Queer Women’s Travel Guide: Exploring the Charm of Peru’s Sacred Valley

Peru’s Sacred Valley is one of the most breathtaking destinations in South America, offering stunning landscapes, rich cultural history, and vibrant local communities. Known for its proximity to Machu Picchu and ancient Incan sites, the Sacred Valley is also an emerging LGBTQ+ friendly destination. For queer women travelers looking for adventure, culture, and a safe, welcoming environment, the Sacred Valley is the perfect place to explore.

Sacred Valley, Peru

Discovering the Sacred Valley’s Cultural Wonders

Nestled between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley is home to ancient Incan ruins, traditional Peruvian villages, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. From the well-preserved ruins of Ollantaytambo to the iconic terraces of Moray, the Sacred Valley offers a rich historical experience.

As a queer woman traveler, you’ll feel comfortable exploring these sites, as Peru is becoming more inclusive, especially in tourist-heavy areas like the Sacred Valley. While local customs are conservative, visitors generally report positive experiences in terms of LGBTQ+ safety.

Must-See Incan Sites:

• Ollantaytambo: This well-preserved Incan town is famous for its archaeological ruins and stunning stone terraces. The town itself offers a glimpse into ancient Incan life and is a great base for exploring nearby attractions.

• Moray: Known for its circular agricultural terraces, Moray is an impressive archaeological site believed to have been used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation.

• Pisac Market: For a more local experience, Pisac Market is the perfect place to shop for traditional Peruvian crafts, textiles, and souvenirs. The market also offers a chance to interact with locals and learn more about the vibrant culture of the Sacred Valley.

Souvenirs at the Pisac artisan market, Peru.

LGBTQ+ Friendly Accommodations in the Sacred Valley

Peru’s tourism industry is evolving, and many hotels and guesthouses in the Sacred Valley are welcoming to LGBTQ+ travelers. Whether you’re seeking luxury accommodations or a more intimate, boutique experience, you’ll find plenty of options that cater to the needs of queer women travelers.

Some LGBTQ+ friendly options include:

• Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba: Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, this eco-luxury hotel is known for its beautiful surroundings, sustainable practices, and welcoming atmosphere.

• Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa: Offering stunning views of the Sacred Valley, this luxurious resort combines modern amenities with traditional Peruvian architecture and hospitality.

• Explora Valle Sagrado: This eco-friendly lodge offers adventure travel packages, providing an ideal blend of nature, culture, and comfort.

Adventure Activities for Queer Women in the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley isn’t just about culture and history—it’s also a playground for adventure lovers. From hiking to ancient ruins to kayaking on serene lakes, the area offers plenty of exciting activities for those looking to get their adrenaline pumping.

• Hiking the Inca Trail: One of the most popular treks in the world, the Inca Trail takes you through the Sacred Valley’s stunning landscapes and leads to the breathtaking Machu Picchu. For queer women travelers, group tours are a great option for added safety and companionship.

• Kayaking in the Sacred Valley: For those seeking a more tranquil adventure, kayaking on the serene waters of Lake Piuray offers incredible views of the Andes mountains and an opportunity to connect with nature.

• Horseback Riding: Explore the Sacred Valley on horseback with one of the many local tour operators offering scenic rides through the valley’s picturesque terrain.

Queer Women’s Safety in Peru: Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers

While Peru is becoming more inclusive, it’s important for LGBTQ+ travelers, especially queer women, to be mindful of cultural norms and customs. The Sacred Valley and tourist-heavy areas are generally safe and welcoming, but public displays of affection may still be frowned upon in more conservative regions.

Tips for Safe Travel in the Sacred Valley:

• Join LGBTQ+ Friendly Tours: Many tour companies, like those affiliated with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), offer queer-friendly group trips to the Sacred Valley, ensuring a safe and inclusive experience.

• Be Mindful of Local Customs: While the Sacred Valley is a welcoming destination, it’s always a good idea to be aware of local customs and avoid excessive public displays of affection.

• Stay in LGBTQ+ Friendly Accommodations: Choosing queer-friendly accommodations ensures a more comfortable and safe stay while traveling in Peru.

