Solo Travel Iceland: The Ultimate Guide Without Renting a Car

Iceland is one of the safest countries I’ve ever traveled to, which makes it an incredible destination for solo travelers, especially if it’s your first solo trip. While many people rent a car and drive the famous Ring Road, I spent an entire week in Iceland without ever getting behind the wheel. Looking back, I never felt like I needed to.

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to experience Iceland without renting a car, the answer is absolutely yes.

Getting from the Airport to Reykjavík

Once you land at Keflavík International Airport, the easiest way to reach Reykjavík is by taking the Flybus airport shuttle.

A standard one-way ticket costs about 3,999 ISK (roughly $30 USD), while a round-trip ticket costs around 7,298 ISK. The bus drops passengers at the BSÍ Bus Terminal, which is only about a 20-minute walk into downtown Reykjavík.

I recommend staying in a hotel or Airbnb near the city center. Reykjavík is incredibly walkable, making it easy to explore coffee shops, restaurants, museums, and the waterfront without needing a car.

Do You Need to Rent a Car?

No.

Could you? Absolutely.

Iceland has excellent roads, clear signage, and driving the Ring Road is an unforgettable experience for many travelers.

But if you’re trying to save money, working remotely like I was, or simply don’t want the stress of driving unfamiliar roads, staying in Reykjavík and taking organized day trips is a fantastic alternative.

One of my favorite travel hacks was using GetYourGuide and Viator to find tours. Both websites make it easy to compare itineraries, reviews, and prices. However, they also tell you which local company is actually operating the tour.

Whenever possible, I’d look up that local company’s website and book directly with them instead.

Not only did it sometimes save me money, but it also meant more of my payment went directly to the local guides instead of a booking platform taking a commission. If I can support a local business while paying the same price or less, I’ll always choose that option.

Things to Do in Reykjavík

One of the things I loved most about Reykjavík is that it’s incredibly walkable. I spent hours wandering colorful streets, browsing local shops, stopping for coffee, and walking along the waterfront. Even if you don’t have a tour planned for the day, there’s plenty to keep you busy.

Some of my favorite places included:

• Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík’s iconic church. You can take an elevator to the top for incredible panoramic views over the city.

• The Sun Voyager (Sólfar), the famous Viking-inspired steel sculpture sitting along the waterfront.

• Reykjavík Harbor, where it’s fun to stroll along the water and admire the surrounding mountains.

• Perlan Museum, which features interactive exhibits about Iceland’s glaciers, volcanoes, natural history, fossils, and even a real indoor ice cave.

• Árbær Open Air Museum, where you can walk through historic Icelandic buildings and learn what life was like centuries ago.

One funny thing you’ll probably notice from my photos is that I visited in August and I’m wearing a winter hat in half of them. Even in the middle of summer, Iceland can be cold, windy, and unpredictable. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket because the weather changes quickly.

Working Remotely from Iceland

One of the reasons I chose Reykjavík as my home base was because I was working East Coast U.S. hours.

Since Iceland is several hours ahead, I spent my mornings exploring before logging into work each afternoon.

Some of my favorite half-day adventures included visiting Þingvellir National Park, walking through the Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel, and hiking around the vibrant blue waters of Kerið Crater.

Being able to combine remote work with exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world made this one of my favorite workations ever.

My Favorite Day Trips from Reykjavík

One of the biggest reasons I never regretted skipping a rental car was because the organized day tours were excellent.

I booked two full-day tours from Reykjavík, and both ended up being highlights of my trip.

South Coast Tour

If you only have time for one full-day excursion, I’d probably recommend the South Coast.

Throughout the day we visited:

• Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls with a dramatic 60-meter drop.

• Sólheimajökull Glacier, where you can get surprisingly close to the glacier’s edge.

• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, famous for its basalt columns, crashing Atlantic waves, and towering sea stacks.

• The charming fishing village of Vík, where we stopped for photos overlooking the coastline.

• Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls where visitors can actually walk behind the cascading water.

The scenery throughout the entire day felt like something from another planet.

While you could certainly drive this route yourself, I actually enjoyed taking a guided tour. Our guide shared stories about Icelandic history, geology, volcanoes, glaciers, and local culture that I would have completely missed if I had simply driven from stop to stop.

I know many travelers dream of driving the entire Ring Road, and I completely understand why. But personally, I didn’t want to spend a week driving by myself. I’m pretty extroverted and enjoy meeting people while I travel, so joining a small group tour was a much better fit for my personality.

One solo travel tip that I always recommend is introducing yourself to your tour guide early in the day.

It might sound silly, but many tour stops are spread out and you usually only have a limited amount of time before everyone boards the bus again. Most travelers are with friends or family who would notice if someone was missing.

As a solo traveler, it’s nice knowing your guide recognizes you too. If you’re taking one last photo and arrive back a minute late, someone knows you’re still out there.

Golden Circle Tour

My second full-day trip explored Iceland’s famous Golden Circle.

The route included:

• Þingvellir National Park, where you can literally walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates while visiting one of Iceland’s most historically significant locations.

• Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls.

• The Geysir geothermal area, where Strokkur erupts every few minutes.

• Kerið Crater, a colorful volcanic crater surrounding a brilliant blue lake.

The Golden Circle packs waterfalls, geothermal activity, volcanic landscapes, and incredible scenery into one easy day trip from Reykjavík.

Between these two tours, I felt like I experienced many of Iceland’s most famous natural attractions without ever needing to rent a car.

My Favorite Travel Hack: The Blue Lagoon

If you’re debating whether the Blue Lagoon is worth visiting, my answer is yes.

I know it’s become trendy to call it overrated, but if it’s your first trip to Iceland, I think it’s absolutely worth experiencing.

Here’s the trick that saved me both time and money.

I visited on my last day.

I took a shuttle from Reykjavík to the Blue Lagoon, brought my luggage with me, stored it in the lockers, spent the morning relaxing in the geothermal water, and then boarded another shuttle that went directly to Keflavík Airport for my flight home.

It ended up being one of the most efficient travel days I’ve ever planned.

Just prepare yourself because everything there is expensive.

I paid nearly $30 for avocado toast.

The Blue Lagoon will probably be your most expensive day in Iceland, but I balanced it out by cooking most of my meals throughout the rest of my trip.

Iceland Is Expensive. Really Expensive.

I’ve traveled to more than 50 countries, and Iceland may have had the most expensive food I’ve ever seen.

Every time I walked past a restaurant, I’d look at the menu... and then continue walking to the grocery store.

Instead, I bought fresh fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruit to cook at my Airbnb.

The grocery stores were definitely more expensive than elsewhere in Europe, but they were still dramatically cheaper than eating out. I was also impressed by how fresh the seafood and produce were for such a small island nation.

I know this is probably a hot take because many people prioritize eating out while traveling. Personally, I’d rather cook most of my meals, save hundreds of dollars, eat healthier, and splurge on one really memorable dinner.

Gluten-Free Travelers

As someone with celiac disease, I expected Reykjavík to have more dedicated gluten-free restaurants than it actually did.

There are certainly restaurants that can accommodate gluten-free meals, especially simple fish dishes, but many entrees were around $45 each.

So yes...

I cooked.

A lot.

Whale Watching

One thing I was really looking forward to was whale watching.

Unfortunately, my tour was canceled because the ocean was too rough and it had to be rescheduled for after I had already left Iceland.

That actually happens pretty frequently.

If whale watching is high on your bucket list, book it early in your trip. That way you’ll hopefully have another opportunity if weather forces a cancellation.

Final Thoughts

More than anything, what stood out to me was just how safe Iceland felt.

I walked around Reykjavík alone, rode buses by myself, joined tours with complete strangers, wandered the city in the evenings, and never once felt uncomfortable.

Whether you rent a car or use Reykjavík as your home base, Iceland is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel solo.

And if you’re working remotely, it’s surprisingly easy to combine work with unforgettable adventures.

On weekdays, I explored in the mornings before work. On weekends, I joined day trips to the South Coast and the Golden Circle, where I experienced waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, geothermal areas, volcanic craters, and even walked between two tectonic plates without ever needing to drive.

If you’re thinking about taking your first solo trip, Iceland is one of the destinations I’d recommend most. I hope this guide helps you realize that you don’t need to rent a car to experience some of the country’s most incredible landscapes.

Thinking about taking your first solo trip but have no idea where to start?

I have been there!

Solo travel sounds exciting in theory. You picture yourself wandering charming streets, sipping coffee at cute cafés, watching sunsets on the beach, and doing exactly what you want every single day. Then reality kicks in and you start wondering…

“Is it safe?”

“What if I get lonely?”

“What if something goes wrong?”

As women, we unfortunately have a few more things to think about than our male traveling counterparts. We have to be aware of our surroundings, trust our instincts, and sometimes make different choices to keep ourselves safe.

But here’s the thing.

We are smart. We are capable. And we do not need to wait for a friend, family member, or man for that matter to finally see the world.

You have the PTO.

You have the dream destination saved on Pinterest.

Go.

Solo travel is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

Want to stay at the beach for two extra hours? Stay.

Want to spend an hour reading a book in a cozy café? Do it.

Want to skip the overcrowded tourist attraction that everyone else insists on visiting? Skip it.

There is something incredibly freeing about realizing every decision is yours to make.

How I Fell in Love With Solo Travel

I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a solo traveler.

In fact, my first solo trip happened almost by accident.

In 2021, after being cooped up at my parents’ house during the pandemic, I was desperate to see the world again. My job was fully remote, and honestly, this was before “digital nomad” became the buzzword it is today.

I decided to ease into it by moving to Germany for three months because I already knew coworkers who lived there.

Every weekend, I hopped on a train or budget airline and explored somewhere new around Europe.

By the end of the first month, I was completely hooked.

Since then, I’ve solo traveled to 47 countries, and it has genuinely changed my life.

Never Traveled Solo Before? Start Small.

If the thought of booking an international trip by yourself feels overwhelming, don’t start there.

