Kristin Secor

2024 Sneak Peek

Lake Titicaca Peru This is the world's highest navigational lake and is famous for one of the last floating villages, (the village of Uros). We took a boat tour from Puno to visit both Uros and Tequile Island. The boat tour was definitely not accessible as there were stairs to get to the boat and a gap to board it. Accessible Travel Peru lifted us over the stairs and across the gap. Once at the islands, they used their adapted wheelchairs so we could navigate them more easily. The reeds on the floating islands and steep inclines at Tequile would make for difficult terrain in a regular mobility device. At Uros, we learned how the islands are made and maintained and got to take a short ride on a reed boat. The locals also had crafts for sale. The islands consist of floating reed roots in dirt which are tied together so the roots from one block intermix with the other blocks and hold them together. Then, there are 23 layers of reeds which are crisscrossed to make the island surface. It was very interesting. Tequile Island offered beautiful views, a warm welcome song/dance from the locals, and a delicious lunch. Our guide also educated us about what life was like on the island. For example, 2 people must live with each other for 2-3 years BEFORE getting married to see if it's a good fit as divorce is not an option. #peruadventure #travel #travellife #peru #perù #accessibletravels #perutravel #accessibletravel #wheelchairtraveler #wheelchairtravelling #wheelchairtravel #wheelchairtravelguide #wheelchairtraveling #wheelchairtraveller #wheelchairtravels #travelforall #accessibletraveling #accessibletravelperu

Food in Peru In Lima, seafood is very popular since the city is on the coast while in the mountains, there are some more exotic dishes such as guinea pig and alpaca (not pictured so I won't offend anyone). Most dishes are served with some form of potato since that is a major crop in Peru. Additionally, you can also find a variety of quinoa as well. The drink often served with meals is Chicha. It's a purple drink that naturally gets its color from the corn in which it is made. A little fruit juice and other seasoning are also added. There is also a Jello form of the drink (pictured). On this World on Wheels small group tour, we had members with a variety of tastes and dietary preferences, including someone who is Vegan. Everyone was able to find something to suit their tastebuds no matter where we went. So, if you are concerned about finding food you will like, don't be. Furthermore, the food in Peru is much fresher than in the US since they don't add a lot of preservatives and additives. Typical prices for meals ranged from 30-50 Soles (which is approximately $10-18 US). Eating out was very affordable as the portions in Peru are quite large. Btw, for those curious, yes I tried the guinea pig (without looking at it) and the thing I can most compare it to is dark-meat chicken. Other members of the group tried alpaca and said it was delicious and more beef-like than chicken. #travellife #peru #accessibletravels #perutravel #travel #perù #peruadventure

Pisca is one of the other Incan ruin sights I visited while in Cusco. The sight is much larger than the pictures show. The holes in the dirt in the side of the mountain are actually burial sites that were robbed by thieves as the Inca believed you should burry someone with everything they may need for the afterlife. Accessibility here was limited due to the mud from the rain, stairs, and inclines. The tour company used the adapted wheelchairs to get us to the viewpoint.

The photo of the bathroom I posted yesterday yielded a lot of great discussion. Sometimes what works (or doesn't work) for one person is actually better for someone else. That is one of the reasons I always suggest asking for photos of accessible rooms, so you can see if it will work for you. Some of you reached out to me sharing that you encountered similar bathrooms that were labeled as accessible during your European Travels. Today, I wanted to post pictures of an accessible room from the same town as the hotel shown in yesterday's photo. While these bathrooms will surely not be a good fit for everyone, I wanted to show you that there are hotels in Europe that do have grab bars and shower seats. Additionally, when I contacted this hotel, not only were the prompt in replying, but they provided me with more information than I asked for, such as bed height, door widths, toilet height, where the rooms were located and more. This showed me that they understood the concerns and needs of travelers with disabilities, but that they also cared about my business. Added to that, they are a family run hotel, are centrally located for convenient sightseeing, and their property looks beautiful and clean, really sold me on staying there in the future. So while there are hotels that are only looking to check off accessibility as something they offer, there are also other properties that really want to welcome travelers with disabilities and meet their needs the best way they know how. Btw, this property had two accessible rooms, and they sent me photos of both as the layout is slightly different in the bathroom. They also had a family room which they didn't call accessible (because it technically isn't) but worked with me to make it so it would be usable for someone in a wheelchair with limited mobility. That room isn't shown below.

One of the things I really enjoyed about my trip to Peru was getting to learn about the local way of life from a small community. Located near Chincero, this family welcomed us into their home to teach us about how they sustain themselves. We learned about local agriculture (did you know that Peru has over 5,000 types of potatoes?!) and how different crops grow better at different altitudes. They also taught us how they use traditional methods to preserve the food for the winter months. Additionally, we learned how wool is transformed into yarn, dyed from local plants and herbs, and then hand-woven. The women start practicing this at age 8. The family even invited us to dress up in their traditional clothing for a picture with them. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal (more on the food in Peru in a post later this month). It was a wonderful day I won't soon forget. #travellife #accessibletravel #accessibletravels #wheelchairtravelguide #wheelchairtraveler #wheelchairtravels #travel #wheelchairtraveling #accessibletraveling #travelforall #wheelchairtraveller #wheelchairtravelling #wheelchairtravel #perutravel #perù #peru #peruadventure

Travel Tip: ALWAYS ask for pictures of an accessible room. This is considered to be a wheelchair accessible shower because there is no step to enter. However, there are no grab bars or shower seat available at the hotel. I don't get why people/hotels think we can magically stand to take a shower as a wheelchair user. Even if you have some mobility, standing in the shower can be very unsafe if you have balance problems and/or depending on how slippery that floor gets. What do you think of this shower?

