Other things to do

Paragliding over Lima Adobe City of Chan Chan Easter in Ayacucho Take a dip in Inca baths The Andean Feast Wildlife at Tambopata Aji de Gallina Dune Buggy Riding in Huacachina, Ica

Coca Tea is an ancient Peruvian welcome drink and the best natural remedy for soroche: altitude sickness. When you are in the breath-taking Andes Mountains - not just from the view, but also from the lack of oxygen - locals will tell you that a hot and relaxing cup of mate de coca is the surest way to acclimate. It is the drink of choice for Inca Trail guides. This beloved brew of the highlands has an earthy flavor and a mildly sweet aftertaste. Make it by simply adding hot water to a handful of coca leaves, traditionally considered a sacred plant of great curative value. (If you don't have hot water nearby, just chew on a wad of the leaves.) Locals say it has the medicinal power to sooth a number of afflictions ranging from headaches to insomnia. And the plant is the base of cocaine, illegal in the U.S. and the cause of a billion dollar War on Drugs. But you'll feel above all that in the thin air of the Andean highlands and with a steaming cup of coca tea.