Immediately after the aircraft touched down in Lima, loud chanting and song broke out across the plane. After seeing the confused look on my face, the gentleman next to me kindly explained that millions from across South America were currently flying into Lima for the biggest soccer match of the year – the Copa Libertadores final. He suspected that the energy in Lima would be electric – and that the customs lines would be very long.
This episode set the tone for our trip – energetic. This Thanksgiving, several Boothies and I explored many of Peru’s famous scenes – from world-renowned restaurants to all that Cusco has to offer – and we captured it all in photos.
Fine Dining
Did you know Peru is home to over 4,000 varieties of potatoes? They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even more amazing was how they were used in various dishes we tried at two of Lima’s best restaurants: Maido and Astrid y Gaston. Obviously, there was also a lot of ceviche.
Machu Picchu
Of course, no beginner’s trip to Peru is complete without a visit to this ancient site. We opted to spend one full day hiking the Inca Trail and a second exploring the ruins themselves. Luckily, we were able to avoid most of the tourist crowds, and the rain!
Rainbow Mountain
Though most are familiar with Machu Picchu, fewer are with Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), a peak of over 5,000 meters. Most of us opted to ride horses up the trail as the air was particularly thin. Plus, we had gotten up at 2 am in order to make the long trip. Once at the top, we could see fully all the colors offered. Formed by weather, environmental conditions, and sedimentary deposits over time, Rainbow Mountain’s unique mineral make-up created a marbling effect, with layered hues of gold, lavender, red and turquoise.
Final Thoughts
While it was great to experience Peru’s culture and natural landscapes, it was made even better with good company. As I think about my Booth experience thus far, trips like this easily create lasting bonding experiences. And with that in mind, it’s time to plan my next trip!
