SOLO DIY TRAVEL TO MACHU PICCHU,PERU

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Sharing in this article how I arranged my visit – DIY – and as a solo traveler.

Travelling to Latin America has always been a dream; and most specifically, visiting the Incan Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (MP) in Peru.

If visiting MP also interests you, let me mention first that the journey wasn’t easy even for experienced travelers. For tourists with spending capacity, I highly suggest to get a packaged/pre-arranged tour from trusted agencies. Hassle-free!

For my DIY Trip, I first took a flight from Manila to the US. From major cities in US, there are several South American airlines than can take you to Peru. The most popular is LATAM Airlines to Cuzco City (the take off point to MP). With Latam, I had a quick 3 hrs. layover/change of aircraft at Lima, the capital city of Peru. To give you an idea Manila to US (LA) – 18 hours, LA to Lima – around 9 hours, then Lima to Cuzco, 2 hours. Filipino tourists btw are visa-free to enter Peru. I did not encounter any trouble with the Peruvian immigration. I wasn’t asked for any supporting document. However, I did prepare print outs for outbound tickets, hostel booking and my ticket to MP, which I already purchased online. Stayed in Peru for 7 Nights. Arrived in Cuzco airport around 10 am (from a red-eye flight).

For this blog post, I intentionally avoided details on ticket cost. For experienced travelers planning to see Peru, I am quite sure you have an idea na how much to prepare. hehe

Day 01: Arrival. Machu Picchu is tucked way up in the mountainous region of the Andes, Peru. All the stops and spots that I’ve visited are situated on high elevations. Visitors will land in Cuzco City, which is around 3,400 meters above sea level. To give comparison, our very own Mount Apo is around 2,900 meters high. Cuzco City was built on a plain that stands higher than PH’s tallest mountain. Imagine that. As such, land at these high elevations have thinner oxygen levels, which can result to altitude sickness, nausea, head ache and difficulty on breathing while the body is adjusting(Acclimatization). When preparing, it is also best to do research on this.

To avoid, or rather minimize the expected altitude sickness, I opted to spend my first night in Ollantaytambo town after landing (instead of staying at Cuzco City). Ollantaytambo town is halfway between Cuzco City and MP, and is around 2,700 meters altitude. This hack indeed worked for me, coz i never felt any sickness or nausea during my whole stay. Aside from that, Ollantaytambo is such a charming, small town within the sacred valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Gusto ko dun.

From Cuzco City airport, I took an UBER to the collectivo (VAN) terminal, which is just around 10 mins from the airport. From there, I hopped on a public van packed with locals heading to Ollantaytambo, which was less than 2 hours away. Friended some locals as well, who gave me clear directions upon arrival at Ollan. I was lucky to find a seatmate who can speak english.

Points to know:

Prior to travel, i already had with me an international sim with consumable Data that i purchased from seaman’s simcard provider sa shopee. It worked well for my open-line android phone, never nagka problem.

I used UBER a lot during my trip to Latin America. My Uber account is linked to my Visa credit card. No cash out.

Regarding local bill/money, I had some US dollars changed to Peruvian Sol during my layover in Lima Airport. I’ve also observed that visa and mastercard are widely accepted in Peru, even for souvenirs. My limited Sol cash is only for street food and small purchases.

Day 2: Lazy day in Ollantaytambo. No itinerary day is the best days in my opinion. I seriously enjoyed my hostel here with a good view.

Stayed at Casa Inka Bed and Breakfast. Solo room with own toilet with continental breakfast at around 15 USD per night. Yes, it’s that cheap in Ollantaytambo. Room has no ACU though, but weather is cool at that altitude.

Day 3: Travel to Aguas Callientes. Took a scenic 2 hours Train from Ollan to Aguas Callientes (AG) town. AG is the town nearest to Machu Picchu Sanctuary, which takes around 30 minutes by bus, passing by dense forest, which is part of the Amazon already).

