Travel Peru in style, on any budget!

Peru, a magical place with amazing scenery and wonderful people. But where does one start looking when the travel bug bites?

Unlike the all-inclusive resorts that are plentiful with deals on the internet travelling to Peru is quite a bit different. We wanted to ensure that we work with a reputable company. A couple of tips when searching for a good travel agency include customer service, location when you're on vacation and a good deal. 

Llama Yoga

Our two-person tour started and ended in Lima. Peru Vacation Tours was instrumental in making our trip a memorable one. They specialize in luxury and budget tours. Being an English speaking traveller in a Spanish world, we had no problem communicating and the tour guides provided by Peru Vacation Tours were fluent in English. Every time we reached our new location, a friendly guide would greet us with coupons, maps and tips for the day or two that we stayed. On occasion, we accompanied other tours on day trips. Some of the tours were Spanish-speaking exclusively and our guide came along as a translator so we didn't miss out on anything. 

Another great tip when traveling is the balance between modes of transportation. Peru Vacation Tours made sure that we took the train or bus when there were scenery and the plane when we had to get to our destination with speed. 

Travel doesn't always go according plan. When we had to change hotels, we were able to call the Peru Vacation Tours and they answered the phone. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't have to press 1, 2, 5, 8 as options to direct my call. The local representative was able to help us right away and we were able to continue our tour without any interruption. They even called the hotel at night to ensure that we were on schedule and on track with the new itinerary. 

Thinking of travelling to Peru? I recommend, without reservation, Peru Vacation Tours!

Photograph courtesy of Intuitive Composition

Late Bloomer

Sam makes a troubling discovery in his search for a philosophy book.

Was he not notable enough?

Disconcerted he ponders his finding of three baby albums for the days to come and decides his mother is the only one to blame. Sam has to rely on Skype for this unpleasant dispute with the latter, gets distracted and after ordering a three topping pizza from Dominos online, he feels much better.

Cute Baby!

He has time since the parents are on a three week vacation. Sam opens the three baby albums and starts on page one.

On the hospital's pink card, Betsy is the firstborn and saw the first light at ten AM, weighing 4.5 kg. One year after Mike's blue welcoming card states his 2.9 kg late afternoon. Sam's birth happened soon after midnight with a healthy average of 3.4 kg the year after.

But apparently Sam's childhood ends there, on a blue hospital card.

In the seventh month of Betsy’s celebrated life, she spoke her first word: “Ma-ma”.

Sam guesses Mike’s "Da-da" was a fantasy from the writer as the women in the family are chatter boxes and it is hard for any boy to get a word in. 

While Sam has the freedom to choose, he decides on his first word as “ice-cream,” when he was only nine months old.

The footprints are not too troublesome, where Sam picks bright yellow acryl paint, makes a fist and dots the toes.

Also the teething seems to be a minor issue where Sam got his all at once and just to be quite clear, later got the most coins from the tooth fairy.

Sam turns the pages of three albums to page four. Inside his blank album is a report from the kindergarten and every other day he received an A. The teacher’s note at the bottom brings some memories stored for years in his cabinet of imagination. But there it is in faded black on white: A indicates absence from school. Sam dwells on the possibility of him being Mamma’s anti-social boy. The fireplace is a good place for incriminating evidence as such and without giving it a second thought Sam's report goes up in flames.

Compared to his siblings’ crooked houses and deviated flowerbeds Sam’s first drawing is a masterpiece. The bricks are evenly laid and parked under the tree is he on a three dimensional bike.

Many pizzas later, Sam finally turns to the very last pages of the three albums.  He feels somewhat defeated. Betsy’s picture of her first school day is awesome. She has blond curly locks tied away with bright blue ribbons and rosy cheeks. Mike has a front tooth missing, but in the picture he is already the number one financial planner.

Needless to say Sam's album has no picture. 


He takes the black marker and inside the frame for My First Day at School Sam writes: You had to be there to witness my awesomeness.

Story adapted from Amanda.

Photography courtesy of Christine Bergsma 

Allergic to nuts?

A group of children see the Canadian backpacker on his way to the Ollantaytambo train station. He wants to purchase the ticket that can take him to Machupicchu.

“Good morning,” choir the children.

“Good afternoon,” says the Canadian while checking his Rolex.

They agree on the time difference.

“Good afternoon.”

“How are you?” asks the oldest.

“I’m very well, thank you for asking.”

The children like to practice their language skills where the common language in Peru is Spanish.

“Where’s the money?”

“Pardon me?”

“The money?”

They hold their hands for Nuevo Sol.

“You don't work for me, do you?”

The boy offers to carry the backpack, but the Canadian refuses.

“I have to run for the train,” says the Canadian.

“The train leaves hour, you much time,” says the child in broken English.

“Hungry,” says the little one.

The Canadian takes some pictures of the children with his Nikon.

For this privilege, he came to learn, one has to pay at least ten Soles.

After closing the lens he digs in the backpack, feels Planters’ snack packs.

“Are any of you allergic to nuts?”

That must be a Canadian concept.  The snack packs contain a healthy mixture of dried fruit and nuts.

The conversation was worth every word and the children share the treats with great appreciation.       

The Canadian wishes he paid the ten Soles, because there are no snacks for sale on the train and it takes almost an hour and a half to reach Machupicchu...


Photo's courtesy of Intuitive Composition

City of Friendship - Huaraz

Between the majestic western Black Mountains and in the east, the White Mountain Range of Huaraz is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Bishop. Also called The Switzerland of Peru, skiers and mountaineers from all over the world enjoy the challenge of the highest elevation at 22 205 ft.

