Immersing in Peru's Rich Culture and Breath-taking Landscape

brandonjbk
Oct 1, 2023
2 min read

After launching into my career of biotech, I had little time to travel during the start. I was more or less immersed into trying to fit into corporate America and adjusting to living in the northeast. However, the passion to travel and absorb other cultures was already running deep into my DNA. I wanted to travel back to South America, but this time head towards a rising country in Peru. I reached out to a few of my fellow Thunderbird graduate friends to put together an incredible adventure, which would leave us spell bound by the story of Machu Picchu and even more surprised by the breathtaking landscapes of the country.

We landed in Lima, a bustling city center of Peru. We initially had plans to stay near city center but adjusted after discovering a wonderful neighborhood in Miraflores. This part of the city sits right on the Pacific Ocean, with incredible views, museums, restaurants and nightlife. Lima was starting to become the gateway into South America, with its balance of ports, business culture, and geographical location to the other powers of the world.

After a quick stay in Lima, we were off to Cusco. This is a UNESCO Heritage city and sits and the southeastern part of Urubamba Valley. It's a major stop for nearly 2 million individuals making their trip into Machu Pichu. The city itself is rich with culture and history. The Incan history and architecture can certainly be felt with a casual stroll through the city center and neighborhoods. Generations of families have lived here, carrying out rich traditions in religion, music, and festivals.

From Cusco, you have the option to trek towards Machu Picchu or take the train through Ollantaytambo and the Urubamba valley. I recommend the train, given the speed, comfort and paying a little extra for the 360 view cabins. I've done it twice now and each time continues to take ones breath away at the incredible landscape. I still hold the desire to conduct a 7-day trek one day, but if you're crunched for time, the train is still a terrific way to get there and enjoy the views.

Machu Picchu is difficult to articulate its wonder, it's just one of those things that you have to see it to appreciate. It's a 15th century Inca citadel that I believe was considered a "Lost City" as part of the Incan Empire. Only accessible to the most influential at the time. The Incans did not have a formal written language at the time, hence understanding its conception and past can be difficult. I believe it was left to be hidden when the Spanish conquests began to avoid its discovery. I would recommend taking your time to explore the vastness and mystery of the archaeological site. You'll have the opportunity to understand how they farmed and lived at such high altitudes. The Incan mountains that surround the city are breathtaking. And if you time it just right with a slight rainfall, you may discover a few double rainbows as I had the fortunate to during my 2nd visit there. Enjoy, it's a must!