The train ticket from Ollan to Aguas Callientes (PERURail), I purchased online 2 months prior. To check train schedule and availability, check here. To make online purchase, check here. Just change the language to English and the steps are pretty understandable. I think wala nang ibang way for tourists to reach Aguas Callientes/Machu Picchu Proper other than this train ride, or by trekking. Machu Picchu is tucked well within the mountain ranges, nasa gitna po ng gubat, and wala pong vehicular roads to get there I think. And yes po, all my transportation, i arranged na po 2 months prior. So programmed na po talaga ang dates ko. fixed na po. However, meron naman agencies nag-ooffer ng tickets when you arrive in Ollan or Cuzco. Your choice na.

For the Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket , i purchased it here, also 2 months prior. I’ve also seen people buying ticket sa town hall ng Aguas Callientes upon arrival, pero sobrang haba ng pila nila. 8 pm may pila pa. grabe. Machu Picchu Basic Entrance Ticket – around 35 USD. Round trip train ticket is around 30 to 60 USD, mas mahal if mas malapit na sa date.

Stayed at Supertramp Hostel in Aguas Callientes, at around 10 USD (Shared room/6 pax) with breakfast.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

The Big day has come, I am going to See MP na for real. Upon arrival sa Aguas Callientes the prior day, I purchased na the bus ticket that will take me from the town to the sacred site, and back. Round trip po binili ko with specified times. I purchased the 6 am, with return at 12 nn. Half day lang po ako sa MP, since I have a train to catch at 2 pm, back to Ollantaytambo. Aguas Callientes btw is super liit lang na town along the river, very easy to navigate. I just asked around sa mga sakayan and all.

Highlights of Machu Picchu day trip:

  1. We were welcomed by rain on-site. My umbrella did not do justice. Good thing the cleaning lady had some spare second hand plastic ponchos. She gave one to me for free. lesson learned, bring your own plastic poncho as the weather up there can be unpredictable.
  2. The last toilet that you’ll be getting is at the entrance. So prepare.
  3. Sun screen and mosquito repellant.
  4. I paid extra ticket to climb Huayna Picchu (the tall mountain seen on the background of all MP posters), and that includes passing through the so called “stairs of death”, which is a narrow stone-paved stairs that is around 80 degrees inclination. Some parts do not have any handrail/rope, and often slippery, so be cautious with the traffic. Halfway, the route only allows one way passage, so there’s no turning back at this point. Check out my tiktok account to see videos of this climbing experience.
  5. The ticket says Max. 4 hours stay in the sanctuary, but I think di naman sila strict on this.

I left the sanctuary at 12 noon to catch my train back to Ollan from Aguas Callientes. Spent again one more night in Ollantaytambo. Gusto ko tlga dito. The next morning, i took the same collectivo (Public Van) to Cuzco.

Day 5: Cuzco City. I fell in love with Cuzco.I have a thing for well-preserved old towns/cities with colonial flair and the city did not disappoint. One of my favourite movies is ‘ The Emperor’s New Groove’ which is actually set in Cuzco. So yes! natuwa talaga ako.

Chill lang ako sa Cuzco. Di na ako kumuha ng tours. I enjoyed my hotel and the nearby market and the food. saya! Will post a separate blog on this kase deserve.

Stayed at Tierra Sagrada Hotel, 15 usd per night, Shared room (huge! spacious). The hostel used to be a convent/dorm for nuns, as such the furniture (including my bed) are around 100 years old.

Day 6: Montana Vinicunca . A Tour to Montana Vinicunca (Rainbow mountain) should not be missed. From Cuzco, I joined a group tour (via my hotel), with hotel pick up at 4 am. Montana Vinicunca is at least 3 hours away. Along the way, we’ve passed through slim roads with the steepest bangins to your left and right, like WTF. The tour I got included a buffet breakfast and Lunch. Super sulit. See more of Vinicunca here. Got back to Cuzco before 5pm.

