Disappointed by the tourist experience around Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley in Peru is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Huaraz centre made it more stressful than it should be.

Away from the main sites the country improves dramatically. The food (lomo saltado especially) is excellent and one of the world's great food cities in Lima was genuinely memorable. But I'd wish for a smoother experience at the headline attractions. It's still worth the trip — just lower your expectations around the big sights.