I recently visited Peru, and this country has always fascinated me because, in such a small area, you can experience such diverse climates and landscapes. I’ve always dreamed of visiting the Amazon River, and the fact that the Andes are right there, along with the history of one of the largest civilizations in the New World, made Peru the perfect destination. My plan was to explore the mountains, do some hiking, and, of course, visit Machu Picchu. But honestly, the highlight for me wasn’t Machu Picchu itself—it was the four-day hike to get there! The whole trek was breathtaking. One of the most unforgettable moments was crossing a high pass (I don’t remember the name) where the snowy peaks suddenly gave way to jungle slopes, with clouds literally at our level—it felt like I could reach out and touch them. Truly magical! I had hoped to photograph the Milky Way since I heard the views from the mountains are some of the best, but unfortunately, the full moon was too bright.
After the trek, I spent a few days in Cusco and took part in an Ayahuasca ceremony with real shamans. It was my first time, and the experience was intense but very rewarding. Both the shaman and I were happy with the vision—it even gave me an idea for a tattoo. It’s an experience I’ll never forget!
Next, I finally fulfilled my childhood dream of exploring the jungle. I was really excited to see the incredible variety of plants and animals—pine trees and birch trees back home have nothing on the Amazon! I didn’t get to see a jaguar, but I did see pink river dolphins, tarantulas, piranhas, hummingbirds, and so many other creatures. There’s so much to see in the jungle beyond just the big trees and vines. And to my surprise, I finally managed to photograph the Milky Way! I didn’t expect to get such a great view in the jungle, but it was incredible, and the palm trees in the foreground made the photo even better.
My trip ended in Lima, Peru’s capital. I ended up staying longer than planned because of the COVID situation, but it didn’t feel like a problem. Lima is a fascinating city, especially its historic center. Just be careful to avoid certain poorer neighborhoods—I wandered into some by mistake, and kind locals kept advising me to leave! But overall, the city felt safe. I also made a local friend from Lima during my trek, and he gave me a personal tour of the city one day, which was great. Since Lima is on the Pacific coast, I also gave surfing a try for the first time. The waves were perfect, and after a few attempts, I actually managed to ride one! It was such a great feeling.
In short, this was an incredible trip.
Would I recommend PeruVisit to friends? Absolutely! A huge thanks to the PeruVisit team for organizing all my activities (except the surfing and hanging out with my new Peruvian friend). They were always available to answer my questions and stayed in touch throughout the trip.
I’m hoping to return once the COVID restrictions ease up and visit all the places I didn’t get to see this time around.
Travel Date: June 21 – July 9, 2021
Traveler: Anton, 33, Canada