Day 7-8: Cuzco City / Departure . Tinamad na ko kumuha pa ng ibang tours. Dedicated my last days in Cuzco for complete rest, church visits coffee and food trip. Spent one whole afternoon in San Blas art district. The overlooking sunset view of Cuzco from there is amazing.

The Travel to MP plus the hike to Hyuana Piccu summit was indeed overwhelming for my energy, but the experience will definitely last my lifetime. I don’t mind going back in the near future. Hopefully with some friends, so someone can take better photos of me.

Kudos to my seasoned travel Idols Lakwatserong Kimiko, Escape Manila and Bojo Macaraig for all the tips.

Next stop, Rio de Janeiro.

Toronto and Niagara

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Did a quick visit to Toronto,Canada before heading to Cancun,Mexico to start my LatAm goal trip. First thing I’ve noticed is that Flights to and from Toronto are expensive! kaloka! To think Toronto was just less than 2 hours flight from NYC, on board a small plane ha (Air Canada); small Fokker plane, like 2 and 2 ang seat. Nonetheless, I pushed with this stop since I wanted to use my Canadian ME Visa, baka di na ma grant ulit if it expires unused.

…And pwede pala sana mag overnight bus from NYC to Toronto, via Buffalo (passing through the Rainbow Bridge across the Niagara). I personally saw these overnight buses sa Toronto and they were good and affordable. Ohw well. Probably next time.

I didn’t really enjoy my stay in Toronto, tbh. I got scammed by the hotel room I purchased with Agoda. So I ended up spending more with an abrupt hostel booking that cost me more than 5,000 pesos a night. zzz.

I only stayed in Toronto for 2 nights. The highlight is my day tour to Niagara Falls, and crossing back to US territory ON FOOT via Rainbow Bridge, had lunch at the US Territory of Niagara, then crossing back to the Canadian territory later that day. Went through the immigration/border control on both sides.

SNAPSHOTS:NYC

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Memories from my short visit to NYC.

NYC was my entry point and the beginning of my visit to the Americas. From Manila, I booked a one way ticket with Saudia Air, with an overnight layover at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). From the Middle East, this plane route crosses the European Continent and the Atlantic, to reach the North America. Quite a long ride but I like it, and cheaper. Food on-board was good, I enjoyed the Mutton Biryani.

In NYC, I stayed at HI NYC Hostel at Amsterdam Ave. (Manhattan Valley/Upper West side of central park). It’s an easy 2-3 mins walk from 106th St. Metro Station. The area is mostly for schools and commercials catering that market. Colombia University is just on the next train station.

I spent my first morning in NYC visiting the famous Museum of Natural History. I am a fan of Ben Stiller’s Movie, and seeing the T-Rex fossil up-close was such a moment. The rest of the day, I just spent walking around Manhattan City Center and ended the night at Times Square.

Best days are those without any fixed plans. I purchased the Unlimited NYC metro pass (which was one of the best decisions btw). I basically searched around Manhattan the works of Architects I follow, particularly Santiago Calatrava and Frank Lloyd Wright; plus some foodtripping along the way. Didn’t get to document everything though, as it was quite gloomy that day.

In the evening, I was blessed with a good weather and a chance to see NYC cityscape from One Vanderbilt skyscraper, which is one of NYC’s tallest. From One Vanderbilt, you get to see the glorious Empire State and Chrystler Building at night.

The sun finally came out during my 4th and last full day. Here are some snapshots around Brooklyn, plus a quick trip to Staten Island.

I spent 4 full days in NYC before flying to Toronto then to Cancun, Mexico, which begins my goal trip to Latin Americas and see the Wonders of the World before I reach 40. lol.

Toronto/Niagara Blog is coming up!

Red Planet Davao Hosts Slumber Party with the Davao Bloggers Society

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Red Planet Davao recently held the exciting “Lounge & Learn: Bloggers Slumber Party” in partnership with the Davao Bloggers Society. This event was perfectly themed to create an ambiance that harmoniously blended relaxation with learning.

