Peru
Rainbow Mountain and the Search for Ausangate
Ausangate Mountain, an “Apu” (or holy mountain) in the Quechua culture, rises to 20,945 feet in the Peruvian Andes, hovering nearly 3,885 feet above Rainbow Mountain in the distance. For perspective, that’s 3,345 feet higher than the Mt. Everest base camp, 6,456 feet higher than the tallest mountain in the Continental United States, and nearly […]
9 Tips for Your Trip to Machu Picchu
I went to Peru’s Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley with a dear friend of mine to celebrate the big 4-0. To mark this milestone birthday, I had a certain scenario in mind. After an absolutely punishing year that included a health scare, job loss, a move, the aftermath of a nasty breakup and a family […]
10 Hiking Trails Around the World That Will Blow Your Mind
I have always been a nature person. Cities, for me, seem unnecessarily chaotic and at times, overwhelming. Nature, on the other hand, is simple, straightforward in its beauty and comes at no extra cost. There is nothing better than walking in the peacefulness of the mountains, around the calming sound of rocks and rivers, and […]
Barefoot Hiking Through Peru
“Come to Peru with us!” I laughed at the three drunken Danes facing me. We’d just spent a month bonding in Costa Rica and tomorrow they were leaving for South America. I was sad to see them go, but I couldn’t just up and follow them to Peru. I told them as much. “Why not?” […]
Lima: It’s Not As Gray As They Say
Pan-American Transmissions: Part 9 “Pan-American Transmissions” is a travel series from Special Contributor Diego Cupolo as he travels south from Nicaragua to Argentina. He has few plans, a $10-a-day budget and one flute-playing gypsy companion. Check back as new dispatches are posted from the road. “Don’t go, it’s ugly. Nothing but gray buildings. One big […]
Machu Picchu Getting New International Airport
To help accommodate the one million-plus visitors who visit Machu Picchu every year (up 30% in 2011 alone), the government of Peru has announced the construction of a new USD$460 million international airport near Cusco.
Finding Bliss In Hualcayan, Peru
The air is cold and clear at night. Small, white puffs of smoke float drearily away from my lips, relenting to the frigid temperature. As I stare up at the brightly dotted night sky, I see something that grips my senses: The moon rising over a mountain peak. The mountains are a darker shade of […]
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Machu Picchu And The 5 Best Ways To Get There
James Gilland is the marketing coordinator at AdventureLink.com and associate editor of its blog. AdventureLink is a site that helps travelers find and book the world’s best adventure trips. For more information about visiting Machu Picchu, visit AdventureLink’s Machu Picchu tours page. 1) Machu Picchu Was Never Actually Finished Archaeologists believe that construction on Machu […]
November Photo Contest Winner: Cusco’s Inti Raymi Festival
The world is ripe with parties and festivals, each with its own unique flavor of the local culture, cuisine, love and dance. This month’s photo contest, chosen from our Flickr group, was a celebration of travel through partying. Our winning shot comes from the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco, Peru. This festival of the sun has […]
The Expeditioner’s October Travel Photography Contest Winner: South American Warmth
What makes a place? Is it the food, the drink, the clothing? The winning shot from this past month’s Flickr photo contest suggests a definitive answer: people. Though culture can be defined by so many things, it is passed on and embodied by those within. Congratulations to Filippo Tafi and his wonderful shot of a […]