Women’s Adventure to Peru.

Book Your Queer Women’s Adventure to Peru

Peru’s Sacred Valley offers an unforgettable travel experience for queer women, combining rich cultural history, awe-inspiring landscapes, and a welcoming environment. Whether you’re looking to explore ancient ruins, relax in eco-luxury accommodations, or embark on an adventurous trek, the Sacred Valley has something for every queer traveler.

Click this link to check out our itinerary and book your spot on our queer women’s group trip to Peru and experience the magic of the Sacred Valley for yourself!

Cape Town Lesbian Pride Vacation

It’s been a few weeks and I’m still on a high from our Cape Town group vacation! We had a week and a few days of adventure, culture, comradery, and fun! Our week started with a welcome dinner at Gold Restaurant, a must experience while in Cape Town. Let’s just say you haven’t been to Cape Town if you haven’t had the Gold Restaurant experience and our group had a blast! We started drumming and we were all in rhythm with a couple of people dancing to the beat of the drums. After our drumming session we had a 14 dish food tasting from different parts of Africa which was a unique experience. Many of the girls tried all the food from Lamb, Chicken, to Ostrich, a popular meat in South Africa. After we got some food in our belly we then danced it off to the popular African tune Jerusalem and of course, our girls showed out dancing and showed the crowd a move or two. It was a memorable night!

Gold Restaurant Group Pic

Our following day was a beautiful day to see the city, we made our way around the Bo-Kaap neighborhood to take some pictures, visit their artisan gallery, and learn the history of the community. Afterwards we went up to Table Mountain to catch the beautiful views of the city which is stunning. There was not a cloud in the sky and the weather was perfect to enjoy the scenery. From Table Mountain we headed over to NAC Helicopters to take a ride and see the view of the city from up above. Our pilot took us to see aerial views of Robben Island, Camps Bay, and across the 12 Apostles to name a few. An experience to say the least, one not to miss on your next visit to the Cape. After our helicopter ride, many of us freshened up and went to a local meet up with the Cape Town Lesbian Group from FB. Our group met a lot of the locals, made some new friends, and deeper connections. We definitely felt the South African hospitality!

Cape Town Lesbians FB Meet Up

A popular experience with the group we had while in Cape Town was the Food Jam. In the middle of the Woodstock neighborhood is this super cute experience called Soute Food Jam as it’s in the Soute Studios. Our girls were super excited and ready to get their cook on. We had about 40 women in attendance and we all got recipes for traditional South African dishes to cook with support from the head chef Shahieda. We danced, we cooked, and stuffed our faces! Food really does bring people together as it was yet another great night!

Soute Food Jam

It seemed like the weather was on our side the whole week as we headed over to Camps Bay to Sandy B Beachclub for a private event, just us and the beautiful beach in front of us. We had DJ Kixi a local lesbian DJ play South African & American tunes which kept the girls on their dancing feet all afternoon. Many of the girls called Camps Bay the Miami of South Africa and it certainly feels like it from the beautiful palm trees, beach, and homes in the area but this is Africa, a wildly diverse country with so many neighborhoods, cities, vibes that a week is not enough to see it all! In the evening we checked out Beefcakes a Drag Cabaret Club. We saw several performances many of which were comedy/stand up but made us laugh throughout the night.

After some good rest we got our adrenaline on and separated into three groups to go- paragliding, ziplining, and ATV riding. Everyone had a blast from all the stories we got on the way back to the hotel and the footage of some of the glides off of Lion’s Head. I personally went with the group to ATV ride in the Atlantic Sand Dunes and what a beauty…fine white sand where I felt like I was in a different country all together. I must admit I was a bit cautious as the hills had me a little bit nervous especially coming down but it was a ton of fun!

As if our trip wasn’t a ton of fun already we freshened up and headed out to the marina behind the Radisson Red hotel at the V&A Waterfront our host hotel and got on a Sunset Cruise! We were accompanied by DJ Kixi again, open bar, appetizers so it was about to be a bunch of fun. My favorite part of the cruise was the school of dolphins alongside playing around our catamaran as if joining us in the fun. It was a beautiful evening with a great sunset, tunes, and vibe!