Book a weekend trip somewhere in your own country that you’ve never visited.

Everyone speaks your language.

You already understand the culture.

It gives you the confidence of navigating somewhere new without adding extra stress.

You can even start even smaller.

Take yourself on solo dates in your own city.

Go to dinner.

Visit a museum.

Spend an afternoon at a coffee shop with a good book.

Every day can include a little solo adventure if you’re intentional about it.

Once you’ve done that, international solo travel suddenly doesn’t feel nearly as intimidating.

Now for the fun part.

Here are my favorite countries for solo female travelers.

5. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest completely surprised me.

Before my trip, so many people warned me that it wasn’t safe for solo female travelers.

After spending four amazing days there, my response is...

Were we talking about the same city?

I absolutely loved Budapest.

I never once felt unsafe walking around during the day, and the city is incredibly easy to explore on foot or by tram.

The only thing I felt like I was missing out on was the nightlife.

I had heard so much about Budapest’s famous ruin bars, but there was no way I was going bar hopping alone after watching Taken one too many times.

Instead, I booked a group nightlife tour.

It ended up being one of the best decisions I made.

Not only did I feel much safer, but I also met some incredible fellow solo travelers that I still follow years later.

I also joined a sunset Danube River cruise, which turned into another highlight of my trip.

If there’s something you want to experience but don’t feel comfortable doing alone, book a group tour.

You’ll feel safer and probably make friends along the way.

Most locals speak English, transportation is simple, and Budapest is one of the most walkable cities I’ve visited.

4. Portugal

Portugal quickly became one of my favorite places to travel alone.

I expected the language barrier to be difficult, but it honestly wasn’t an issue.

Between Google Translate and how widely English is spoken, getting around was surprisingly easy.

I flew into Lisbon before taking the train south to the Algarve, where I explored Faro and Lagos.

Portugal has a relaxed pace that makes solo travel feel easy.

You can spend the morning wandering colorful streets, grab fresh seafood for lunch, relax on some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches, and finish the day watching the sunset from dramatic cliffs.

It’s the kind of place where traveling alone feels peaceful instead of lonely.

3. Scotland

Honestly...

Just go to Scotland.

The entire country deserves a spot on this list.

One of the biggest reasons I recommend Scotland for first-time solo travelers is that English is the primary language, which removes so much of the stress that can come with international travel.

Beyond that, the people are incredibly friendly.

Whether you’re wandering Edinburgh’s historic streets, exploring castles, or driving through the Highlands, Scotland feels welcoming.

If you’re nervous about taking your first international solo trip, Scotland is a fantastic place to build your confidence.

2. The Baltic Countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)

Okay, I know this is technically three countries.

But hear me out.

The Baltics make one incredible road trip.

They’re affordable, easy to travel between, and somehow still fly under the radar compared to many European destinations.

Everyone speaks excellent English, which made traveling around incredibly easy.

I even went to the movies in Latvia, where the film was in English with Russian subtitles.

One of the things I appreciated most was how safe I felt.

No catcalling.

No one bothering you while walking around.

Just clean, beautiful cities full of history and friendly people.

Yes, these countries are geographically close to Russia.

No, I never once felt unsafe because of that.

For transparency, I’m white, so I blend in visually in this region. Friends of mine who are people of color have also visited the Baltics, and they told me they felt very safe throughout their trips as well.

If you’re looking for somewhere unique that your friends probably haven’t visited yet, put the Baltics at the top of your list.

1. Iceland

If someone asked me for the single best country for a first solo female trip, my answer would be Iceland every single time.

There is a reason it’s consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world.

If you visit during the summer, daylight stretches well past midnight.

That means you don’t have the usual feeling of rushing back before dark.

Getting around is also incredibly easy.

You can rent a car and drive yourself, or do what I did and join day tours from Reykjavík.

I visited the Blue Lagoon and explored part of the Ring Road toward Vík, and I met so many wonderful people on those tours without having to worry about driving unfamiliar roads.

One thing I loved about Iceland was the overall feeling of respect.

The country has long been recognized as a global leader in gender equality, and that culture really comes through.

Historically, while men spent long periods at sea, Icelandic women managed households and communities, helping shape a culture that values independence and equality.

The country also has extremely low crime rates.

There is no standing army, the police are generally unarmed, and there is a strong sense of trust throughout society.

Even if you’re outdoors exploring waterfalls, hiking trails, or camping, there aren’t dangerous animals to worry about.

The wildlife you’ll likely encounter includes Icelandic horses, sheep, Arctic foxes, seals, and countless seabirds.

Iceland is also known for being welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly, making it an inclusive destination for all travelers.

If you’re only going to take one solo international trip this year, make it Iceland.

You won’t regret it.

Final Thoughts

Solo travel isn’t about proving you’re fearless.

It’s about proving to yourself that you’re capable.

You’ll become more confident.

You’ll trust yourself more.

You’ll realize you’re stronger than you ever gave yourself credit for.

And one day you’ll look back and wonder why you waited so long to book that first flight.

The world is far too beautiful to spend your entire life waiting for someone else’s schedule to line up with yours.

Go see it.

Even if you have to go alone.

I’d love to hear about your own solo adventures, whether you’ve already taken one or you’re planning your very first trip. Leave a comment below and tell me where you’re thinking about going next. If this post gave you the confidence to finally book that ticket, send it to another woman who has been waiting for “someday.”

Maybe this is the year you both stop waiting.

“Houston, we have a problem!”

That problem is that Houston isn't on your travel bucket list yet! I understand this is a crazy thing to say. Houston is not exactly the city that makes people slam their laptop shut and start googling flights. But hear me out, because there is a NASA in Houston and it will absolutely wreck you in the best possible way.

NASA is a hot topic right now. I was surprised to find out that most people in my life had NO idea you could just... go visit it. Like, book a ticket, show up, and spend the day inside one of the most extraordinary places on the planet. When I told my family and friends I was going to Space Center Houston, each one of them said “wait, you can do that??”.

You can do that. You absolutely can do that. And after my visit, I made it my personal mission to get every single person I know to go, which is why you are reading this blog post right now.

In full transparency, I didn’t do the standard visit. I got a little bit of a hookup, and it was thanks to knowing a guy who knows a girl who just happens to be a literal rocket scientist (I don’t think I’m being figurative?) who was part of the team that helped bring the Artemis astronauts back to Earth. This tour was my first time really spending time with her and I for sure made her uncomfortable with the level of admiration I directed at her. I couldn’t stop gushing over how cool her job is and how smart she is and I genuinely don’t know how to be normal about it. Some people freak out about seeing celebrities. My cringe trait is freaking out over insanely smart people. I once followed Former Astronaut Scott Kelly through the US Capitol as he was getting into an elevator just to tell him what an honor it was to be in his presence. Safe to say I have never been chill around NASA employees, and why would I be?! It is the coolest job in the world, full stop. But I digress. Anyway, she was kind enough to bring us along on a tour of Johnson Space Center and get us access to parts of the JSC campus that regular visitors don’t see, which was absolutely the best day of my life and I will think about it forever.

BUT. Here’s the thing. You don’t need a NASA scientist in your contacts to have the best day of your entire year at Space Center Houston. The public experience is incredible. I’m going to tell you exactly how to do it right, for about $45, with zero connections required. You just have to know what to do the second you walk in the door.

First though: let me tell you WHY you need to go, because I don’t think most people understand what they’re actually walking into.

This Is a Living Museum

I think when people hear “space museum” they picture like, a cool exhibit with some freeze-dried ice cream and a few retired spacesuits. Which, sure, that exists here too. But Johnson Space Center is not a museum pretending to be important. It is an actual operational NASA campus where real things are happening right now, and Space Center Houston is the visitor center that gives regular people a window into it.

The Mission Control building at JSC is running ISS operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not a replica. Not a restored historical version. The actual Mission Control. The people in there are tracking astronauts in space as you read this.

And then, right next door, is the Apollo-era Mission Control room, frozen in time and restored to look exactly as it did on July 20, 1969, when humans landed on the Moon for the first time in history. “Houston, we have a problem” happened in that room. The Apollo 13 crisis was coordinated from those consoles. The ashtrays are still there (what a time to be alive). The coffee cups are still there (which is a weird touch).

The contrast between those two rooms is almost too much to process. We went to the Moon from here in 1969, and we’re running astronauts in orbit from next door right now. Standing in that building broke my brain.

And here’s why 2026 specifically is the right time to go: Artemis. We are living between eras right now. The ISS era is still active, the Artemis lunar return program (with Orion, the Lunar Gateway, and actual humans back on the Moon) is being staffed, trained for, and simulated on this campus right now. The hardware that will carry humans back to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years is being rehearsed at Johnson Space Center.

Going to JSC in 2026 is like visiting NASA in 1967, right before Apollo 11. You are watching the pre-production phase of one of the most significant chapters in human history, in real time. That’s rare. Almost nowhere else on Earth gives you this kind of proximity to active human spaceflight development.

The 4 Things You Absolutely Cannot Miss

1. The Astronaut Training Facility (Building 9)

This is the one that will make your jaw drop open (me, dramatic?). Building 9 contains full-scale, 1:1 ISS module mockups. Not models. Not replicas to scale. Full-sized training environments where astronauts currently assigned to spaceflight rotations practice and rehearse before they go to actual space. There are also Orion spacecraft mockups and lunar rover prototypes in there. You walk an elevated catwalk overlooking the entire training floor and it looks like a museum, except it is not a museum. It is a live astronaut training gym. Sometimes there are active astronauts down on the floor while you’re watching from above. That is the part that will mess with your head: the clean, precise, operational feel of it. I felt like I was in a movie the entire time.

2. Historic Mission Control

I already mentioned the contrast moment, but let me say it again for emphasis: they restored this room to its exact 1969 appearance and being in it is one of the most unexpectedly emotional experiences I have ever had in my life. I did not anticipate almost tearing up in Mission Control, but I grew up watching movie after movie about this room and all the history that took place in it, and it was surreal being in the room where it happened (everything goes back to Hamilton).