DBS members had the opportunity to enjoy Red Planet Davao’s newly renovated hotel building, modernized rooms, and enhanced facilities.

Ms. Clarisse Lim, Assistant Hotel Manager, warmly welcomed the bloggers and expressed, “Over the past three months, we have been committed to reimagining and enhancing our hotel’s atmosphere to ensure a more comfortable and convenient experience for every guest. Tonight, we are delighted to unveil the stunning new look of our hotel alongside our refreshed room designs. We believe these upgrades will bring a new level of comfort and convenience from the moment you arrive at our ground floor to your beautifully redesigned rooms.”

Under the guidance of President Gem Tadefa, the event featured engaging workshops designed to enrich the skills and knowledge of the participating bloggers.

Take advantage of Red Planet Davao’s exclusive promotion, offering up to 35% off hotel accommodations. Use promo code REDPLANETDAVAO at the time of booking, though rates may vary without prior notice. Travelers can book directly at https://redplanet.link/RPDavaoPromo to seize this offer.

Red Planet Davao Unveils Newly Renovated Facilities

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Red Planet Davao is excited to announce the grand unveiling of its newly refreshed building, modernized room designs, and upgraded facilities.

The renovation project highlights Red Planet’s dedication to providing guests with a perfect mix of contemporary comfort and exceptional value. The newly updated building features a sleek and contemporary façade that complements Davao City’s vibrant atmosphere. Inside, guests will find a variety of new room designs, each thoughtfully crafted to offer a welcoming ang relaxing environment.

Key features of the upgrade include:

Modernized Room: Each room has been reimagined with a minimalist, modern design that offers spacious accommodations equipped with features like high-pressure rain showers, custom-designed beds, and essential staycation amenities such as mini-fridges, water kettles, safes, and hairdryers. The hotel also offers complimentary parking, enhancing the convenience for all guests.

Enhanced & Engaging Facilities: The upgraded facilities feature an Instagram-worthy photo wall showcasing Davao City’s culture, Info Walls displaying the hotel’s offerings on LED TV screens, iMacs available in the hotel’s co-working space, and improved common areas to ensure a superior stay for both business and leisure travelers.

Exclusive Perks as a Red Member: Guests who download the Red Planet Hotels app and register as a Red Member will enjoy exclusive discounts, including up to 15% off hotel accommodations and up to 10% off at Red Partners such as David’s Salon in SM Lanang, Camp Burgrill, and more.

Ms. Clarisse Lim, Assistant Hotel Manager of Red Planet Davao, shared, “For the past 3 months, we’ve been working hard to reimagine and elevate our hotel’s ambiance, aiming to create a more comfortable and convenient experience for every guest. Tonight, it is our pleasure to exclusively unveil the stunning new look of our hotel and our brand-new room designs. We believe these upgrades will offer a new level of comfort and convenience to everyone, from the ground floor where we welcome each of you to the venue for tonight and to your new room designs.”

The unveiling event on August 13, attended by the Davao Blogger Society at Red Planet Davao, marked an exciting milestone. Red Planet Hotels now invites you to be among the first to experience the newly modernized Red Planet Davao. Become a Red Member today and unlock a lifetime discount of up to 15% whenever you book directly at Red Planet Davao.

The Davao Bloggers Society Holds Successful Community Drive at Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation

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Davao City, Philippines – July 27, 2024 — The Davao Bloggers Society (DBS) made a significant impact during their recent community drive at the Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation. The event, held on July 27, 2024, showcased the organization’s commitment to giving back to the community through a series of well-organized activities and generous donations.

Partnering with several esteemed brands, DBS provided a comprehensive experience for the children at the foundation. In collaboration with Davao Doctors Hospital, doctors and nurses conducted medical check-ups, ensuring the children’s health needs were addressed. The children enjoyed meals sponsored by Ripple8, while SM Supermalls donated water bottles. Hygiene kits were provided courtesy of International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI), including Casino alcohol and Bioderm products. Red Planet Hotels contributed by donating towels, acrylic tables, and electric fans. foodpanda not only provided food and logistical donations but also brought their beloved character, Pau-Pau, to delight the children.

