another way there.
We ended up taking the subway to get to airport. If I were to go back to New York I wouldn’t do it again. Construction was happening on one of lines, which changed the routes and made it more complicated. Luckily, there were a few helpful people on the Subway that told us where to go! We also had to do a transfer in a really sketchy area and it didn’t feel safe there at ALL (there was a person there walking around literally screaming at everyone at the top of their lungs). If I was a solo female traveler in New York, I would have been even more scared during this situation.
Learn from my mistake: Long story short, if I were to go back to New York I would book a taxi, car service or Uber in advance so that I knew I had a reliable (and SAFE!) way back to the airport.
6. Bathrooms are hard to find
If you find a bathroom, use it! There were so many times where I would be walking for ages just so I could find a bathroom.
7. Don’t stand out as a tourist
It can be easy to stand out as a tourist, whether it be by taking photos or just looking at the tall buildings. For whatever reason, they just know. I think I know why a lot of locals wear headphones! Sticking out as a tourist can cause people to approach you on the street. This happened to me by the Empire State Building and at Central Park.
To prevent them from approaching, avoid eye contact with them, look confident, and walk quickly with a purpose. If they approach you just say a firm no and keep on walking.
8. Don’t Stay In Times Square
Before the trip, I thought I had to stay close to Times Square so that I would be safe (since it’s busy, surely no one would rob me, right?!). I wanted to stay right IN Times Square, but the hotels were way too expensive for my budget. and I am SO glad we didn’t.
We stayed in an apartment in the Hells Kitchen District. This was still located pretty close to Times Square (because that meant I wouldn’t get robbed, right?!), but it was more local. It was lovely. On almost every corner there were flower shops, tons of restaurants, and it wasn’t overwhelming busy (but still felt safe).
To get back to our apartment each evening, we happened to walk through Times Square. The first night it was planned, but after that it just seemed to happen by chance. On the second night it was annoying to walk through, and by the third night we avoided it altogether.
As a tourist, Times Square is great to experience, take pictures, and see the performers on the street. But that’s about it. The lines for the restaurants are out the door, and the shops are extremely crowded. I couldn’t imagine fighting through the crowds every night to get back to my hotel.
It’s so much nicer to stay (and eat!) in a more local area. And it doesn’t even have to be close to Times Square to feel safe.
Loved walking along these streets everyday to get to our apartment.
The cute flower shops which were on almost every corner in our neighbourhood.
Would I go back to New York?
The opportunity to explore someone new, sometimes only happens once. My trip to New York was a great learning experience. The mistakes visiting New York helped me with planning my future trips, and how to make the most of them.
I would love to go back to New York, but next time I’d do it differently. I won’t feel like I HAVE to do all of the main tourist attractions, so that I can experience and enjoy New York’s local hangouts.
Have you traveled to New York before? I would love to know what your experience was like, and if there’s anything you wish you would have known before you went.
There are so many places to see, and so many things to do in New York you could live there your whole life and still not see it all. If it is your first time going, it can be overwhelming to choose what to do. We went to New York in 4 days in early October. It was the perfect weather to walk around in without getting too hot (or cold). Below is an example of a New York 4 day itinerary.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 Circleline Boat Tour of New York Rockefeller Centre “Top of the Rock” St. Patrick’s Cathedral Times Square
Day 2 Walk over Brooklyn Bridge Madison Square Garden Wall Street 9/11 Museum and Memorial
Day 3 Natural History Museum Central Park
Day 4 Broadway Show
Where to Stay
I stayed at an AirBnB in the Hells Kitchen district. It was a busy area day and night, and felt safe. It was close to A LOT of restaurants, and about a 20 minute walk to Central Park, Times Square and the Rockefeller Plaza.
Before you Go
Since I knew in advance that I wanted to see the main sites of New York, I opted to get a New York CITYPass
This was a great way to see a lot of sites, save money, and skip a lot of lines.
