11 Best Moments in Peru
On the morning of January 1, 2019, I flew to South America. The ensuing 22 days were among my best -- though more demanding -- travel experiences. Having had a great time with them before, I chose to book an Andean Discovery tour with G Adventures, which again turned out to be a great decision. I didn't have to worry about logistics and could just focus on the amazing moments in front of me.
Highlights from the trip were plentiful, but here are my top 11 (loosely ordered)!
1. Eating ceviche. Peruvian cuisine is world-renowned, but I wasn't too keen on every dish I tried (alpaca, guinea pig, etc.). Ceviche, however, quickly became my new favourite dish. Seasoned raw fish, often served with sweet potato, onions, and corn (and in the case pictured, deep fried octopus) -- I remember every instance I had this meal, and I scarfed it down each time.
2. Tour of Santa Catalina Monastery. I did not intend to visit the monastery at first, but we had a free day in Arequipa, and this was the main attraction. We paid just 5 extra soles for an awesome guide, who led us around this town within the town and told us about the routines of the nuns who lived here. It was a beautiful and peaceful place -- painted walls, cobblestone streets, fountains and gardens perfectly preserved -- and I also learned so much.
3. Hot chocolate on the Chaqchao patio. What I realized upon reflecting on my trip yesterday is that the little moments often stand out. I'm the kind of person who likes to squeeze my days full to maximize productivity; that is, after all, what we're raised to do. However, the small snippets of calm between all that is what often counts and helps re-centre us. Having some of the most amazing hot chocolate of my life on that patio, when the weather was perfect and nothing felt pressed, made for a wonderful travel memory.
4. Jumping into the pool in Paracas. A main reason I chose to travel this season was to escape Canadian winter -- even if it meant hiking the Inca Trail during rainy season -- and the moment I was happiest with that decision came when we arrived in Paracas. The sun was shining. The temperature was mid-twenties Celsius. We were tired and sweaty, and we were greeted with a perfect pool that -- like the hot chocolate -- was a small moment that meant the world. The beach wasn't the cleanest or I would've gone in the ocean too, but the sunset views in breezy beach clothes were still great.
5. The condor landing in front of us in the Colca Canyon. Before we arrived at the canyon, our guide told us to temper our expectations. He said it wasn't the best of time of year to see condors as they incubate in January, and that he'd been there 3 days prior and saw none. Not only did we see a dozen soar past us, but one landed on a rock just a couple metres away from where we sat looking over the canyon -- apparently an unprecedented move!
6. Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa. Playing with fire and enjoying food is always a good combo. We made two courses of Peruvian dishes -- potato causa and lomo saltado -- both of which were delicious.
7. Rainbow Mountain. I'd struggled a lot with the altitude at the start of my trip. This hike up to a 5200m peak came exactly a week in, with a 3:30 am wake up. It's the highest point I've stood in my life, and I was proud to conquer it and feel my strength return after days of wheezing up a flight of stairs. The unique views and bonus alpacas at the top made every step worth it.
8. Dune buggying. For 30 soles each, this half hour ride up and down the sand dunes surrounding Huacachina was almost more than I bargained for. I thought it would feel like riding a fast car. It was more like riding a roller coaster, stomach drops and all. My busted seat belt tugged loose with every bump, and we screamed a lot holding on for dear life, but it was an awesome, exhilarating ride.
9. Horseback riding through the Andean hillside. On its own, this was my favourite couple hours of the trip. I've always been a horse girl and take every (affordable) chance to ride. That morning, the weather was perfect. The panoramas of Cusco and the stunning hillsides made for a storybook setting, and the rush of galloping made me never want to get down.
10. The Inca Trail. Four days of hiking through 45km of mountains needs four posts to convey, but simply put, this was the most physical challenging and rewarding endeavour I've accomplished in my life. There were moments, standing in the pouring rain after a 16km hike for example, when I asked why exactly I was putting myself through it. Other times, scarfing down macho tea and freshly popped popcorn in the tent or playing cards in the sun, when I didn't want to be anywhere else in the world. The sights will bring you to your knees, and I finished feeling thankful for every step I took.
11. First sight of Machu Picchu. It might seem cliché that this ranks first, but the only reason it lived up to expectations was because of the 4 days leading up to it. When the fog parted for that first hazy view in a nondescript part of the trail near the final stretch, I can't even describe the mix of pride, exhilaration, and joy that I felt in that second. Getting there had been so hard that it made the reward a thousand times sweeter.
Honourable mention goes to soaking in the hot springs in the Colca Valley!
More detailed posts coming as soon as I catch up on sleep and life.