When to Visit Peru The most popular and crowded months to visit Peru are May-August. This is their dry season and when families often take vacations. For less crowds, consider visiting during the rainy season. I traveled to Peru at the end of March/beginning of April which is when the country is transitioning from the rainy to dry season. While we did encounter a shower or two, they were often quick and no day was a total washout. The benefit for us was not only fewer people, but the landscape was still green and beautiful. Prices may also be better during this time as well. However, I'm sure whenever you choose to visit Peru, you'll have a wonderful time! #wheelchairtravelguide #accessibletravelperu #accessibletravels #wheelchairtravels #wheelchairtravel #accessibletravel #wheelchairtravelling #wheelchairtraveler #travelforall #travel #wheelchairtraveller #travellife #accessibletraveling #wheelchairtraveling #perù #peru #perutravel #peruadventure

I've started a Facebook Group! While I love posting from this page (and will continue to do so_ I also want to create a sense of community. So, I've started an accessible travel Facebook group called Accessible Explorers (link below). https://www.facebook.com/groups/839448481357947 I hope that you join so you can ask questions, share your travel experiences, and get access to fun Tuesday Travel Trivia questions, as well as guides and information to help make accessible travel easier. See you in the Facebook group!

Cusco Peru This is the city often used as the gateway for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. You can stay in other towns that may be closer to the ruins, but they generally do not have accessibility services. I stayed in Cusco for 4 days, using it as a base to explore the area. Curb cuts were common, and there were also accessible restaurants. During my stay, I visited a church that was built over Incan Ruins (some of which can still be seen) as well as the town square. The other days were used to explore other nearby ruins, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Pictured below is the main square, some of the ruins in the Church, and views of the city. #travel #travelforall #wheelchairtravelguide #accessibletravels #wheelchairtravel #accessibletravelperu #wheelchairtraveller #wheelchairtraveling #travellife #wheelchairtraveler #accessibletravel #wheelchairtravels #wheelchairtravelling

Lima Peru I spent 1 day in Lima and got to do a city tour which included the main square, a church, a monastery, and a private museum focusing on Incan artifacts. We also did a driving tour of the city. Curb cuts were common making navigating fairly easy, although there were some slight cobblestones and brick surfaces. Shops and restaurants sometimes had steps to enter them. There was no accessible public transport but luckily, we had a van that could accommodate us which included a driver and a guide. #wheelchairtravelling #accessibletravels #wheelchairtraveling #wheelchairtraveler #wheelchairtravel #wheelchairtravelguide #accessibletravelperu #accessibletravel #wheelchairtraveller #wheelchairtravels #accessibletraveling #travellife #travel #travelforall #travelforall

I had the priviledge of being interviewed for the latest edition of Accessible Journeys Magazine! My contribution was all about cruising with a disability. Make sure to check it out on page 94..

Is Peru Wheelchair Accessible??? Unfortunately, the country has a LONG way to go to improve accessibility. However, I successfully spent 10 days in Peru by traveling with Accessible Travel Peru. They ensured that there was adapted transportation (using a portable ramp), accessible (for Peru) hotel rooms, and that I could enjoy many of the most popular sights in the country (including Machu Picchu). There are no accessibility laws in Peru so as a result no standards or guidance as to what makes hotel rooms accessible. I stayed in 3 different hotels during my trip (pictures below) and while the rooms themselves were big enough to navigate in my wheelchair (sometimes with some planning), the bathrooms were hit-and-miss and definitely won't work for everyone. Toilets were almost always VERY low, and shower chairs were not always fixed to the wall or even available. One hotel had a portable shower chair (second series of pics) and the other gave me a wooden chair to use (first set of pics). Additionally, the layout really didn't allow for lateral transfers. The size of the bathrooms would also make it difficult if you needed a hoist or lift. Although some of the beds had room underneath to accommodate them. I understand that the methods used to make Peru more accessible will not work for everyone. That's why I wanted to show you what to expect. Having said that, Francisco at Accessible Travel Peru is actively advocating for better accessibility within the country and does an amazing job with the limitations he is presented with. If you are interested in visiting Peru, I highly encourage you to reach out to him to see what accommodations can be made for your specific needs. By the way, this is NOT a sponsored post. I am receiving nothing in return for promoting this company. I am just a happy customer who believes in what they are doing. I know some of you have Peru on your bucket list and I am offering information and resources to try to help you make that dream a reality. #accessibletraveling #accessibletravels #wheelchairtraveller #wheelchairtravelling #wheelchairtraveling #wheelchairtravelguide #wheelchairtravels #wheelchairtraveler #wheelchairtravel #accessibletravel #accessibletravelperu