3. The Saturn V Rocket

I thought I understood how big the Saturn V rocket was. I did not understand. This thing is longer than a football field, taller than a 40-story building when laid sideways, and one of only three remaining fully assembled Saturn V rockets in existence. Standing underneath it doesn’t feel like looking at an artifact. It feels like standing next to something out of a movie set, except it’s real, and they just let you get incredibly close to it. A LITERAL ROCKET. Just sitting there. Wild.

A little context that makes it even more impressive: the Saturn V at Johnson Space Center was originally used for testing and engineering purposes. Before modern digital simulators existed, NASA relied on full-scale physical rockets like this one for alignment, training, and systems validation. It helped engineers and astronauts understand the real hardware in a way that simulations simply couldn’t replicate at the time. After the Apollo program ended, this Saturn V was actually stored outdoors for decades, exposed to Houston’s brutal humidity, rain, and heat, which led to significant corrosion. It eventually required extensive restoration before being moved into Rocket Park’s protective structure. What makes it so powerful beyond its sheer scale is that it’s the largest object ever built by humans to send missions beyond Earth orbit, built and flown in the 1960s and 70s with less computing power than your phone. You don’t just see it. You feel how massive and audacious Apollo was.

4. The NASA Tram Tour Itself

Here’s the part people miss: the tram takes you through an actual active government campus. The buildings you pass are real engineering labs. The doors you see are real mission offices. The people you occasionally spot are engineers, mission staff, or astronauts in training. Nothing is staged for tourists. You are a visitor inside a working space agency, and that feeling hits completely differently than any theme park or even most museums. Once you clock it, you can’t un-clock it.

The ~$45 “Almost VIP” Strategy

If you, by some miracle, happen to know a NASA employee who can take you along, please for the love of all things good in this universe say yes immediately. The context and access that comes from being on campus with someone who actually works there is incomparable. I saw things that would have been completely invisible to me as a regular visitor. If that door exists for you even a little bit, open it without hesitation.

But for everyone else (which is most of us, because NASA scientists are not exactly abundant at dinner parties), here is the strategy:

Step 1: Buy your tickets in advance, at least 2 weeks out.

Head to spacecenter.org and grab General Admission (~$30) plus the Historic Mission Control Tour add-on (~$15). Total: around ~$45. Book early, especially for weekends. General admission can sell out. The Mission Control Tour definitely sells out. This is not me being dramatic (even though this blog post is not helping my dramatic reputation). This is me saving you from flying/driving to Houston and standing in a parking lot being sad.

Step 2: Get there right when they open.

9 AM! Be there or be disappointed. This is genuinely the single biggest difference between a great visit and a frustrating one, because crowds build fast and the tram tours fill up. And how many times can one person visit Houston anyway? (I live in Austin so I’m biased)

Step 3: Do NOT wander the exhibits first. I cannot stress this enough.

The moment you walk in the door, go directly to Guest Services or the Tram Boarding Area and ask for the Astronaut Training Facility / Building 9 boarding pass. This is first-come, first-served and it fills up fast. Get the pass, get your time slot, then go enjoy everything else. Missing this because you got distracted by a cool moon rock display is the number one mistake visitors make, and with my ADHD, I am the first person to get distracted by cool stuff. Do not let it happen to you.

Step 4: Do your Historic Mission Control Tour (usually around 10 to 11 AM depending on the day).

Step 5: Hit your Building 9 tram at your assigned time (often mid-morning to early afternoon).

Step 6: Go to Rocket Park. SATURN V!

Step 7: Everything else. Independence Plaza, the Starship Gallery, the Moon and Mars rocks you can actually touch (!!!), all the museum exhibits. Plan for 4 to 6 hours minimum. If you’re a super space nerd, plan for a full day (but you will probably be tired after 4 hours, or at least I was, so do with that information what you will).

For under $50, you will have seen Apollo Mission Control, the ISS training mockups, and the Saturn V rocket. That’s the core of what the old pre-pandemic $200 to $400 VIP tours used to offer, just without floor-level access inside restricted buildings. Not bad at all.

Quick Note on Those VIP Tours

They used to offer proper VIP tours for around $200 where you got significantly deeper access to restricted facilities. They’ve been paused since the pandemic. Space Center Houston is a nonprofit that needs NASA approval every time it enters restricted areas, and with staffing priorities shifting to Artemis and ISS missions, the scheduling inside active training buildings became too unpredictable to structure a paid tour around.

Honestly? I think this is fine. It means NASA is busy doing cool things, which is exactly what you want NASA to be doing. The fact that the VIP tours don’t exist anymore is a sign that the Artemis era is actually happening, and that is exciting news.

We Have to Talk About the Gift Shop

I have been to hundreds of museum gift shops in my life. Hundreds. I am a person who genuinely loves a gift shop, who will happily spend 45 minutes putzing around and perusing long after everyone else is ready to leave. Is it because I love finding the perfect souvenir? Is it because I have a shopping addiction? Who is to say! Both can be true!

But I need you to know: the Space Center Houston gift shop is the best museum gift shop I have ever been in. And it is not close. I spent a full hour in there. An hour! They did not pay me to say this. I just need you to be prepared.

The NASA merch alone is worth the trip. We are talking genuinely cool stuff, not the cheap tourist trap version of “cool.” Flight jackets, mission patches, astronaut-grade freeze-dried ice cream (obviously), apparel that you would actually wear in real life and not just ironically, and enough space-themed items to fully accessorize your home, your wardrobe, and everyone on your holiday shopping list. Even if you skip every single recommendation in this blog post and just want some incredible NASA swag, you can show up solely for the gift shop and leave deeply satisfied.

And if you want to make your visit extra memorable: walk in, find a staff member, and tell them Conrad’s Compass sent you. They will look at you with genuine confusion and offer you absolutely zero discounts. But it could be a fun bit.

Okay, Go. Seriously.

If you care about space even a little, if you ever watched a rocket launch and felt something, if you ever looked up at the Moon and thought about the fact that humans have stood there: go to Johnson Space Center. Go while we’re in this “before” era, before Artemis launches and the whole thing changes again. Go stand under the Saturn V. Go sit in the Apollo Mission Control room and feel the weight of what happened there.

And if your boyfriend’s cousin happens to work there and she has graciously agreed to tolerate your overwhelming enthusiasm in person, you are the luckiest person alive and you should tell her that. Again. Even if she already looks a little tired of hearing it. (too niche? ;-)

Questions about planning your visit? Drop them below! If you’ve already been to JSC and have your own nerd-out moments, I would love to hear about them. 🚀

New here? Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. More places incoming, some on Earth, some (fingers crossed, manifesting, sending into the universe) a little closer to space.

_{Tags: Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, NASA Houston visitor guide, Artemis program 2026, how to visit NASA, ISS training facility tour, Apollo Mission Control tour, Saturn V rocket Houston, NASA travel guide, Building 9 astronaut training, Historic Mission Control tickets, what to do in Houston Texas, space museum Houston, NASA tour tips, Johnson Space Center itinerary}

Okay, I have a confession to make. I was a snob about Peru.

There, I said it. I travel a lot. Like, a lot a lot. I had built my travel personality around loving the unexpected places. The countries people overlook. Albania. Estonia. Kazakhstan. The places where people back home respond with, “Wait… why are you there?”

I had fully convinced myself that Peru was the Italy-in-summer of South America. Overdone. Overhyped. I thought Peru was too touristy. Too obvious. Too ‘everyone from your high school posts the same Machu Picchu photo’ energy’.

So when my teacher friend Kylie called me up and said she wanted to spend spring break in Peru and needed a travel buddy, my first answer was a hard no.

A week in Peru? During American spring break season? Surrounded by other tourists? Hard pass.

And then I remembered: being in any country with a good friend is always a good time. Plus, I’ve started living by this motto: I’m young, I can always go back.

You don’t have to spend a month somewhere to make it worth it.

But normal people with normal jobs do not always have a month. Sometimes you just have a week.

So I said yes, I packed my bags, I swallowed my snobbishness, and I went to Peru (woe is me, I know I sound insufferable and out of touch here, but stick with me).

Traveling with a teacher is not for the weak. Teachers are trained to maximize every possible second of free time like they are fitting educational objectives into a lesson plan.

By the end of this trip, I genuinely felt like I had survived Peru: AP Honors Edition.

But despite the exhaustion, this trip completely changed my opinion of Peru. The landscapes were unreal. The people were warm. The food is delicious. The history was fascinating. And Machu Picchu somehow exceeded the hype. This is the itinerary we did in a week… packed, chaotic, breathtaking, and occasionally sleep-deprived to the point of unhinged. I’ll tell you what to copy, what to skip, and where I would do it differently.

If you’re planning a Peru itinerary for 7 days, especially your first trip to Peru, this guide is for you.

Let’s go.

Before We Get Into It: The Inca Trail Question

Every single person who has found out I went to Peru asks me some version of: “How was the Inca Trail hike?”

And every time I answer, “Zero,” they look at me like I cheated.

Most people in their 20s and 30s visiting Machu Picchu seem to be doing some kind of intense hiking trek. But my teacher friend had exactly one week off for spring break, and neither of us had time to properly acclimate to altitude and then immediately go hike mountains for four days.

A few years ago my friend Keith did the full Inca Trail trek right after landing in Cusco without assimilating to the altitude and said he genuinely thought he might die from altitude sickness halfway through the trek.

So we chose the Disneyland version instead:

The train and bus.

And I have no regrets.

If you only have one week in Peru, the train to Machu Picchu is the best use of your time.

Also, let’s be real here.

If you are going to Peru for the first time, your trip is probably centered around Machu Picchu.

And it should be.

It’s one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” for a reason.

Day 1–2: The Travel Day (Yes, the Whole Day. Commit to It.)

We flew red-eye from Atlanta to Lima, landed in the wee hours of the morning, cleared customs faster than expected, and then had a 5-hour layover before our domestic flight to Cusco.