On our final night in Cape Town, there was no other way to do it but to leave with a BANG! Ladies Touch Events was offered the opportunity to host the Official Lesbian Pride Party in Cape Town and we showed out. We got local talent, 300+ women of all different backgrounds, and danced the night away in celebration of who we are in a safe space that we are super thankful for and look forward to hosting again in the future!

Cape Town Lesbian Pride Party

After a long but fun week several of the girls headed back to the U.S. and the rest of us went to Aquila Game Reserve to RELAX! We got a few game drives in, saw 4 of the Big 5, pampered in the spa, and caught up with some rest which we all needed. You can’t beat finding a game reserve so close to Cape Town and so enjoyable. A must especially if it’s your first game reserve experience.

Aquila Game Drive with a cute ostrich photo session

We were all deeply touched with Cape Town and the memories will last a lifetime. Everything from our host hotel, tours, parties, we couldn’t have asked for a better We had such a blast that many want to come back, bring their friends, and explore more of Africa. Cape Town South Africa you won our hearts and we’ll be back soon!

Lesbian Friendly Mykonos

Without a doubt Greece is one of those countries that everyone has on their bucket list. From the beautiful white houses and deep blue sea its no wonder why it is! Ladies Touch Travel had its first lesbian vacation to Greece in 2019 around Memorial Day Weekend and we had an amazing time! We first stopped in Athens and stayed overnight to then make it down to Mykonos. Once we arrived at our destination it was love at first sight! After our week in LGBTQ friendly Mykonos, it’s easy to say what are some of the top lesbian friendly things to do while in town.

#1- Visit Elia Beach- Elia Beach, a quiet beach cove in Mykonos is super gay friendly with pride flags standing tall towards the west side of the beach. On our first group trip we stayed at the beachfront Elia Beach Resort which gave us the convenience of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea right at our footsteps. Elia is a lot calmer than some of your other beaches, but many people appreciate that so if that’s the vibe you want, get a chair, relax, and enjoy!

#2- Spend the day at Jackie O Beach club- Jackie O Beach Club is nestled in the hills of Super Paradise Beach. Super Paradise Beach is another top LGBTQ spot to hang out and very gay friendly. This beach cove is a lot livelier with EDM music loudly playing all across the beach at various venues. There are several beach clubs options, but Jackie O has drag shows and LGBTQ events to keep you entertained. There are also water sports so if you like tubing, jet skiing, etc.

#3- Sail across the Mediterranean with some friends- One of the best experiences in Mykonos is to sail in an authentic Greek sailboat. These sailboats are big, with wood, and beautiful sails and the only way to truly appreciate it is by enjoying the day out in the sea. With all the great beach coves around Mykonos Island, you can spend a full day sailing. Usually, sailing tours have drinks and lunch provided so grab your friends and delight in the experience.

#4- Go shopping in Mykonos Town- Chora/Mykonos Town is the main town in Mykonos that has a lot of shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The town is gay friendly and beautiful to walk through. White house’s holding business establishments with blue or red outlining around them, the windmills, and several Catholic churches keep tourists busy in this area. These streets are truly dreamy and full of history which makes it that much more unforgettable. We spent a good amount of time shopping in Chora and had some yummy Greek food afterwards.

#5- Go Gay Club Hopping- Mykonos Town as mentioned is where there are many restaurants and clubs including some fun gay clubs. On our group trip we got to go to 54 Cocktail Bar, Babylon, and Lola Bar. We danced and battled the gay bois, created a soul train line, and danced til we dropped. 54 Cocktail Bar had yummy cocktails, Babylon had a fun drag show, and Lola had a great DJ that kept us on the dancefloor so definitely check out those spots when you are on the island.