Day 1: Boat Tour, Times Square and Top of the Rock
Morning: We arrived in New York at 9:30 AM. After a quick nap, we took the Circleline Boat Tour of New York to start the day. It gave us a good orientation of New York and where everything was. We got to see the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the iconic views of New York. Their tours leave multiple times during the day, so it can fit into any schedule.
View from Circleline Sight Seeing Cruise
Afternoon: We went St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and walked through Time’s Square.
Evening: The Rockefeller Plaza and “Top of the Rock!” I would recommend the Top of the Rock (compared to going up the Empire State Building) because then you can see the Empire State Building and really great views of Central Park.
Tip: You can not go up to the Top of the Rock at whatever time you want. We arrived at around 5pm and they told us to come back at 7pm, so we had time to eat supper.
Day 2 in New York: Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Morning: After breakfast, we walked from our apartment located in the Hell’s Kitchen district to the start point of the Brooklyn Bridge. If you don’t mind walking forever, then go for it. We saw the New York Public Library, Madison Square Garden and the Flatiron Building on our walk to the Bridge.
In your New York 4 day itinerary, I would recommend taking the subway, bus or Uber to the closest stop. It will save you SO much time and energy.
Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge was definitely one of my favourite things to do during my New York 4 day itinerary. It had incredible views of both Brooklyn and New York. When we got to the other side, we had some ice cream, pizza, and walked around the Brooklyn harbour front.
Flatiron Building
Afternoon: After the Brooklyn Bridge, we walked to Wall Street. We took a picture with the Bull on Wall Street, and walked along the waterfront. It has a nice park with some vendors, and a view of the Statue of Liberty.
Evening: Within walking distance from the waterfront is the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I would highly recommend going. The museum was very emotional and informative. We went in the museum when it was still light outside, and when we were finished it was dark and the Memorial was lit up and very beautiful.
Day 3 in New York: Museums and Central Park
Morning: There are so many museums in New York, that it can difficult to decide which one to go to. We chose the Natural History Museum, and since this museum is located right next to Central Park we decided to walk around Central Park as well.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is also located next to Central Park, which we made a brief stop at (there are beautiful views of Central Park from their rooftop patio!).
Central Park
Tip: There definitely isn’t enough time to do two museums AND Central Park in one day, so limit yourself to one museum a day.
Afternoon/Evening: I could have spent an entire day in Central Park! It is so big and beautiful. Look at the park benches when you go – they have different messages on each one!
Day 4: Broadway show
Our flight was at 7pm that night. This gave us enough time to go to see a matinee Broadway show! Since we had come to New York with only backpacks, we brought them into the theatre with us which didn’t cause any issues. If you have more luggage, I would recommend having your accommodation store your bags.
Another option would be to see a Broadway Show the night before, and spend a leisurely day exploring the city until it’s time to leave for the airport! The options are endless.
Which Broadway show you want to see is entirely up to you and what your preferences are. We saw Aladdin and it was amazing. I live in a small town, so experiencing a Broadway show was truly spectacular!
How to book your tickets: We booked our tickets online in advance, but same day discounted tickets are also available at a TKTS Ticket Booth.
Tips
Take the subway, bus or an Uber if you need to get to point A to point B to save your feet. We walked everywhere, but by the end of the day we were exhausted. If you are primarily seeing the main tourist attractions, a Hop on Hop off Bus may be easier to use.
Don’t try and schedule too many activities in one day. There is SO MUCH to do in New York, you won’t get it all done and will be rushed. We were in the Natural History museum for four hours and only saw two of the four floors! So take your time, and only plan 1-2 activities a day.
Make sure you have a reliable way to get to the airport. Our taxi driver refused to drive us to the airport, which he probably wasn’t supposed to do. To get to the airport, we ended up taking the subway which was complicated due to construction. Next time I go I will book a ride to the airport so that I know I have a reliable way back.
Have you been to New York? Let me know what your favourite things to do are!