It was a Sunday, May 31 1970. The local Catholic Church hosted a mass gathering for all the surrounding congregations. A matinee show with tickets at half price, 300 children attended the visiting circus that day and a bus full of soccer enthusiasts pulled over to watch the final FIFA match between Italy and Brazil.

At about 15:23 local time, a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale earthquake epicentre from the Pacific Ocean and 45 seconds later, 83 000 square kilometres of buildings and roads crumbled. The quake destabilized the glacier on the north face of Mount Huascaran and glacial deposits, debris of snow, rocks and ice thundered down at 193 kilometers per hour.  This quake-induced rock and snow avalanche killed an estimated 30 000 inhabitants and wiped out the entire city of Yungay in the minutes to follow. Almost 70 000 people died on that day. It is believed that the 300 children were lead to a higher location by a clown from the circus and survived the disaster. A tourist took footage from where he stood in the cemetery designed by Swiss architect Arnold Ruska, who also died as a result of the landslide. Due to the nature of the film, the Peruvian Government claimed and locked it away.

To stand between the huge rocks constituting a significant part of the mountain’s crust is, to say the least, somewhat unnerving.    

Towering in front of the city is the tiered Cemetery of Yungay with the almost undamaged original statue of Christ at the top - a grievous tourist attraction.  Four original palm trees that once crowned the city’s main plaza, the crushed bus and remnants of the church between huge boulders are a grim reminder of the tragedy.

However, upon the rubble of the deadliest seismic disaster, townships were erected and with  sincere  dedication and piety, locals make a decent living alongside the mountains. They reap from the abundance of life, upholding their faith and offer mineral baths and hiking trails to visitors. Huaraz is known as the capital of International Friendship and Huascaran is totally worth the climbing.

 Photographs courtesy of Intuitive Composition

The first sight of Lima

Lima is the starting point of Peru, hosting the only international airport. In rush hour a fifteen minute drive to the hotel becomes fifty minutes. Almost like being in a live video game, traffic is ruled by the honk of a horn, the unbeatable skill of finding gaps, while missing pedestrians, cyclists and pets.

Volkswagen Beetles survived the turn of the century and owners fill up at the gas stations located in the middle of the road.  

Fire-gear hoses are used to water parks and flower beds because it never rains in Lima, nor is there any sunshine, it feels surreal. The locals enjoy exercising on the free fitness equipment placed in parks and guarded by security. Grey skies might spit here and there, but the drops stay about four meters above the pedestrians’ heads. Only travelers carry umbrellas.

The cleanness of the city is outstanding and the sidewalks are polished to shine. The outer decor of the buildings might be in need of a good paint job, however is starkly contrasted by the interiors that are neat and the display of artifacts and clothes a colourful feast for shoppers. At local markets one can purchase anything under the sun and bargaining adds spice to making great deals.

Lima is divided in 43 districts, each with a major and their own taxes.

Cities in Peru have main squares with local restaurants, travel agencies, tourist stores and pharmacies . The market is surrounded by locals and tourists, eating ice cream sold by the vendors. Smoking is very costly in Peru, in my travels I have yet to meet a Peruvian that lights up. 

On the main square of Lima is the majestic St Frances Monastery. The large paintings displaying the earthy life of Christ and, according to the tour guide, was imported from Europe during the 16^th century. The local natives didn’t understand Spanish and therefore the paintings were used to bring the message. In the basement is a huge collection of skulls & bones, a cemetery for the Priest, the kings and the top layer pupil from the street.
The altars in gold and silver are spectacular. 

Famous for its indigenous character, is the Last Supper that has Maria Magdalena next to Jesus and on the table chili peppers, local fruits and a guinea pig. Guinea pigs are a delicatessen and served on special occasions or to honour guests.

Late afternoon walks on the manmade pebbled shore, where surfers enjoy the waves between fishermen on small boats bear a reminder – a Tsunami exit. Very recently the 7.6-magnitude earthquake has triggered a Tsunami warning from Mexico to Peru. In 1746 the Lima-Callao earthquake caused almost complete destruction of the capital of Lima.    

Despite of earlier destruction and warfare, Lima is a tourist-welcoming city where one can set foot and enjoy the local markets before heading off to climb the majestic tropical mountain, Machu Picchu.






Photographs courtesy of Intuitive Composition

A tree is a tree

Central Park, NYC

An hour before sunset I take the ten minute walk through the park to the bench opposite my tree. A few days ago you celebrated another birthday and in a couple of weeks I shall turn older too. Even when we combine our ages my tree will be almost double the digit without giving way its age.

My tree stands between other trees planted a century ago, but have different qualities. When the Eucalyptus tree rubs leaves, a healing aroma spreads and the sweet red apple tree carpets the roots underneath.

My tree doesn’t have a name, nor does it have a distinct flavour, my tree has a voice.

The voice differs from the graffiti on the bench that carries some slang of youngsters declaring their everlasting love to one another. In fact, my tree doesn’t speak in words at all. The branches are always ready to catch the breeze that triggers the friction of the leaves, spreading an emerald message of peace. Sometimes the leaves carry the song of the ocean in them, close to where you live. Do you sometimes stand on the rock, listening for my presence? Does the spray of the ocean bring memories of our make-believe past? Are we still connected?

Today is the last time I’ll walk the hour before sunset, for the winds are changing, night falls quickly and in a couple of days the park will be closed.

After the season of snow, my emerald tree will be waiting for us, gracing us with consonance.

A tree is a tree and regardless the solstice, you will be you and I shall be here.

Photograph courtesy of Christine Bergsma