My Dad has a philosophy on travel days that genuinely changed my outlook on life: if it’s a travel day, commit to the travel day. Mentally allocate the full day to travel. Don’t book anything for when you land. Whatever you manage to do when you arrive is a bonus. You can’t be disappointed by missing out on things if you never expected to do them.

The Lima airport, for the record, is extremely nice. Get yourself a coffee, walk laps, people watch. You’ll survive.

Once we landed in Cusco, we checked into our Airbnb (we stayed outside the touristy center at Av. Inca Garcilaso de la Vega 215, Cusco which is a safe, very walkable, mostly-locals neighborhood and significantly cheaper than being in the thick of it.) If you’re planning to cook most of your meals (which I always do as a celiac traveler… more on that below), get a place with a kitchen.

The most important thing I can tell you about Day 1 in Cusco: DO NOTHING.

Or at least, do almost nothing. Walk to a café. Sit in the sun. Drink electrolytes. I like Nuun tablets- they’re tiny, you can toss a tube in your bag and forget about them until you desperately need them, which in Cusco you will. The altitude in Cusco sits at 3,400 meters (11,152 feet) above sea level and it will hit you fast. I am a former Division I swimmer. I consider myself to be in excellent cardio shape. Cusco made me feel like I had the lungs of a Victorian child. Take it easy.

Day 3: Coca Leaves, Cusco’s Town Square & Hiking to the White Christ

I woke up on Day 2 in Cusco feeling like I had the world’s worst hangover (without drinking a drop of alcohol.) Classic altitude sickness.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner: just have the coca leaves. They sell coca leaf tea everywhere, and I mean everywhere – cafés, (your Airbnb probably has tea on the counter), corner stores. I resisted because I have a very 90s kid D.A.R.E-program-energy about anything that sounds vaguely drug-adjacent, and I genuinely thought coca leaves would get me high. That is embarrassing in hindsight. They won’t get you high. They’re a plant. Natives have been using them for thousands of years and the Incas considered them sacred - our tour guides would literally place coca leaves on the earth before starting a tour as a blessing. Much more chill and kinder to my body than the ibuprofen I was aggressively taking.

Once you’re hydrated and coca tea’d up, it’s time to actually see Cusco.

Head to Plaza de Armas (also called Plaza Mayor de Cusco - same place, don’t let the two names stress you out). This is the heart of the city and it is gorgeous. Surrounded by Spanish colonial architecture, great restaurants, and a buzzing local energy. Eat the local cuisine. Walk around. Feel magical about being there.

Then, if you’re feeling up to a little physical challenge, walk toward Saqsaywaman and up to the Mirador desde el Cristo Blanco - the big white statue overlooking the city. From Plaza de Armas, it’s about 30–40 minutes of walking uphill. At sea level this would be extremely easy. At 11,000+ feet, it is a character-building exercise that I highly recommend. The view at the top is a 360° panorama of the entire valley that Cusco sits in, and it is absolutely stunning. Bring water, bring snacks, go slow. At the top you’ll find the White Christ statue (think of this as the “little sibling” of the famous one in Rio de Janeiro) and if you time it right, you’ll get spectacular light.

On your walk there, stop at Mirador Siete Borreguitos (it’s a charming photo spot through a cute residential stretch of town).

After the hike, we grabbed smoothies and sat in Plaza de Armas, did some prime people-watching, and ended up chatting with female solo travelers from Germany, Korea, and Argentina. This is what I love about traveling! Town squares with no traffic, a fountain, and strangers who came from all over the world for the same reason you did. It’s good for the soul.

Now back to our place of stay and of to bed early. Tomorrow is a big one.

Day 4: Sacred Valley Full Day Tour (Salt Mines, Inca Ruins)

Up at 5am. Bus leaves at 5:30am. Does not return until 7pm.

It’s a long day, but worth it.

I cannot recommend the Sacred Valley + Salt Mines tour highly enough. We paid under $30 per person with lunch included. The tour guides are fantastic and knowledgeable and t(his is something I genuinely love about Peru) they are actually local. This isn’t a country where Americans or Europeans have taken over the tourism industry. The people guiding you know this land deeply because it’s their land. Tip them generously.

Pack protein bars or hit the grocery store the night before. Roadside snack options are limited and mostly sugar. Trust me.

Here’s what the day looks like:

Chinchero — Your first stop, and the highest altitude of the day at 12,500 feet (even higher than Cusco, which is exactly why they start here so you acclimatize going downward from here). This tiny village is known as the “birthplace of the rainbow” for its endless traditional textiles, and it’s stunning in the early morning quiet. There’s a textile demo where locals show how they create vibrant dyes entirely from nature, using techniques passed down for generations. Adorable llamas are onsite. Yes, you will take 47 photos of them.

Moray — Ancient Inca agricultural terraces built in concentric circles into the hillsides. It looks like crop circles. I kept waiting for someone to explain the alien connection. The Incas figured out how to farm across dramatically different soil layers using this system which is genuinely impressive engineering from the 1400s.

Moras Salt Ponds — This is the star of the show and probably why you booked this tour in the first place. Over 5,000 salt ponds cascading down the hillside, still in use today just as the Incas used them to preserve food. Your guide does a great job balancing fun facts with actual photo time, so don’t be the person who’s wondering off to take photos while they’re talking.

Urubamba — A quick stop for a buffet lunch. As someone who’s gluten-free, I was relieved the food was labeled and there was some meat and veggies for me to eat (the bar is on the ground). Did I feel amazing after this meal? Absolutely not, but at least I wasn’t starving. Get your protein in, you’ve still got a full afternoon ahead.

Ollantaytambo — My personal highlight of the entire day. This ancient terraced fortress overlooking the town is truly impressive. You can climb 200+ steps to the top for incredible views (go slow, still altitude), and there’s a river running through the whole complex that makes it look like something out of a storybook. Many travelers in your group will leave here to board their train to Aguas Calientes (that’s going to be you tomorrow).

Pisac — Your final stop, and by now you’re tired and your feet hurt, but the archaeological site closes at 4:30pm, which meant our group was literally sprinting to get through the gates before they closed. We made it. Then we were allowed to stay until 6pm and it became one of those shared-suffering group bonding moments that are actually my favorite travel memories. Beautiful ruins, great views, team camaraderie earned through sweat.

Altitude cheat sheet for the day:

- Chinchero: 3,762m

- Moray: 3,500m

- Urubamba: 2,870m

- Ollantaytambo: 2,792m

- Pisac: 2,980m

Day 5: Aguas Calientes: The Town That Stole My Heart

Today you head to Aguas Calientes, the small town nestled at the base of Machu Picchu. Everyone takes the train to get here unless you plan on hiking for 4 days. Even locals, as the drive takes too long around the mountains. Even if you’re hiking the Inca Trail, you end up in this beautiful town.

IncaRail logistics (please read this carefully because confusion is to be expected):

• Book at least 30 days in advance. Tickets sell out. The panoramic train car sells out first, but I got the regular/cheaper “Voyager” ticket and the windows are huge so you won’t miss much. I recommend saving the money.

• The IncaRail office in Cusco is NOT a train station. This trips everyone up. The office at Av. El Sol N° 843 is where you check in (bring your passport). They put you on a bus there, which drives you two hours to Ollantaytambo, which IS the actual train station.

• Arrive early. We got to the office 40 minutes before departure. Buses load on a rolling first-come basis so there’s no reason to cut it close. Also, accents are strong and they call your name, so put your headphones away.

The bus ride through the countryside to Ollantaytambo is beautiful. There’s a halfway scenic viewpoint stop - MachuQolqa Viewpoint - that feels a little touristy but is a nice leg stretch. At Ollantaytambo station, grab food and use the bathroom immediately because lines grow fast. Then wait for your letter group to be called: I was Group D, so I waited near the exit until they showed my letter and followed the guide to my train car.

Here’s the thing about the train that I did not expect: it’s a full production. The workers are in traditional outfits. Before you board, they’re dancing and chanting and it is a VIBE. Once on the train, there’s live storytelling, actors, dancers performing in each car. I packed my own food to save money but snacks are available to buy. The ride goes by fast because there’s so much to look at, inside and outside.

Arriving at Aguas Calientes: the station drops you right in the heart of town. This is absolutely a tourist town - shops, restaurants, fellow travelers - but surrounded by mountains and a rushing river, it is stunning. We stayed at Panorama B&B, which I completely loved. If you can swing it, stay near the Urubamba River. Falling asleep to the sound of the waterfall is worth the splurge.

Two very important things to do upon arrival:

1. Go straight to the bus ticket office. At Avenida Hermanos Ayar y, Aguas Calientes, bring your passport and a photo of your Machu Picchu ticket. You MUST buy your bus ticket the day before. Do not wait until the morning of your visit, as they can sell out.

2. Go to the Butterfly Zoo (Mariposario de Machu Picchu). I know this sounds like a random side quest but I promise it’s worth it. It’s a sanctuary where you walk among hundreds of butterflies and can hold them. There’s an educational tour every half hour. The walk there follows the river and it’s gorgeous.

Get to bed early. Tomorrow is the whole reason you came.

Day 6: MACHU PICCHU DAY

“The sun is shining, the tank is clean — THE TANK IS CLEAN!” (There is a Finding Nemo quote for every occasion).

We had a 6am entrance ticket, which meant being at the bus stop at 5am. I will never complain about this because the ruins at sunrise with almost nobody else there is something I will think about for the rest of my life.

Quick logistics:

• Bus ticket + passport + Machu Picchu ticket required to board the bus

• Your registered tour guide gets in free, so don’t worry about them (book your tour guide in advance through a local tour group or getyourguide/Viator as they are cheap and it makes the experience so much more enjoyable to know what you are looking at)

• The bus ride up the mountain is winding and dramatic and kind of terrifying in the best way - you’re high off the ground, curving up a mountain with the sunrise breaking around you. Surreal.

