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Lake Titicaca Homestay
Lake Titicaca is the famed birthplace of the Incas, where Manoc Kapac and his sister-wife Mama Ocllo emerged to establish the Inca empire. The lake is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,811m...
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Arequipa: Convents, Condors & Colonial Splendour
Arequipa by night Arequipa, the White City, is a graceful confection of colonial era buildings spread beneath the white peak of volcanic El Misti. The second largest city in Peru by population,...
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Inca Ruins of Cusco & Ollantaytambo
I’d heard so much about Cusco even before I arrived. How the city was the capital of the Incan empire, how it was laid out in the shape of a panther, one of the three animals representing the upper...
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Doggone It!
This little guy followed us for four days on the Inca Trail, though a more accurate description would be: he waited for us at the day’s camp, and was always the most enthusiastic (though uninvited)...
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Pachamama: Mother of All
“For Pachamama,” says Carlos, when he notices my questioning glance as he quite deliberately spills a few drops of his Cusquena onto the ground. Later, many nights later, standing in a circle of ruined...
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Postcards from… Cusco
“Another gorgeous day in Cusco. There are wonderful wooden latticed balconies, narrow streets. Away from the cities, and the noise, there is a core of spiritual strength in Peru that is a heritage of...
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A city lost in cloud
Hidden within the Sacred Valley is an ancient abandoned city, lost in cloud. We are at the Sun Gate, and it is just dawn. Wisps of fog cover the mountain peak of Wayna Picchu and the city’s ramparts...
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Mapping out South America, 2010
A few months ago, Thurstan Bassett, of Etcetera gave me an excellent suggestion – why didn’t I include a little map at the end of my travel posts, to give readers an idea of where some of these...
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What to pack for the Inca Trail
Stretching 43 km across verdant valleys of lush greenery, the Inca Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the world. The trail must be done with a registered operator and there is a limit to the...
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As old as the hills
In searching for suitable photos for this week’s challenge, I thought about the oldest places I’d been to – a natural formation, a man made building, a city – all places that have a sense of history...
View ArticlePeru is a postcard
Just over a week in Peru so far and we have traversed the grand colonial, colonnaded streets of Lima and the lovely seaside suburb of Miraflores, through the dusty deserts of Pisco, Ica and Huacachina,...
View ArticleThe Inca Trail: Day 1
It poured with rain the night we got into Cusco, which made all of us nervous about the upcoming four day hike on the Inca Trail. Jonny, our assistant guide, met up with us the night before to get us...
View ArticleThe Inca Trail: Day 2
The second day of the Inca Trail doesn’t start well. I lose my toothbrush at the toilets – someone must have nicked it but I don’t see why anyone would. It’s just after 6 in the morning and the...
View ArticleThe Inca Trail: Day 3
After two brilliant days of clear skies on the Inca Trail, the heavens open on us as we begin our trek. This high up on the mountain, we are in cloud forest, and the humidity hovers at almost 100%. The...
View ArticleThe Inca Trail: Day 4
An early wake up call, at 3am, and a brilliant sky filled with stars await on the last day of the Inca Trail. I pack hurriedly – the porters are leaving us this morning, but will drop our gear off in...
View ArticleNazca Lines, Desert Mummies & Sand Dunes
It’s sunset as we climb the rickety watch tower by the side of the Pan American highway. The landscape is flat, desolate, bleached of colour. There is a dramatic sunset on the horizon. We are here to...
View ArticleGreat Adventure Walks of the World
Travel often begins with a mad flurry to sort out transport, book accommodation, then a flight somewhere far away. We strap into our narrow, mid-air seats and watch the world turn under us. When we get...
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