Tag Archives: peru

So, the Nazca Lines have been thoroughly examined and documented and snapped. All bueno.

And though our LatAm-trip-2025 had only just begun, my brain had already received a powerful dose of contemplative radiation and awe-inspiring impressions – leaving it in a state of immense rapture. It was hard to believe that so much more brain-busting and surprising experiences lay ahead. Where will I store it all?…

After returning to Lima airport after our flight to and back from Nazca, we immediately boarded another, larger plane – a scheduled flight – and headed to Cusco. From here, we’d planned to embark on a four-day trek up the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We spent a day-and-a-half in the city’s outskirts – partly to acclimatize to the high altitudes: we’d be climbing up to 4000 meters above sea-level on the upcoming passes, and later as high as 5000 meters. Without proper acclimatization, this isn’t just very difficult but also dangerous, but the mountainous areas around Cusco are perfect for this very purpose (acclimatization). Plus, there’s plenty to see here; no wonder the city’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So, here we are in Cusco, capital of the Inca Empire:

Read on…

Peru. So, what’s generally known about this South American country by the average general-knowledge pub-quiz buff? I’d say: the mysteriously extinct Inca civilization/empire, the ancient cities of Cusco and Machu Picchu, the high-altitude Lake Titicaca, and, of course, the mysterious Nazca Lines (also known as the geoglyphs of the Nazca Plateau).

As to the latter, seeing these drawings in the flesh has been a childhood dream of mine ever since I enthusiastically studied the geography of this world through books filled with maps, pictures, and photos of different regions of the planet. Naturally, when planning my trip to Peru, visiting the plateau – flying over it in some kind of aircraft – was one of my top priorities. And now, decades half-a-century (!) later, I’ve finally made it happen! The lines, geometric figures, and depictions of funny-looking folks and animals on the Nazca Plateau – checked off the list!…

Read on…

Some cities in the world are located amid exceptionally picturesque landscapes. For example, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Hong Kong, and Sydney are all surrounded by scenic mountains and/or unique coastal formations. In this regard, Lima, the capital of Peru, is also rather lucky:

The city center is situated on a high oceanfront cliff, offering absolutely stunning views:

Read on…

So how do you go about planning and preparing for complex vacation on the other side of the world, with a complex route for getting there, and then a complex itinerary once in situ?…

And I don’t mean the simple “jump in a taxi, train or plane, and travel where you’re going and figure it out on the fly, whether it’s St. Pete, Sochi, Yalta, or maybe Monaco, Venice, Barcelona, Miami or LA (or wherever else, depending on where you live)”. No, not like that. What does it take to plan a more sophisticated travel itinerary?…

Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert, but here’s roughly how it works for me:

1. Pick: the places we’re going to visit; what we’re planning to see, admire, and snap; plus any extra side-dish (or totally random) activities to be partaken in.
2. Find someone to organize it all, because let’s be honest – we hardly know anything about these places besides their names. This is where the travel route gets mapped out. Usually it’s a mix of advice from those in the know, local contacts, and a travel agency (sometimes more than one).
3. Figure out how to get there and back – which isn’t always straightforward or optimal.
4. Set the budget for the whole thing. And prepare to disappoint those involved in Step 5… ->
5. Recruit a few other similarly crazy individuals (or just folks who’ve no clue what kind of hardships and misadventures await) so the trip doesn’t get too boring and lonely.

And that’s it! Then we just go…

So, where to this time? Drum roll……………………….. crash cymbal! -> to Peru and Bolivia! Hooray!

And what’s on the itinerary?…

First off, the Nazca Lines:

Read on…

More: The Salt of the Incas’ Earth. . .

Hi everyone!

If you’ve been following these posts for any length of time at all, you’ll have gathered that I travel a lot. A real a lot! So much so that towards the end of the year I even have to put the brakes on a bit and simply say “nyet” to my colleagues who want me here, there and everywhere – otherwise I’d be ejected from the list of proud Russian citizens who pay Russian taxes :) However, at least once a year I indulge myself with a sightseeing-only trip. Yep, no business at all. Well, except for the teambuilding with the guys who help me getting there.

More: More stunning Machu Pictures!