Peru: 18 days in 18 pictures

Peru is a fantastic country with spectacular natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage, great food, and warm and friendly people. Here is my 18 day Peru trip told through the lens of my humble iPhone 6:

Day 1: Explore Lima’s morbid underbelly

Lima, Peru

Walk around Lima’s historic center and make your way to Basilica y Convento de San Francisco. The Monastery appears bright and cheerful from the outside. But the inside reveals tales of affluence, power, and the afterlife. 25,000 people were buried here by choice, their skeletons neatly layered one on top of another, like a stack of pancakes. Not recommended for the faint-hearted.

Day 2: Say Namaste to the Hippies of Barranco

Lima, Peru

Barranco is the Haight-Ashbury of Lima. Walk through its bridges and discover alleyways with murals, folks in dreadlocks selling charm bracelets, and street artists making caricatures. Watch the sun set over the Pacific and walk back along the coast to Parque del Amor where dogs and lovers escape from the bustle of city life.

Day 3: Let Cusco take your breath away (literally & figuratively)

Cusco, Peru

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, “the navel of the world” sprawls across thehigh Andean plateau. How high? 11,152 feet above sea level to be exact. That’s twice the altitude of Denver, and as high as Leh. Shortness of breath is common. The spectacular landscape doesn’t help either. Consume Coca (yes, the stuff Cocaine is made from is legal here) — as tea, as raw leaves, or as a sugar candy, and do what the locals say — “Tranquilo, mis amigos”

Day 4: Learn about the Incas

Cusco, Peru

While Cusco was plundered by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, many of its original Inca structures still remain. Some have been transformed into churches, while others have been converted to boutique restaurants. A moderate day hike around the area reveals ruins of temples, palaces, and ancient spas built into the lush green mountainous landscape. Don’t forget to say hi to the Llamas and Alpacas grazing around in the area.

Day 5: Begin your pilgrimage to Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes, Peru

If a 4-day hike is not your thing, take the Peru Rail from Cusco to the tourist settlement of Aguas Calientes — the base camp for Machu Picchu. It’s a good time to buy what you need for your hike up to Machu Picchu early next morning. Sip a cup of coffee overlooking the Urubamba River and take in breathtaking views of green mountains floating above a sea of clouds.

Day 6: Check off that Wonder of the World

Machu Picchu, Peru

Hike up to the citadel of Machu Picchu and be awestruck. It makes you wonder how something so beautiful came into existence. Going up to the summit of Montaña Machu Picchu is a perilous trek worth undertaking. The higher you get from the citadel, the more beautiful it looks. Go closer, and the place starts to lose its charm. Thanks to the hordes of tourists taking selfies with llamas.

Day 7: Explore a 15th century Inca village

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Ollantaytambo is a time capsule. People speak the same language, live in the same houses, and follow the same lifestyle that they did 500 years ago. As a center more significant than Machu Picchu from a historical perspective, it receives far less tourists than it ought to. Climb up the Inca fortress, learn a word or two in Quechua, and admire the intricate canal system that criss-crosses the village.

Day 8: Travel like a local

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Collectivos are these local intercity vans that will cram people, charge you a ridiculously cheap fare, and get you to where you need to get to. A collectivo ride from Ollantaytambo to Cusco takes you through small towns with narrow cobbled streets, high mountain passes where the road meets the horizon, and large farming communities growing Maize, Quinoa, and Potatoes.

Day 9: Make Pisco Sours like a boss

Cusco, Peru

At this point you’ve probably had more Pisco Sours than what your fingers can count. So why not learn to make one yourself? After all, it’s considered the National Drink of Peru. If day-time Cusco is for history lovers, night-time Cusco is for party animals. Listen to live music, toast to Pachamama, and dance the night away until Inti shows up on the horizon.

Day 10: Experience life at the 4th highest city in the world

Puno, Peru

Known as the folklore capital of Peru, the quiet town of Puno high on the Andes plateau serves as the embarkation point for Lake Titicaca — the highest navigable lake in the world. Tourists are far and few between here. Walk along the lake side, explore the local hole-in-the-wall shops, and call the night early. A long journey into another world awaits you next day.

Day 11: Stay with a Quechua family

Isla Amantani, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Charter a 2-day boat trip to explore Lake Titicaca. Visit the Uros Islands where the indigenous Uru people live on artificial floating islands made of reed. Experience the cool, but somewhat tacky touristic experience, and sail away to Amantani island. Break the 4,000 meter altitude barrier by climbing up to the temples of Pachamama and Pachatata. Stay overnight with a Quechua family, savor their delicious vegetarian meals, dress up in the local attire and dance in the evening fiesta.

Day 12: Learn about the Taquileño traditions

Isla Taquile, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Next stop on the Titicaca journey is the island of Taquile. Spend the day hiking around the island and bask in the glorious views of Lake Titicaca. Learn about the dress code of the island where the locals use different headgears, belts, and sashes to denote whether they are single, married, divorced, or widowed. Dating is much easier here — you spot a single person you like, you ask them out, you spend a year together if you are mutually compatible, and then you get married.

Day 13: Explore a magnificent 16th century colonial capital

Arequipa, Peru

Arequipa was the Spanish conquistadors’ response to the Inca Cusco — a magnificent capital city built in the 16th century to resemble the great cities of Spain. Spend the entire day walking through the city’s plazas, churches, fountains, arches, museums, and art galleries. You will not be disappointed. Fine-dine, shop local, and gaze at the volcanic peaks of El Misti watching over the city.

Day 14: Take a stomach churning flight over the Nasca lines

Nasca, Peru

The Nasca lines are one of humankind’s most enduring mysteries. A series of precise, artistic carvings so large that they can only been seen from mountaintops or from the sky. Why were they made? What purpose do they serve? One can only speculate. Charter a 6-seater Cessna at the Nasca airport and fly over these mysterious lines. Prepare to be amazed…and nauseous.

Day 15: Sandboard in a desert oasis

Huacachina, Peru

Miles and miles of pristine orange sand stretching to the horizon makes you feel like you’re in Mars. Right in the middle of it all is a small lake surrounded by palm trees. It’s not a mirage. Though the adrenaline filled dune buggy rides, scary downhill sandboard runs, and all night partying will make you feel as if it was all a dream.

Day 16: See the penguins!

Islas Ballestas, Peru

Imagine a group of islands inhabited by hundreds of thousands of birds — pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, and penguins (yes, penguins!). That is Islas Ballestas for you. Just a short boat ride from the Paracas ferry terminal, it is surprisingly easy to get to. Birds have taken over the abandoned buildings, half-built bridges, and derelict factories. Is this Jurassic Park?

Day 17: Drive through millions of years of natural history

Paracas, Peru

The Paracas national preserve is home to dinosaur fossils, flamingos, and an other-worldly landscape. Take a jeep/bus tour ride through the preserve, stop to take photographs, and reflect on your trip to Peru that’s coming to an end. If you’re into fish, a Ceviche made from fresh catch is supposed to be good.

Day 18: Realize that all good things must come to an end

Lima, Peru

Drink pisco, eat chocolate, visit the erotic pottery gallery in the Larco Museum, explore the witches’ market, salsa dance until the sun rises. Do whatever it is that you need to do. Because the trip is coming to an end and you gotta get back to your mundane day-to-day life.

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