On tour guides: you don’t technically need one to walk the circuits. But there is so much layered history here that I personally think you’d be shortchanging yourself by going alone, at least for the main ruins. Book through GetYourGuide if you want, but the local guides told us: find out which agency the guide is actually from (it’s usually listed in the posting), then book directly with that agency. Cuts out GetYourGuide’s 25% commission and keeps more money local.

On circuits: The circuit system was implemented in 2024 and can be confusing. Here’s what I did:

• Circuit 1 (Panoramic): The iconic view. The one you’ve seen in every photo. Get here early for zero crowds and incredible morning light.

• Circuit 3 (Machu Picchu Royalty): We started here at sunrise and it was completely empty. Magical.

• Inca Bridge (Puente Inca): Added this on and loved it. It’s a quieter, more secluded trail along the mountainside. Some narrow sections with no railing, but nothing sketch if you’re reasonably coordinated. You don’t see a ton at the very end, but the walk itself is peaceful and beautiful.

• Huayna Picchu / Montana: My friend Jared did this and he said clouds covered the whole view once he got to the top. Very hard in the altitude. Do with that information what you will. I did not personally hike this.

Note: Circuit 2 was sold out when I bought tickets three months in advance. Book early so you can do Circuit 1, 2 and 3 as I really wish I could have done Circuit 2 as well.

The thing I wish I’d done differently: our tour guide kind of rushed us off the mountain after the circuits, and I assumed we had a time limit. We did not. You can stay as long as you want. When you get to that panoramic view, the one you’ve seen a thousand times in photos, sit down. Stay there a while. Let it sink in. I wish I had been there for 4 hours in that spot alone!

Helpful resource for navigating circuits: trexperienceperu.com

Machu Picchu Fun Facts (To get you excited for all the learning to be had!)

• Built in the mid-1400s by Inca Emperor Pachacuti, originally as a refuge for women and children

• When Spanish conquistadors arrived, the Incas fled- but the Spanish never found it. The city sat empty and eventually overgrown for centuries

• Hiram Bingham III, a Yale explorer, brought global attention to it in 1911- but local families already knew about it and a local boy actually guided him there. He “discovered” it the way Columbus “discovered” America

• The stones are cut so precisely they fit together without mortar- making it essentially earthquake-proof (useful, since Peru gets a lot of earthquakes)

• About 60% of the city is underground, built for drainage and stability

• It had an advanced water system including a fountain reserved exclusively for the king

• The llamas you see roaming the ruins are not native- they were brought in for tourism and also serve as very cute lawnmowers

• “Machu Picchu” means “Old Mountain” in Quechua

• UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007

• Altitude: 2,430m (7,972 ft) - lower than Cusco, so you’ll breathe easier here

After our hike, we went back into Aguas Calientes for lunch, then spent the afternoon by the waterfall doing absolutely nothing useful and loving every second of it.

Now here’s what I would do differently: we took a late train back to Cusco that night, caught traffic on the bus from Ollantaytambo, arrived in the city around 9pm exhausted, then immediately got a cab to the airport for an 11pm flight to Lima. We had been awake since 4:30am. I’m tired just typing this.

My actual recommendation: Stay one more night in Aguas Calientes. It’s the best town of the whole trip. Enjoy it. Take the train the morning after Machu Picchu, spend a relaxed day back in Cusco, and then head to Lima the following day. Cities will always be there. The small magical river towns are what you’ll actually remember.

Day 7: The Desert Add-On (Type 2 Fun, Defined)

I want to preface this by saying: I would not recommend this day if you only have a week. We were running on almost no sleep, I was becoming a version of myself that my friend probably did not enjoy very much, and we were doing this as an add-on after Machu Picchu. That said, the photos are some of the best I’ve ever taken in my life, and the experience was genuinely unforgettable. So I’ll let you decide.

We caught a 5:30am bus from Lima (yes, another 5am morning) down to Paracas, about 3.5 hours away. The early departure is strategic; you get out of Lima traffic before the city wakes up.

Paracas is called the “Galápagos Islands of Peru”, and the boat tour does not disappoint. You’ll see penguins, seals, stone arches carved by erosion, and the Paracas Candelabra (a 180-meter geoglyph carved into a hillside that no one fully understands). It’s ancient, it’s enormous, and it’s wild to see with your own eyes. Our tour guide did the whole thing in English and Spanish, keeping it accessible and interesting.

On the boat, we ended up next to a Colombian family, two doctors and their teenage daughter about to study in the States, and they were so interesting to talk to that I now have an entire Colombia bucket list based on their recommendations. That’s why it’s the journey, not the destination. It is the people you meet along the way that make a trip.

After the boat tour, lunch in Paracas: skip the tour group option and find a local spot. We found Restaurante Puerto Ballestas Patacas right on Playa Paracas, and they were incredible and took my celiac disease very seriously despite a language barrier, kept saying “no contiene gluten” while nodding emphatically. 10/10, please go support them.

Next a 1 hour drive from Paracas: Huacachina.

If Paracas was cool, Huacachina was a full spiritual experience.

Huacachina is a tiny oasis town (a literal human-made lake surrounded by enormous sand dunes) and it looks like you’ve been dropped into the movie Dune. We rented skis (my friend got a snowboard) and took dune buggies up the massive dunes at speeds that would make an American liability lawyer cry. Is it slightly chaotic? Yes. Did I ever feel actually unsafe? Honestly no. The drivers are absolute experts who also happen to love putting on a show for tourists, and the whole thing is absurdly fun.

Sand skiing, for the record, is easier than snow skiing and I am a terrible snow skier. Use the wax they give you and just go for it.

Then, at the end of the dune buggy run, they take you to watch the sunset over the dunes.

I don’t have better words for it than this: it felt spiritual. It felt healing. Looking out over an endless ocean of sand as the sky turned pink and gold, I felt infinite. I came to Peru for Machu Picchu and I was completely undone by a desert oasis I’d barely heard of.

We made it back to Lima around midnight. Longest day of my life.

Sidebar: a friend of mine did this leg differently, he skipped Paracas, took a bus directly to Ica (the town near Huacachina), stayed the night, rented a car, and also visited Playa Roja on the way back to Lima. That sounds like the more chill version and I’d consider it for next time.

Day 8: Lima: The Beautiful Finale

Last day. We were staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Miraflores on points and I have never been more grateful for a comfortable hotel bed in my life.

We took the morning slow. Breakfast at Milenaria Café near the hotel (gluten-free friendly, celiac-safe, excellent eggs, avocado toast, acai bowls, and the kind of latte that made me feel like a human again). Highly recommend.

After breakfast, we walked through the Miraflores Indian Market which is great for browsing art, picking up souvenirs that aren’t just magnets, and finding inexpensive pieces that actually mean something. Some of my favorite things in my apartment right now came from here.

Then we Ubered over to Plaza Mayor de Lima (the “old town” area) for the afternoon. We happened to be there right after Easter and stumbled into a massive post-holiday block party in the square with food trucks, dancing, ice cream, the whole thing. The colonial architecture is stunning and it’s very much worth a few hours of wandering.

Back to Miraflores for our last evening: dessert at Madre Planta (a fully gluten-free restaurant: I am legally obligated to check out every gluten-free dessert spot in any city I visit) and then dinner at Cevichería Barra Maretazo, which served us the best ceviche I have ever had. Traditional, fresh, naturally dairy and gluten-friendly. I also tried a Pisco Sour for the first time and hated it completely, which I think is the correct reaction for someone who doesn’t love cocktails in general. Still worth trying. It’s the national drink. You owe it to Peru.

Lima Foods Worth Knowing:

Savory:

• Ceviche -- raw fish marinated in lime, chili, and onions. Get it everywhere

• Lomo Saltado -- Chinese-Peruvian stir-fry with beef, tomatoes, onions, and fries (yes, fries)

• Anticuchos -- marinated beef heart skewers from street corners. Don’t think about it, just eat it

• Causa Limeña -- spiced mashed potato layered with tuna or chicken and avocado

• Pan con Chicharrón - fried pork sandwich, great breakfast option

Sweet & Drinks:

• Pisco Sour -- Peru’s national cocktail. Try it even if you end up hating it like me

• Suspiro a la Limeña -- caramel pudding with meringue. Absolutely unhinged dessert in the best way

• Chicha Morada -- a non-alcoholic purple corn drink with pineapple, cinnamon, and cloves. My personal favorite thing I drank the whole trip

A Note for My Fellow Celiac/GF Travelers

You will not starve. Your tummy may be funky. A few things I learned:

• Cusco: I cooked a lot. Hit up SuperSol Supermercados for basics. The meat looks questionable (it tastes great, I promise). For eating out, Café-Panadería Panam & Co in the town square has the most incredible gluten-free alfajores I have ever put in my mouth. The dulce de leche is homemade. I ate four. Have 20 of them. Also check out Gallivanting Laura’s gluten-free Peru guide: she did the full eating-out research I didn’t.

• Sacred Valley: Pack your own food. It’s a long day and gluten-free options on the road are slim.

• Lima: Easy. The city is cosmopolitan and allergy-aware. Madre Planta is worth a visit as a fully GF safe haven.

• Huacachina: There is nothing there for you. Bring a banana, some nuts and a protein bar.

The Final Verdict

Peru broke every one of my snobby traveler assumptions and I am genuinely embarrassed it took me this long to go.

The people are warm, curious, and deeply proud of their culture. The history is layered and rich and everywhere you look. Machu Picchu lives up to every bit of hype; it’s one of those places that makes you feel genuinely small in the best way. And the unexpected magic of watching the sun set over the dunes of Huacachina… that’s going to stay with me for a long time.

If I had to pare this trip down for someone with exactly one week and sanity to preserve: do Cusco, Aguas Calientes, and Lima. Come back separately for the desert. Your future self will thank you.

And if you were a Peru snob like me? Let this be your sign.

Did this help you plan your trip? Drop a comment below: questions, thoughts, or just a thumbs up are welcome and would make my whole day.