The event featured a special program organized by DBS, including a magic show and a bookmark-making session with DBS member Olivia Limos. The children also had the opportunity to showcase their talents through performances of dances and songs, adding a personal touch to the day’s festivities. To cap the day, the children sang a very special thank you song to DBS and its partners.

Lalaine Cabalhog, Trustee of The Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are so privileged and thankful to have been the beneficiary of the Davao Bloggers Society’s community drive. We thank them all for their efforts and to their partner brands for coming here. The boys really appreciate these gestures, as all their donations, the program, and the check-up are a big help to their everyday living.”

DBS further extended their support by donating an array of essential items, including snacks, canned goods, cleaning materials, school supplies, medical kits, weighing scales, and toiletries. These contributions are expected to significantly enhance the living conditions and daily experiences of the orphans.

The entire initiative was spearheaded by DBS President Gem Tadefa and Secretary Pauline Balayon-Ruta, whose leadership and dedication ensured the event’s success.

“We initiated our second but first on-site community drive because the Davao Bloggers Society has received a lot of blessings for two years now and it was time for us to give back to the community, to make sure that we are also sharing our blessings, because that’s what DBS is,” said Gem Tadefa.

Pauline Balayon-Ruta emphasized the importance of supporting the foundation, stating, “We chose The Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation because the charity provides shelter and care for children ages 7-19. These are neglected children who are abandoned and just need a chance in life. This is especially important to me personally because I know people who have been beneficiaries of organizations like this. You can really say that it makes a difference.”

The Davao Bloggers Society continues to embody the spirit of community and compassion, making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

Making Memories in Mexico

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Chichen Itza. This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatán peninsula. The Maya were highly skilled at mathematics, astronomy, architecture, pottery, hieroglyph writing and the development of a remarkably accurate calendar. They built massive stone monuments, pyramids, palaces and cities, and many of the ruins still stand today.

Random snapshots around Valladodid,Mexico,the town nearest to Chichen Itza Unesco Heritage Site.

There is a comfortable feeling when staying at small towns. Everything feels more grounded and authentic. Food is cheaper and people are easier to talk to.

Opted to stay at Valladolid town so i can go to Chichen Itza earlier.
Got some good jumpshots because i went early. Valladolid is 40 minutes away from the heritage site. Public van transport (they call it collectivo)to the site and back are available.

Amazon Operation Services Philippines announces over 500 job openings in Davao City

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Davao City – February 23, 2024 — Amazon Operation Services Philippines announced today it will hire over 500 customer service professionals for permanent and full-time jobs which will be fully work-from-home and night-shift positions. The new hires will support the world-class service Amazon offers to customers in the U.S. and other countries and will strengthen Amazon’s existing customer service teams in Cebu and Manila.

Amazon’s mission is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, and our award-winning Customer Service team is a key part of that mission. The Customer Service team has a very clear purpose – to prevent, solve problems and delight our customers.

Interested applicants may apply for remote customer service associate and remote team manager roles at jobs.amazon.ph and will be required to pass virtual assessments remotely. Selected candidates will be invited to Amazon’s Job Fair held in Davao City on February 28 to learn more about Amazon and the next steps of the hiring process.

“Today we are proud to announce that we are creating more than 500 jobs in Davao City to support the world-class customer service that Amazon is known for. This is an exciting opportunity for job seekers in Davao City who are looking for a fulfilling experience working for a company which strives to be Earth’s best employer.” explained Steve Emerson, President, Amazon Operation Services Philippines.