Overall, Mykonos is very lesbian friendly, although you may find more boiis on vacation there, it doesn’t mean that there’s no space for us women because there is! We were welcomed everywhere and loved the Greek hospitality! If you have Greece on your bucket list, get out there soon as its not as crowed as it usually is. Typically, Mykonos in the summer is very packed with people visiting from all over the world so it’s best to go in the shoulder season which is right before or after the summer. You’ll also get some deals on pricing as the summer is way more expensive. Ladies Touch Travel has a Baecation in Mykonos at the end of September so if you want to take your special someone for a Mediterranean getaway sign up as we have limited rooms and will sell out. Trip details are available at: https://tri.ps/Mpx7S People always think of Mykonos as the party island which is true in comparison to other Greek Islands, but Mykonos offers so much more so join us to see all the beauties that the island has to offer. See you soon in Mykonos!

Crazy for Cartagena!

Just a few weeks ago our lesbian travel vacation was redirected to Cartagena due to some of the requirements and changes in our original plans to Thailand. With all the last-minute planning I’m so grateful that the trip fell into place because we had an absolute blast! I had two months to put it together but with one of my partners from Out in Colombia, a LBGT tour company in Colombia, we recreated a similar experience in Cartagena than we were supposed to have in Phuket which was basically a fun and energetic trip!

We had a long trip flying over to Cartagena as we were coming from the west coast, Los Angeles to be exact. Midway in Miami thankfully we went to American Airlines Admirals Club to rest, eat, and wait for our next flight. Upon arrival in Cartagena, our driver was there to pick us up and take us to Ivy House in Walled City in Old Cartagena. As soon as we entered the Walled City, we all already started to fall in love with its charm and quickly we arrived to check in. After our welcome drinks and appetizers, we all showered to get ready for dinner, it had been a long day. As we headed up to the rooftop, we smelled the yummy dinner being prepared by Nelsy who was our private chef for the week. We ate and got ready to head out. There’s so much that goes on in the Walled City that it can be overwhelming at first. People trying to sell you stuff, others performing as you pass by, women working…tons of beautiful women! We navigated around town and checked out several places including Townhouse Rooftop which was a totally cute vibe with mixed music and yummy cocktails. From there we checked out some other bars but I think we were all jet lagged still so eventually got back to the villa to rest.

The next day Belkin met us at the villa for a cultural tour. She’s a lesbian tour guide and I was so excited to have her go out with us for the day. We headed over to the San Felipe Fortress, Monastery of La Popa, and enjoyed the typical street food of Cartagena. Belkin gave us deep insight to the history of Cartagena which was like other Caribbean history. It humbled us as we have it so much better than many had in the past. The following day we took a catamaran out to Playa Blanca and its nearby beaches. It was a beautiful day to soak up the sun and water considering we were there in the winter while everyone else had been experiencing cold weather. The views of the high rises as we left the city and headed to the islands were beautiful. It was definitely worth the trip. On our 3rd day of the trip, we had the day open to rest as the water is always exhausting but headed out in the evening for our dance tour. This tour was so much fun! I don’t know if it was all the music or that we had a couple of drinks before we headed out but maybe it was both! March our tour guide picked us up at the villa and we walked over to Café del Mar for some live Vallenato a traditional Colombian genre of music. From there we met May our other tour guide and we danced in the streets to cumbia which was so much fun as we were in our own world enjoying it all! From there we stopped at Parque Fernandez Madrid for a show we weren’t expecting with folkloric music as well as traditional cumbia. If that wasn’t enough, we walked over to Getsmani to the Caponera Café Bar for some salsa dancing and Champeta, an African inspired dance in Colombia! Did I mention that at every stop we had shots which was part of the tour?? Aguardiente, rum, coffee, and more rum!! By this time, we were all super giddy dancing in the middle of Getsmani and wrapped up at the last bar with some more dancing before heading back. I must say this night was a special one and the group made it even more fun!

At that point, our trip had been amazing, we had lesbian tour guides, Cartagena was gay friendly, and we never felt disrespected. On top of that, the towns colors, charm, history was a great experience. After all the dancing the night before our next excursion was to Bora Bora Beach Club in the Rosario Islands and what a great spot that we highly recommend! Of course, we had VIP service because that’s how we roll at Ladies Touch Travel but we just enjoyed our plush day beds, meals, drinks, and beautiful beach all day.