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Tags: Peru travel guide, 1 week Peru itinerary, Machu Picchu first timer guide, Cusco travel tips, Aguas Calientes what to do, Sacred Valley tour, Huacachina dune buggy, gluten free travel Peru, Peru trip planning, South America travel, what to do in Lima Peru, Machu Picchu circuits explained, how to get to Machu Picchu without hiking, IncaRail guide

Day 1 – Tour downtown Helsinki

Start your first day touring Helsinki. I always like to start my first time in a city by taking a walking tour. That way you get to learn fun facts about the things you are seeing and get to know your way around town with a local. I always check GuruWalk website for what “free” walking tours are happening (free, BUT you should tip the tour guide at the end of the walk, so bring euros) or if nothing is showing up on Guruwalk, try either Viator or Getyourguide for walking tours.

After your walking tour, check out these places:

Wander around the Suomenlinna Fortress

• Take the HSL ferry leaving from the east side of the Market Square in central Helsinki, opposite the Presidential Palace.

  • The ferry service is operated by the Helsinki Region Transport Authority (HSL). Depending on the season and the time of day, ferries run 1 to 4 times per hour from the morning until the night throughout the year. The journey to Suomenlinna takes approximately 15 minutes.

  • Ferry schedules can be found in this Suomenlinna Online Guide under Traffic or on HSL Journey Planner.

  • Getting tickets: The ferry is part of Helsinki public transport. If you have a valid HSL ticket (AB, ABC or ABCD) you can use it on the ferry. Suomenlinna is in the HSL ticket zone A.

• Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site constructed by Sweden in 1748 on an island just off the coast of downtown. Originally named “Sveaborg” (Castle of the Swedes), it was built as a deterrent against Russian expansionism. Eventually, it was renamed to “Suomenlinna” (Castle of Finland) in 1918 when the country gained independence. Spend a few hours walking around the fort and learning some history reading the many plaques around the island. Or, bring a picnic and enjoy the views in one of the many grassy areas.

  • Admission to the fort is free, though each museum has its own admission fee. A guided tour costs 11 EUR.

Check out the Helsinki Cathedral

This cathedral was built in the 19th century as a tribute to Czar Nicholas I. Located in the heart of the city, it is one of the most recognizable aspects of the capital’s skyline. If you’ve visited a lot of cathedrals, you won’t likely walk away thinking this is one of the most impressive cathedrals you’ve ever seen, but it is one of the most unique and best in Scandinavia. They have a (free) short organ recital every Wednesday at 5pm. While I was in the city, I just wandered inside since it was the middle of the day and there was no service. It feels like you’re in a building from the movie Frozen.

• Open most days from 9am-6pm but times can vary so check the website. The suggested donation for admission is 5 EUR.

Try unique food at the Central Market

This place is a can’t miss stop in Helsinki. I had so much fun window shopping and people watching here. For souvenir shopping, tasty local food, fresh produce (including lots of berries in the summer), you have to check out the Central Market. There are tons of free samples of unique meats and cheeses too. I ended up buying reindeer jerky to take home for my family to try. They also have stalls with fresh smoothies and coffee and sweet treats. It’s located near the harbor on the coast of the Baltic Sea. In October, the herring market begins – this is a huge local event. The market has heated tents when it gets cold and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes around making it a fun place to visit any time of the year.

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Explore Seurasaari Island

This island just north of the city is home to an open-air museum featuring traditional style Finnish buildings. Guided tours are offered daily in the summer that take you around the buildings and shed light on how Finns lived from the 17th-19th centuries. The museum, which opened in 1909, collected buildings from all around the country so you won’t see any replicas here.

This open-air museum was so unique – I definitely recommend walking around. In April I went to an Easter Bonfire in the park. If you’re in Finland Easter weekend, this is a can’t-miss experience. It is tradition to burn a tree, the old belief is that fires and smoke would ward off evil spirits. It’s also tradition at Easter in Finland for young children to dress up as witches (just like Halloween in the States). On the Sunday before Easter the little witches then go from door to door, bringing willow twigs decorated with colorful feathers and crepe paper as blessings to drive away evil spirits, in return for treat.

See the Uspenski Cathedral

This large red cathedral is hard to miss. It’s an Eastern Orthodox church with large domes and gold crosses and has a very Russian feel to it. Consecrated in 1868, it’s the largest Eastern Orthodox church in all of Western Europe. The interior is very lavishly decoratedand features a large vaulted ceiling and lots of Eastern Orthodox icons (though some of the most famous icons have been stolen in recent years).

• Open Tuesday-Friday from 9:30am-4pm, Saturday from 10am-3pm and 4pm-7pm, and Sunday from 9am-3pm. Closed during ceremonies. Admission is free.

Day 2 - Visit the town of Porvoo

If you have more than one day to explore the Helsinki area, I recommend checking out local towns such as Porvoo.

Just under an hour from Helsinki, Porvoo is one of those places that feels like stepping into a storybook, and it’s absolutely worth adding to your Finland itinerary. Known for its colorful wooden houses lining the river and cobblestone streets winding through Old Town, Porvoo is the second-oldest city in Finland and full of charm you won’t find in the capital. Spend your time wandering the historic streets, popping into local boutiques and artisan shops, and grabbing coffee and a cinnamon bun at one of the cozy cafés. Don’t miss the Porvoo Cathedral, which dates back to the 15th century, or the chance to walk along the riverfront for iconic views of the red shoreline warehouses. If you’re a foodie, this is also a great place to try traditional Finnish dishes in a more relaxed, small-town setting, I’ve listed some must-try foods at the bottom of this guide to help you plan. It’s the perfect half-day or full-day trip if you want a slower, more picturesque contrast to Helsinki.

Relax in the Sauna

You can’t visit Finland without going to a sauna. The word itself is Finnish and there are over 3 million in the country (which is a lot considering there are only 5.5 million people in Finland). There are plenty of public saunas in Helsinki, most of which cost around 15 EUR and are either mixed gender or have separate sections for men and women if going nude. You can usually rent towels and lockers as well (I recommend bringing shower supplies as you’re going to want to wash off before sitting in a car/train). As I was in a mixed gender sauna, everyone I saw was wearing a bathing costume/swimsuit.

Some of the best saunas in the city are:

• Löyly is one of Helsinki’s most famous public saunas and has become an iconic example of wooden architecture (but reservations are hard to get so book early)

• Lonna located on an island off the coast of downtown

• Kotiharjun Sauna

• Sauna Hermanni

• Allas Sea Pool

Want a more local sauna experience?

While I was in Finland, I was visiting a local and went to one a little off the beaten path, but it was so worth it. Here the locals jump into the lake between sauna sessions and the action of going from the sauna to the freezing lake is not only good for your skin but also good for the soul. I once had a Finish local tell me that the act of going from sauna to ice water is “shedding the winter fur to get ready for spring”.

Local saunas to check out include:

• Kuusijärvi: While very local, have no fear, the staff did speak English. I’d recommend the traditional smoke sauna at this location.

• Allas – An urban oasis: In-between sauna sessions, you can swim some laps in an outdoor pool even in the middle of the winter. Also a very good location in the center of Helsinki

• LÖYLYKONTTI: A very straight-forward and basic sauna experience including dips in the ice lake. Only open in the winter season

Day 3- day trip to Estonia

Tallinn is one of the most popular day trips from Helsinki for a good reason. These two cities are only about 80 kilometers apart, making Tallinn easily reachable from Helsinki. Tallinn is among the best-preserved historic cities in Northern Europe.

Its fairytale-like Old Town is a strong testament to this golden period of Tallinn’s history. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Tallinn experienced a construction boom and has added some stunning examples of modern architecture to its cityscape.

Almost all the best things to see in Tallinn as a tourist are within the Old Town. As soon as you enter the Old Town through the medieval Viru Gate you feel like you’ve been transported back to medieval time and enter a warren of cobblestones, cute alleys, and colorful medieval buildings.

Some of the best things to see in the Old Town of Tallinn are the Old Town Square, St. Olav’s Church, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

My #1 recommendation in Tallin is to take this historic walking tour. I have taken walking tours in over 50 cities and this is by far the best one I’ve ever been on. This tour group does a great job not only educating you but entertaining you through a theatrical twist. The “Tales of Reval Immersion Tour” is lead by a local guide in medieval robes and in full medieval character. I have never laughed so hard on a walking tour. (They run tours Friday-Sunday from 1-2:30pm)

Getting to Tallinn from Helsinki:

The best way to get to Tallinn from Helsinki is by taking one of the numerous ferries operating between the two cities. Tallink and Eckerö Line are two other carriers that operate year-round. The trip takes about 2 hours but you’re on a legit cruise ship with a casino, huge cantina with food, games for kids and more. I recommend going to the roof of the ship when entering or leaving the port (even though it’s windy and chilly) as you get amazing views of the Tallinn and Helsinki skylines.

• Click here to look up ferries. This site compares the prices of the main ferry operators.

Have extra time in Finland? Head up north!

Days 4 – 6

Depending on the season you can either go hiking in the summer or skiing in the colder months!

Winter in Finland:

Drive or take the night train to northern Finland for chance to see northern lights and enjoy winter sports. You can enjoy thrilling activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling and Arctic swimming when you visit Lapland in winter. In addition to the adventures, relaxing experiences also await you in Finland. Think steamy saunas, indulgent meals, and trendy Nordic cafés.

Recommended Winter destinations:

• Visit Santa’s village

  • Many people know Santa comes from Finland. What some don’t know, however, is that it’s possible to meet him in person all year round. Yes, Santa’s official office, which is located in Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, is open every day! There, both children and adults can enjoy a private chat with Father Christmas and revel in the enchanted atmosphere. Find your inner child!

Getting there:

• By plane: Finnair has 4–5 flights a day from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, while Norwegian also flies the route 2–3 times a week (daily in December). Fares on both airlines start at around £50 each way, and the flight time is 1 hour, 20 minutes.