Amazon Operation Services Philippines offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit package, including:

  • Health and insurance benefits from day one, such as private medical insurance, medical spending account (for unreimbursed medical, dental, vision services and traditional medicine), life insurance, critical illness insurance, disability and personal accident insurance;
  • Annual and sick leaves;
  • Amazon’s Employee Assistance Program which provides employees and any eligible dependent family members with confidential support, guidance and resources for every aspect of work and personal life;
  • Expert training and ongoing opportunities to learn and grow within Amazon.

More information about employee benefits is available on jobs.amazon.ph/benefits

Applicants must be based in Davao City, hold a high school diploma or equivalent and possess eligibility to work in the Philippines. They also should have a minimum of one (1) year of experience in customer service, preferably in a call center or similar environment, be comfortable with working from home full-time and have a suitable work-from-home space, including a reliable internet connection with a minimum speed of 50Mbps.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Celebrating Juicylicious Chickenjoy!

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Chickenjoyers celebrate their love for the Philippines’ iconic fried chicken

For the first time in Chickenjoy history, Jollibee brought together enthusiasts of its well-loved fried chicken at the day-long “I Am A Chickenjoyer Fan Meet” at Trinoma Activity Center last February 17.

This joy-filled event gathered families and friends adding up to over 1,500 individuals to celebrate their shared love for the iconic Chickenjoy.

“We are so excited to finally bring so many Chickenjoyers together in one venue and host an exciting day for them,” said Pamie Cruz, Senior Marketing Manager of Jollibee Philippines. “This is our way of thanking them for their continued support for Chickenjoy, and for spreading this love to their families and friends from all over the country and even all over the world.”

Guests engaged in a slew of activities detailed in their event passports. From conquering the Claw Machine to trying their luck at the Giant Gachapon and mastering the Ball Bucket Shoot Out, attendees collected points, won limited-edition Chickenjoy merchandise, and created lasting memories. To add, a professional studio setup awaited guests, capturing their moments through expertly taken photos and videos.

Jollibee endorsers and self-proclaimed Chickenjoyers Joshua Garcia and Donny Pangilinan also added to the fun during the morning and afternoon programs, respectively. When asked about his favorite memory with Chickenjoy, Donny recalled, “As a kid, I remember going home via expressway and ordering Jollibee via drive-thru because that’s really our favorite. In the car, my dad would ask us what we wanted and of course, we wanted Chickenjoy. We’d share it in the car before driving off again, feeling satisfied.”

Joshua added his own vivid Chickenjoy moments: “With my family, it’s always a tradition to order Jollibee when it’s someone’s birthday. My nephew loves Chickenjoy, so I would bring him a bucket on his birthday and we’d share it with Jolly Spaghetti or rice. My favorite part is the chicken wing—I love the experience of removing the bone and dipping the wing in the gravy. Sarap!”

This unique event showed how Chickenjoy has played a role in the lives of millions, from satisfying cravings to completing delightful bonding moments. Renowned for its crispy and flavorful skin, juicy and succulent meat, and signature gravy, Chickenjoy continues to make a lasting impact and be well-loved by the generations to come.

The Crispylicious, Juicylicious, best-tasting Jollibee Chickenjoy is available nationwide for PHP 82.00 (1-pc. Chickenjoy with rice and drink). Drop by your nearest Jollibee branch and treat yourself to its crispy, juicy goodness via dine-in, take-out, or drive-thru. You can also have it delivered via the Jollibee App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, and Foodpanda.

For all the latest updates, like Jollibee on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Philippines on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

About Jollibee

Jollibee is the largest fast food chain brand in the Philippines, operating a network of more than 1,500 stores in 18 countries. A dominant market leader in the Philippines, Jollibee enjoys the lion’s share of the local market that is more than all the other multinational fast food brands in PH combined. With a strict adherence to the highest standards of food quality, service and cleanliness, Jollibee serves great-tasting, high-quality and affordable food products to include its superior-tasting Chickenjoy, mouth-watering Yumburger, and deliciously satisfying Jolly Spaghetti among other delicious products.

Jollibee has embarked on an aggressive international expansion plan, with more than 270 international branches in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, and in the United Kingdom.