Too busy enjoying the different lifestyle, I have already travelled around most of southern Peru and failed to document my adventures.
My training trip back in April continued from Arequipa up the coast to Lima. An overnight excursion to the Colca Canyon let me see giant condors fly close over my head. I discovered Arequipa, what is probably my favourite city in Peru, with a great mix of a small historic city centre, modern and vibrant suburbs, and varied choices of cafes, restaurants, and bars, all being guarded over by the imposing, snow-capped El Misti volcano.
I’ve camped out on a deserted beach watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean in the old Inca fishing port known as Puerto Inka. I went to Nasca to see the weird lines zigzagging across the Peruvian desert but will not fully appreciate them until I have taken the plane ride over the area to pick out the huge geometrical figures in the sand. I stayed in the fish smelling town of Pisco and drank the not so nice drink sharing its name. I’ve laughed and screamed while flying over sand dunes in buggies, on an excursion including sand boarding based out of the desert oasis of Huacachina. And I unfortunately disliked most of the time I spent in the capital city, exploring the centre, as well as the livelier Miraflores neighbourhood.
But Peru is a country that has it all – landscapes, history, cuisine, and culture. I just need to do the Inca Trail and Lares Trek, see Machu Picchu, explore the northern towns a little, and visit the jungle to complete my Peruvian adventure.