• By Train: The fastest train journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi takes 8 hours. There are direct trains, and trains with transfers. Fares start from around €23 each way, but you’ll need to book well in advance to get this rate. Check out train tickets here.

• KEMI: If the idea of dog sledding, snowmobiling and chasing the northern lights appeals to you, then head to Kemi in Finnish Lapland. This town lies on the shores of Bothnian Bay, close to the border with Sweden.

• KAKSLAUTTANEN: Another great spot in Finnish Lapland you should consider visiting in winter is Kakslauttanen, home to Igloo village. Not just home to snow igloos, this winter resort also offers glass igloos for you to hide away in. It’s all about enjoying the snowy wilderness here, particularly with the beautiful Urho Kekkonen National Park in Finland nearby. Go ice fishing, snowmobiling, dog sledding or horse riding. Enjoy skiing, snowboarding or cross-country skiing. This is also a fantastic spot to hunt for the northern lights.

Did you know that Finland has the cleanest air in the world?!

One of the best things in all of Finland is invisible, abundant and totally free. Just take a deep breath! In all seriousness, the air quality in Finland is the best in the world according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Go for a walk by a lake or through the forest or simply rest on a smooth rock by the sea. Take in Finland’s gorgeous surroundings and breathe.

Summer Hiking Trails:

• Nuuksio National Park is a really popular day trip destination, as it is located right next to the Helsinki metropolitan area. The most legendary route in the park is called Haukankierros (Hawk’s Trail).

• Repovesi National Park is another popular one. There are barbecue shelters, dining tables, campfire sites, dry toilets, and camping areas. The Fox Loop (Ketunlenkki) is a five-kilometer-long ring trail that is perfect for the whole family.

• Huippujen Kierros, Koli: The 1.4-kilometer Tour of the Peaks, which runs along the top ridge of Koli hill, takes you to Finland’s most beautiful national landscape. The view from the top of Ukko-Koli over the Pielinen Lake once inspired Finnish artists. The Tour of the Peaks starts at Nature Center Ukko and Break Sokos Hotel Koli. Stairs and a steep path lead to the 347-meter-high peak of Ukko-Koli in just ten minutes. Even though a visit to the lookout can be done in half an hour, you should reserve at least a couple of hours to enjoy Finland’s national landscape to the fullest. In addition to hiking, it is worth visiting the Ukko Nature Center and the hotel’s Koli Relax Spa. Koli National Park is located in Eastern Finland, 60 kilometers north of Joensuu.

(Authors note: I have never personally hiked in Finland but based on what I have read, these seem to best short hiking trails)

Finish Food You Must Try!

I am sick of norwigen countries getting a bad reputation for having bland food. I thought the food was unique and delicious and the best way to learn about the culture. I also have so mnay food allergies and struggle to eat local foods most places but Finland had so many gluten free options and food that is naturally gluten free (shout out Nordic diets!)

Delicious traditional Finish food include:

Traditional Blueberry Pie: Mustikkapiirakka

• Squeaky cheese or bread cheese (as it is called ‘leipäjuusto’ in Finnish) is another popular traditional Finnish dessert. It is usually topped with ‘lakkahillo’ which is the jam made of the rare but tasty arctic cloudberries

  

• Finnish rye bread: Ruisleipä

  

• Finnish Flat Bread from Potatoes: Perunarieska

  

• Cinnamon Buns / Korvapuust: these uniquely shaped buns made with cardamom-scented dough filled with cinnamon sugar filling are popular in every café

  

• Finnish Salmon Soup: Kirjolohikeitto

  

• Karelian Pasties: Karjalanpiirakka (taste great with egg butter on top, and my personal favorite dish)

  

• Finnish Sautéed Reindeer: Poronkäristys

  

• Finnish Smoked Salmon: Loimulohi

  

• Salty licorice: Salmiakki

Holiday foods to try:

I was there in April so there was lots of fun Spring/Easter season foods to try:

• Mämmi is a dark brown, porridge-like dessert made from malted rye, rye flour, and water.

  

• Mignon eggs - Although many people nonchalantly refer to them as chocolate eggs, their filling is technically not chocolate – it’s a smooth, milk-free, chocolatey blend of cocoa, almonds and hazelnuts. Delicious and dairy-free!

Planning a trip to Finalnd? Leave a comment below on what you’re looking forward most to about the beautiful northern country!

This is the exact 7-day Chile itinerary I’d recommend to a friend who wants a little bit of everything.

Spoiler alert! Yes, you can visit Chile and not travel deep into Patagonia. Chile stretches through 30+ degrees of latitude, and has a continent’s-worth of landscapes as a result. There is much, much more to the country than just Patagonia!

I initially wanted to go to Chile only to do the classic Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. But I didn’t realize that the hotels sell out instantly (and are expensive- anywhere from $450–$2000 a night in the park or right outside it). While the Torres del Paine park entrance permit can usually be purchased a few weeks in advance, campsite and hiking reservations often need to be secured 4–12 months ahead, especially during peak season. Early planning is essential… and I did not plan early.

I planned this trip for over the USA Thanksgiving week and only one month ahead of time, so that didn’t give me enough time to get the right permits and set up camping. I had to adjust my expectations for the country and remind myself that I can always come back and hike Patagonia another time. This trip would just have to be about seeing the other beauty Chile offers.

This was also the first trip I was taking with my new boyfriend, and planning with someone else for the first time in years (for this solo traveler) wasn’t easy. It had been a while since I had to coordinate an itinerary with another person. Luckily we have similar interests, so deciding what to do wasn’t the challenge… the real struggle was that there is so much to do in this country, and one week simply isn’t enough time for everything.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of travel, it’s this: The best way to see a country and get to know its culture and people is not by trying to fit the most things possible into a short time. It’s by slowing down and spending more days in one place so you can meet locals and allow the unexpected to happen.

The best moments of a trip are rarely the ones you planned.

It’s the long chats with a tour guide that lead to taking them out to dinner. The café you try on day one and can’t stop going back to. The walk around town that somehow turns into a two-hour exploring adventure.

Too many people plan every second of a trip, and they miss the whole point of traveling in the first place.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of trips where I packed-in as much as possible. When you first start traveling, that’s natural. Especially in American culture, where we don’t get the kind of PTO and vacation time that many other countries prioritize. So many Americans feel like they have to be booked and busy, trying to visit an entire country in one week. They end up checking off the most famous tourist spots without ever getting to know the locals or the culture.

If there’s one takeaway from this blog, I hope it’s this: slow down and plan less so you can experience more once you’re there. Let it marinate!

Originally we wanted to do the wine region, the desert, and “green Patagonia” all in 10 days. That was my old way of thinking. This time I said, “Let’s limit it to tw

o places.” We ended up doing three… so it was still more rushed than I would have liked. Clearly I haven’t perfected the slowing-down mentality yet, but I’m getting better with time.

So here’s what I did with a partner, for one week in Chile. (But this country is safe enough to travel alone, so don’t feel like you need a travel buddy.)

Day 1: Fly Into Santiago → San Pedro de Atacama

There are a few ways to structure this trip, but I recommend ending your itinerary in Santiago instead of starting there.

Santiago is a comfortable city with great restaurants, nice neighborhoods, and all the luxuries of modern life, the perfect place to relax before flying home.

So instead:

Fly into Santiago → immediately fly north to the desert.

Our route was:

Santiago → Calama Airport → San Pedro de Atacama

When booking flights, make sure to leave at least 2.5 hours between your international arrival and domestic connection so you have time to clear customs.

Getting From Calama to San Pedro

Once you land in Calama, you still need to travel about 1 hour to reach San Pedro de Atacama.

You have three options:

1. Shared airport shuttle (best option)

2. Private transfer

3. Rental car

I chose option #3.

And I deeply regret it.

The Rental Car Disaster

Apparently rental car companies at this airport overbook vehicles constantly.

My flight was delayed two hours, and even though I had reserved a car, they had already given it away.

I’ve traveled to nearly 50 countries, and this was easily the most chaotic rental car situation I’ve ever experienced.

After bouncing between counters and trying to get refunds, a rental agent suddenly said:

“We have one car left.”

Great!

Then he added:

“It’s manual.”

I looked at the 20-year-old behind the counter and said: “Bestie… we’re American. We do not drive manual.”

He replied: “No worries. I teach you.”

So suddenly we’re in the airport parking lot getting a full driving lesson in a brand new, giant, cherry-red, offroad truck.

Ten minutes later he asks if I want to learn too.

Absolutely not.

I can barely remember to put my automatic car in park most days.

I cannot be trusted with a manual.

So after a 15-minute crash course, we drove this truck straight into the Andes Mountains.

No flat roads.

Just steep hills and dirt. This would the like the final exam for most stick-shift classes of old…

Stressful doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Learn from me: take the shuttle.

Day 2: Exploring San Pedro de Atacama

First order of business: water.

I’ve gotten sick from tap water one too many times while traveling, so I always check first. It’s generally recommended that visitors don’t drink the tap water in this region, so we stopped at a market and bought large jugs.

Day two is perfect for:

• exploring town

• browsing shops

• booking tours

Food in San Pedro

Restaurants here are surprisingly expensive, so we cooked at our Airbnb most days. One place I loved was: Tierra Todo Natural. They understood “sin gluten” very well and made me a fantastic steak dinner. Also: drink the wine in Chile. It’s excellent.

Booking Tours

One mistake we made was waiting until the last minute. Many tours were already sold out. If there’s something you really want to do, book it the day before or earlier. A insider tip: All the tour agencies in town basically share the same tours. If one agency is full, they’ll often message another and add you to their group. So instead of shopping around endlessly, just pick an agency where the staff seem friendly. My favorite was Turismo Mitampi.

Pukará de Quitor

Later we walked to Pukará de Quitor, a 12th-century pre-Incan fortress. It’s about a 45-minute walk from town. Unfortunately it’s also a 45-minute walk in the desert heat. If you can rent bikes, do it. The site itself is fascinating, well preserved ruins with panoramic views of the desert valley. We counted 13 volcanoes (or, very conical mountains) that we could see dotted across the landscape. Entrance: about 6,000 CLP. Download Google Maps offline before going… service is spotty.

