As we’ve stated repeatedly, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Lima. But it is time to explore more of what Peru has to offer. So yesterday we hopped on a plane and flew to our new Airbnb in CuscoPeru the cultural heart of the country!
Cusco, Peru, the land of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and Rainbow Mountain, has been on our travel radar for years. So needless to say, we are excited to be here! And we should be able to explore this region properly since we will be here for 28 nights. That said, are we really approaching our 5th month of international travel? Crazy.
So let us tell you the story of how we got to our Airbnb in Cusco Peru, and show you around our new place!
Getting to Cusco, Peru
It was actually really easy by normal travel standards.
We hired the shuttle service QuickLlama to pick us up at our apartment just after 8:45 am and were promptly dropped off at the Jorge Chávez International Airport at around 9:30 am. We were extremely happy with the service as their communication was excellent and they were extremely professional. And tickets only cost 20 Soles/~$5 USD per person, which you can reserve online.
You might wonder why we didn’t take Cabify or Uber to the airport, as that might have saved us a couple of bucks. Well, apparently Uber-type transport is “banned” from the airport. And although there are reports of people making it work, we didn’t want to take any chances.
As mentioned in our last post, we purchased one-way direct tickets to Cusco, Peru with the South American discount airline JetSMART. We had too much luggage for their most basic ticket category (personal item only…but only ~$40 USD per ticket!). So we upgraded to the next level, which added 1 carry-on suitcase, 1 large checked suitcase, and early boarding perks.
Even still, each ticket only cost $67.96 USD. A sweet deal when you consider how expensive most air travel is nowadays.
And our departure went without any real problems.
We decided to check bags since we had a direct flight. With a direct flight, the chances of lost luggage are low. And checking bags allowed us to use up the bulky kitchen/bathroom supplies we bought in Lima while we are in Cusco. Unfortunately, this meant we had to wait in line to check our bags. But since we have a flexible itinerary and weren’t in a rush, it was fine. And admittedly, it was kind of nice only having to carry one bag around the airport instead of our usual two.
The Jorge Chávez International Airport was efficiently run and modest in size, so getting around and finding our terminal was simple. And the security line was easy to deal with. Other than removing laptops from our carry-on luggage and putting them in separate bins, we didn’t have to do anything else special. No special removal of liquids, no taking off shoes (unless you set off the metal detector), or anything like that.
It was like a 1990s airport security experience, and we mean that in the best possible way.
We boarded our plane near the front of the line, and we departed Lima at 1:30 pm sharp.
Our airplane was definitely low-frills, but the experience was perfectly fine for a flight that would only last 90 minutes.
Not exactly cushy seats, but comfortable enough. Definitely minimalist.
The plane was modern and in great condition. Thankfully it was only 2/3rds full, so Rhonda and I didn’t have to share a row of seats.
Juuuuust enough legroom for this tall person. The struggle is real!
Flying over the Andean mountain range.
Approaching Cusco, Peru. The altitude in Cusco is about 3,400 meters (or 11,152 feet)! Altitude sickness is a thing here.
We were extremely pleased with JetSMART for the money we paid. Which is good because we’ll be using them again when we go to our next destination, Arequipa, Peru!
Our flight was no frills, but if you bring snacks (you pay for all onboard amenities) and follow the luggage and boarding pass rules, you can fly all over South America for cheap.
We arrived at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport at 3 pm, right on time. Our Airbnb host sent a driver to pick us up at the airport, and we were whisked away to our new Airbnb in Cusco Peru.
Our new place is a 2-bedroom apartment, with much more space than our last two Airbnbs. Not only is it bigger, but its location and amenities are great by our travel standards!
First, the layout is comfortable and functional. So it will be easy to live and relax in.
Second, we are on the mountain slopes on the edges of Cusco proper, which means we have killer views from our apartment! And we are a very short walk to Cusco center, where there are lots of activities going on. In addition, we happen to be close to a number of very cool archaeological sites, and if the inclines are manageable we will explore those on foot.
The only downside of our location is the aforementioned inclines, which we knew about before we reserved the place. Every day will be like using a StairMaster. Just getting into our apartment involves walking up 5 flights of stairs!
This all being said, let’s go on a tour of our new place for the next 28 nights!
Our apartment is on the second level of our multi-story building. Entering the apartment, you enter the combined living room/dining room space.
Lots of sun! And the views are great. But they get better elsewhere. The big TV, stereo system, and PlayStation are nice perks.
Here is the view at night!
Turning 90 degrees, you can see the dining area with room for 4 people.
Turning 180 degrees, you see the full kitchen in its own dedicated space.
It also has a microwave and loads of pots, pans, and dishes. All reasonable needs have been accounted for.
Moving to the residential side of the apartment, you first see the bathroom.
Not as much bathroom storage as our last place, but still quite usable!
Immediately to the left of the bathroom is the first bedroom, with a full bed and multiple layers of extremely thick blankets. It gets cold at night here! Out of frame is a full wardrobe/mirror combination with tons of storage.
Immediately to the right of the bathroom is the second bedroom, with the same type of bed setup. There is a wardrobe/mirror setup here too, out of frame.
So this sums up the nuts and bolts of our 2nd-floor apartment.
But wait, there’s more!
We also have access to a common-use 3rd-floor laundry area and were encouraged to use it to our heart’s content. It will also be a good workout space for me.
Washer, dryer, and sink. And behind me are loads of places to hang clothes, which we prefer.
You may have noticed the stairs leading up. Those stairs lead to a common-use 4th-floor terrace with spectacular mountain and city views! Again, the hosts have encouraged us to use the space as much as we want. They have already earmarked time for us all to hang out here once we get used to the altitude and drink cervezas together.
Oh my.
I can get used to this!
Were pretty sure our Airbnb in Cusco Peru will be a great one!
At $19.46 USD/night with the discounted monthly Airbnb rate (31%), this apartment is an absolute steal. And all utilities, including high-speed Wifi internet, are included.
I’m sure we will curse the mountain inclines from time to time. But after 1 month of living here, our buttocks should be much more shapely.
Until next time…
Thanks for reading!
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2 thoughts on “Moving Day – Arriving at our New Airbnb in Cusco Peru”
That’s a stunning view. How awesome.
We like it!