INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
Nearing the end of our 3 week trip to South America we spent some time in Lima, a city that didn’t really impress us apart from one (literal) bright spot- the Magic Water Circuit. With 13 fountains, the Magic Water Circuit in Lima has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the...
As the first stop on our 3 week trip to South America, Cusco was an introduction to the Inca history and Quechua culture that make Peru such a fascinating destination for travellers. In Cusco’s historic centre we discovered a city quite literally built on Inca foundations. Spanish colonial cathedrals and churches stand over Inca temples,...
Cusco is the point of arrival for people wanting to visit Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca ruin in Peru, but there are many fantastic, lesser known ruins near Cusco that are also worth exploring. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South America, and capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is rich...
The uphill walk from central Cusco to Sacsayhuaman was slow going, since our bodies hadn’t adjusted to the high altitude yet, but the excitement of seeing our first Inca ruin kept us motivated to push on. In between frequent breaks and gasps for air, I hoped that the effort would be worthwhile and Sacsayhuaman would...
The Urubamba Valley is not simply an area to travel through en route from Cusco to Machu Picchu, it’s a destination in its own right. Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this scenic expanse of land is packed with archaeological sites, small villages, colourful markets and weaving communities. If an adrenaline rush is more your style, you’ll find...
As we wandered through the colourful markets of Pisac, all I could think about was visiting the Pisac ruins. “No more shopping,” I urged Mike, “let’s get to the ruins!” I was eager to see this spectacular site, known for its steep hillside of agricultural terraces. The Pisac ruins were the only archaeological site in...
On our last day in Cusco we drove part of the Andean Baroque Route, a scenic road in the South Valley known for its four churches of the Andean Baroque artistic movement. We visited only one, San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas, about 40 kms from Cusco. San Pedro Apostol may not look very grand from...
“I’m sandboarding in Peru!” I yell at my GoPro as I proudly surf down the wind-sculpted dunes of Huacachina. This is my first time sandboarding and I’ve got to admit- I’m better than I thought I would be. Maybe it’s because I have a good teacher, Victor “Dito” Chavez, a professional sandboarder and snowboarder who...
“Coming up on the right, whale,” one of the pilots announces over the speaker as we approach the first geoglyph on our Nazca Lines flight. Palms sweating with excitement, I stare intently out the window, camera in hand and ready to shoot as soon as I spot the whale. The pilot banks the plane, angling...
Of all the things we did and places we saw during our 3 weeks in South America, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru is our favourite memory. It even climbed the ranks as one of our all-time cherished travel experiences. And to think, I was a little hesitant to do it. I’d heard so much...
Machu Picchu- just hearing the name conjures up classic images of this hilltop Inca city, high in a tropical forest of the Peruvian Andes. These ruins, once concealed by the jungle, have gone on to become an icon of the Inca civilization and Peru’s most visited tourist attraction. So when it came to planning our...
South America has been a place I’ve wanted to visit for 10 years, but for some reason it has always taken a back seat to other destinations. I am happy to say, that is no longer the case! We finally made it to the southern hemisphere, spending 3 weeks in South America (well, 24 days...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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