Sunset in Valle de la Luna

That afternoon we visited Valle de la Luna. And wow. Seeing the desert at golden hour feels like walking on another planet. The sky lights up the landscape with shades of orange, pink, purple, and blue. The tour guides here are fantastic, explaining the geology, science, and history behind the landscape. Important note:

The sun here is brutal.

Pack:

• wide brim hat

• sun shirt

• sunscreen everywhere

My boyfriend has Italian olive skin. Even he got sunburned. My Irish skin? I forgot sunscreen on my legs and paid dearly.

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you.”
— Anthony Bourdain

Day 3: Altiplano Lagoons & Flamingos

My only real goal in the desert was simple: See flamingos. And WOW did we. Since most group tours were sold out, we hired two guides for a private day tour ($60 each). We drove toward the tiny village of Machuca, passing volcanic landscapes and herds of wild Vicuña. Then we stopped at a lagoon where almost no tourists go. Three different species of flamingos were calmly feeding in the water. Because humans rarely visit, they were incredibly close to us. I must have spent an hour just watching them. They are mesmerizing: wading, feeding, chatting, and flying low to the water with their spindly bodies hovering above their own reflection. There’s something special about seeing wildlife in its natural habitat. It makes you feel connected to a place in a completely different way.

Day 4: Time to Head Down to Patagonia

Time to head south to Patagonia. We took the same rough road back to Calama Airport, and once again I highly recommend booking a transfer instead of driving yourself.

From there we flew back to Santiago for a short layover and then continued on to Puerto Montt Airport.

The moment we stepped off the plane, the difference in climate was immediately noticeable.

After days in the dry Atacama Desert, the air here felt humid and fresh, like your skin could finally breathe again.

From the airport, it’s easy and safe to grab an Uber to Puerto Varas, which is where I recommend staying.

Try to book accommodation near the town center so you can walk everywhere. The street San José, which runs toward the water, is essentially the main hub with restaurants and shops.

And honestly? This town completely surprised me.

Puerto Varas is touristy, but very few Americans visit, which is shocking considering how beautiful it is.

The town sits on the shores of Lago Llanquihue, with two (sometimes three!) snow-capped volcanoes rising dramatically in the distance.

The landscape feels almost unreal.

Bright green fields. Rolling hills with cows grazing. Volcanoes looming in the background.

It honestly felt like someone dropped a perfect German village into South America.

I immediately thought: I need to bring my parents here someday.

The food in town was fine, but nothing particularly memorable, which can happen in tourist towns. We ended up cooking most meals at our Airbnb.

Day 5: Kayaking and Slow Exploring

We intentionally took this day slow.

Because I am not 20 years old anymore, and I’ve learned that having downtime on trips is essential.

Travel is much more enjoyable when you actually give yourself time to exist in a place instead of constantly moving through it.

We started the morning with breakfast at Cassis Café.

They were very accommodating with my gluten allergy and had a few gluten-free options.

Now, I’ll be honest — traveling with food allergies is always a bit of a gamble. Even when restaurants say something is gluten-free, there’s always the possibility of cross-contamination. I had a bloated stomach most of the trip, which honestly happens to me almost every time I travel.

When I really want to avoid getting sick, I simply cook most of my meals myself. But sometimes you have to live a little.

Wandering Town

After breakfast we walked around town admiring the architecture.

Puerto Varas has a very noticeable German influence, which you’ll see immediately in the buildings, bakeries, and wooden half-timber homes.

We popped into a small fishing shop where two older fishermen were chatting behind the counter.

Using Google Translate, we started talking with them while they practiced their English and we practiced our Spanish.

They kept making jokes the entire time.

It was one of those small, wholesome travel moments that you never plan but end up remembering.

Kayaking on the Lake

Later we rented kayaks right on the lake from a small agency you can find on Google Maps called Rilamar.

Kayaking on Lago Llanquihue with volcanoes in the distance felt surreal.

Afterward we took a long walk along the lake until sunset.

Simple day. Perfect day.

Why Is There So Much German Influence Here?

This region’s German heritage dates back to the mid-1800s.

In the 1840s, the Chilean government actively encouraged German immigration to southern Chile. Their goal was to develop agriculture, industry, and trade in the region. Many German families settled here and brought their architecture, culture, and traditions with them. That influence is still very visible today, especially in towns like Puerto Varas and nearby Frutillar.

Day 6: Driving Around Lago Llanquihue & Volcán Osorno

Since many tours were sold out, we rented a car from Dresden Rent a Car. The owner was incredibly friendly and had learned English while studying in New Zealand. Honestly, if you can get a rental car here, this drive is absolutely worth doing on your own.

Petrohué Falls

Our first stop was Petrohué Falls, located inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. The drive takes about one hour from Puerto Varas and is beautiful the entire way. This is not a commute, it is an essential part of the journey!

The waterfalls themselves are dramatic, turquoise water rushing through volcanic rock formations with a volcano towering in the background. We spent about two hours exploring, but if you move quickly you could probably see everything in about an hour.

This park is extremely accessible. Flat parking lots, flat trails, ramps, and many paved pathways make this stop ideal for folks that have trouble walking.

Volcán Osorno

Next we drove up to Volcán Osorno.

There’s a visitor center called Centro de Montaña, which has a cozy log-cabin café and several walking trails.

You can also take a ski lift up the volcano.

Even during the summer months, the lift runs because there’s still snow at higher elevations.

The views from the top were absolutely incredible. The scale of the volcano is difficult to comprehend, and even harder to describe. Near the top, you have sweeping views of the pale-blue lake speckled with towns around the edge, deep luscious canyons, and a face-to-face view of Volcán Calbulco. This volcano looks a bit jagged on the top, and that is because it erupted quite dramatically in 2015. All the while, even neae the top of Osorno, it’s snow capped peak still towers above you. A reminder of how small we are, and how lucky we are to experience such beauty.

On the drive back down we even spotted a little fox crossing the road. We interpreted this as a woodland spirit wishing us well as we went on our way to finish circumnavigating the ring-road around the lake.

I cannot emphasize this enough:

This entire drive is stunning.

Green praries interrupted by ribbons of green hedgerows, with dairy cows peacefully enjoying the thick grass. Keep your head on a swivel, the road is winding, and every view of the lake, canyons, cows, and volcanoes can grab ahold of you!

Frutillar

Later we stopped in the small lakeside town of Frutillar. Somehow it feels even more German than Puerto Varas. There’s a small beach, a long wooden pier, and colorful houses lining the waterfront. It genuinely feels like a storybook lake town. The German food here is excellent, and the whole place has a peaceful, old-world charm.

Day 7: Day Trip to Chiloé Island

On this day we took a tour to Chiloé Island.

Make sure you book this tour in advance, because many companies only run tours a few days per week and they fill up quickly.

The island is famous for its:

• colorful wooden churches

• dramatic coastal landscapes

• and wildlife

One of the biggest highlights is visiting the Puñihuil Penguin Colony, where you can see penguins in the wild. The Chilean-South-Pacific was a bucketlist item I did not know I had.

The roads here can be tricky, so I would recommend taking a guided tour rather than renting a car.

The island has a completely different atmosphere from mainland Chile, more rural, more traditional, and deeply connected to local folklore.

Day 8: Exploring Santiago

We flew back to Santiago to finish the trip.

We stayed in the Providencia neighborhood, which is known for being safe, walkable, and full of restaurants.

The Best Arepas

Our first stop was the best arepas restaurant I’ve ever been to:

Picando Arepas

And yes, you are absolutely allowed to eat Venezuelan food while visiting Chile.

The restaurant is entirely gluten-free, which felt like a miracle for me.

Cacao Much

A 100% Chocolate Café was an excellent treat as well. Is this uniquely Chilean, or South American? Not particularly. But, especially for those who have read this far into the blog, you deserve to have fun sometimes.

Cerro San Cristóbal

After lunch we headed to Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, one of the largest urban parks in the world. This seemed like Santiago’s version of Central Park, except it is perched atop a steeply sloped hill in the middle of the city.

You can ride a funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for incredibly cheap.

The ride itself is fun, with amazing views of the city the entire way up.

At the top you’ll find the massive San Cristóbal Hill Statue, along with panoramic views of the Andes. You will also find many shades walkways, different views of the city (count the number of football stadiums!), and a face-to-face look at the Gran Torre Costanera, the glass skyscraper that is the tallest in South America, and still dwarfed by the Andes mountains in the background of your view!

Cable Cars & Walking the City

Later we walked toward Plaza México, where you can watch the city’s cable cars glide over the skyline with mountains behind them.

We wandered through nearby parks, including República del Ecuador Park, which has a cool aqueduct running through it.

The entire walk back to Providencia felt safe and lively.

To end the night we stopped at Cacao Mucho.

This café contains more sugar than you have probably seen in your entire life.

But it’s adorable and delicious.

Highly recommend.

Day 9: Barrio Italia Before Flying Home

Before heading to the airport we spent the morning exploring Barrio Italia.

The neighborhood was full of life, street performers, local shops, and even a small festival happening while we were there. Even a small craft fair!

I immediately wished we had more time here.

We ate lunch at Bar Italia, which is an entirely gluten-free restaurant.

And honestly?

You would never know.

My boyfriend eats gluten and even he loved the pasta. He joked that it was the first time he’d eaten pasta without immediately needing a nap afterward.

If I lived in Santiago, I would probably order from here an unreasonable number of times.

The atmosphere is also very cute and extremely Instagram-friendly.

Final Thoughts

Chile completely exceeded my expectations.

From the otherworldly landscapes of the Atacama Desert to the storybook towns of southern Patagonia, it’s one of the most geographically diverse countries I’ve ever visited.

And even though we only had a week, this itinerary gave us a little bit of everything.

I hope this guide helps you plan your own adventure.

If you end up using any of these recommendations, let me know. I’d love to hear how your trip goes.