On our second to last day, we had some down time to go shopping as we were right in the middle of everything. Souvenir shops, apparel, you name it and super inexpensive. We literally shopped til we dropped! After all the shopping we got our covid tests done and had dinner before our last excursion of the week. For our last night we went out on a traditional Chiva bus ride. Chiva buses were designed to transport goods in the past but gained popularity as a “party bus” experience. We rolled around the city in the Chiva and of course DANCED for a couple of hours literally! We realized with all these tours Colombians love music and to dance, we experienced that all week no matter where we went. We didn’t mind all the energy, we fit right in! To wrap up the tour we got dropped off at City Club in Cartagena the local LGBT club and continued to dance til the weeee hours of the night. The night was filled with fun memories, and we made new friends in the process. So many beautiful people and good music!

So, what do we think about Cartagena? We are crazy about Cartagena!! If you love culture, dancing, beaches, and high energy then Cartagena has your name all over it. We loved it so much that we plan to take another group to Cartagena this Summer 2022 so stay tuned! Check in with us in a few weeks on our site for trip details. Our group trips are about creating new friendships and having unforgettable memories as we did on our trip so join us to have a one-of-a-kind experience!

Lesbian Spring Travel In Rio de Janeiro!

With how travel has been in this last year and a half, who doesn’t have the travel bug these days! There are still opportunities to travel with minimal to no restrictions and safely. It’s also a great time now to plan for the rest of the new year. While the United States is feeling the cold in January the southern hemisphere is just starting to heat up! One of our favorite places to travel to with Ladies Touch Travel is Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro around late February.

One of the largest events in Brazil is Carnival, but a little inside info, there are so many great festivals, block, and beach parties around Rio two weeks before the actual Carnival that are free or super low cost that it doesn't make much sense to go during Carnival to spend double the price on everything! Currently, Carnival is on schedule for February 25- March 5, 2022, so if you go right before make sure you don't miss out on these spots:

1. Ipanema Beach- Between Posto 8 and 9 is the infamous Farme Gay strip. You will see the pride flags and many gay and lesbian folks enjoying the scenery and music. This area is a ton of fun especially if you are with cool people. We have literally partied to sundown with the Ladies Touch Travel group not even realizing everyone had left the beach!! Good times indeed! Keep in mind in Brazil women typically wear thongs or Brazilian cut bikinis and men wear speedo-type bathing suits so don't be alarmed, go with the flow and enjoy the beauty!

2- Bloco Ceu na Terra- One of our favorite block parties in Rio de Janeiro happens in Santa Teresa at guess what time? 7AM!! You would think who wants to party at 7AM but thousands fill up the narrow cobble stone old town streets of Santa Teresa for an energetic party. You'll see sheroes, villains, drag queens, clowns, you name it but after all the craziness you can't help to say "that was an amazing experience"!

3- Samba School Rehearsals- There is something about the drums beating live that make the hairs on your body stand at attention and even if you don't know how to dance, you just start pumping your hips...welcome to a samba school rehearsal! Carnival is when all the samba schools in Rio get together to compete on music, dancers, and costumes so experiencing a rehearsal beforehand is a one of a kind party. We had the pleasure of visiting Comuna Que Pariu in the Lapa District and it was a blast and not to miss!

4- Lapa District- Lapa is filled with bars, clubs, and parties that go til the wee hours so drink a redbull and experience the nightlife! Rio de Janeiro is very mixed as far as the patrons. You'll find that many parties have queer and straight people all in the same room having a ball and nobody cares! There are definitely gay clubs but for the most part in Lapa everyone parties together.

These are just a few things to do while in Rio de Janeiro especially right before the actual Carnival. Make sure you have a Caipirinha and Pao de Queijo when out and about in Rio. The Cariocas (Brazilian Natives) are warm people, love to have fun, and offer great hospitality. As with most places you travel to, always travel safely! If you want to learn more about our lesbian women’s travel group and upcoming destinations email us at ladiestouchtravelevents@gmail.com or go to our travel section for more details.