Overland Adventure through Peru & Bolivia

It’s happening, on Monday, we’re flying into Peru! After weeks of planning, navigating a maze of flights, and working out the logistics of overland travel through two countries, we’re finally set. And rather than zipping through on quick flights, we’re taking the scenic (and slightly chaotic) route traveling overland from Lima to La Paz, Bolivia, and then looping back up to Cusco, Peru.

We’re following the famous Gringo Trail, a well worn backpacker route through the best of Peru and Bolivia, taking buses through deserts, mountains, lakes, and ancient ruins. This means long rides, overnight buses, and the kind of slow travel that lets us truly see the country.

First Stop: Lima (4 Nights)

We’re kicking things off in Lima, spending a few days exploring the coastal cliffs of Miraflores, the historic centre, and most importantly food. Lima is the culinary capital of South America, and we’re ready to eat our way through it, especially after 2 flights to get there, Expect a lot of ceviche, empanadas, and anything that pairs well with a Pisco Sour.

Then, the real adventure begins.

The Route: Lima → La Paz → Cusco

We’re heading south, crossing into Bolivia, and then looping back into Peru because why take the easy way when we can make things even more complicated? Here’s what the journey looks like:

Peru: Lima → Puno

• Lima → Paracas – A small coastal town known for the Ballestas Islands, aka Peru’s version of the Galápagos. Seals, penguins, and dramatic cliffs.

• Paracas → Huacachina – A desert oasis surrounded by massive sand dunes, where we’ll be sandboarding and riding dune buggies like maniacs.

• Huacachina → Nazca – Famous for the mysterious Nazca Lines, massive ancient geoglyphs carved into the desert. Flying over them is an option, but so is the viewing tower (for those of us who prefer solid ground).

• Nazca → Arequipa (Overnight Bus) – This is our first big overnight journey, arriving in Arequipa, the “White City”, home to colonial streets, volcano views, and our first real taste of high altitude.

• Arequipa → Puno (Lake Titicaca) – Our final Peruvian stop before Bolivia, where we’ll visit Lake Titicaca and the floating Uros Islands.

Bolivia: Puno → La Paz

• Puno → Copacabana (Bolivia) – We’ll cross the border into Bolivia (which should be an adventure in itself) and stop in Copacabana, a lakeside town where we’ll take a boat trip to Isla del Sol, the supposed birthplace of the Inca civilization.

• Copacabana → La Paz – Bolivia’s high-altitude capital, where we’ll ride the city’s famous cable cars, explore the witches’ markets, and maybe even check out Death Road (if we’re feeling particularly brave).

Back to Peru: La Paz → Cusco

• La Paz → Cusco (Overnight Bus) – One final overnight haul through the Andes before we cross back into Peru and arrive in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire.

• Cusco → Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu – The grand finale! Exploring the Sacred Valley, trekking (or training) to Machu Picchu, and soaking up every last bit of Incan history.

Why This Route?

Because this is the way to actually experience Peru and Bolivia. Sure, we could just fly between the big cities, but we’d miss everything in between. The unexpected roadside stops, the random markets, the crazy landscapes we’d never see from a plane.

Yes, it’s going to be long, we will break the journey up staying at locations for a few days each, but there will be overnight buses, early mornings, and a lot of hours staring out of bus windows. there will also be deserts, mountains, ancient ruins, lakes, wildlife, and experiences we couldn’t get any other way.

This one’s going to be big. From racing through the dunes in Huacachina to crossing the Bolivian border, overnight buses through the Andes to standing at Machu Picchu, we’ll be sharing every part of it.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to overland through South America, stick with us and ill let you know, I’ll also let you know how the kids get on too!

Peru, Bolivia, we’re on our way!

Overland Adventure through Peru & Bolivia!

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On Monday 3rd Feb we are swapping European cityscapes for the wild landscapes of South America Peru, it’s a couple of long flights but Peru here we come! After months on the road, exploring the history, culture, and chaos of Europe, it’s time for the next big adventure.

Peru has been high on our travel list for a while, and now it’s finally happening. From the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to the vibrant streets of Cusco, the floating villages of Lake Titicaca to the depths of the Amazon, we can’t wait to experience it all. Georgia’s already asking about llamas (because priorities), and Dotty is along for the ride as always and will find joy everywhere!

We will be sharing our experiences, travel wins, and the inevitable travel fails along the way. If you’ve been to Peru, hit us up with your must sees, hidden gems, or just your best tips for surviving altitude sickness with kids in tow.

Let the next chapter begin!

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After nearly 24 hours of airports, flights, and a whole lot of waiting, we’ve finally arrived in Peru! To say it was a long day would be an understatement by the time we stepped off the plane, we felt like we’d been through an endurance test worthy of an adventure reality show.

Our journey began in London, it was an early start a 7am so we were on the road at 4am we boarded our first flight to Madrid. A short hop, but in reality, it was just the warm up for the real challenge: the long haul flight from Madrid to Lima.

For the most part, the girls handled the journey like pros. One notable tantrum made an appearance 40 odd minutes before landing in Lima. Because, of course, if you’re going to have a meltdown, you time it perfectly for the final stretch when everyone (including us) is running on fumes. But credit where it’s due, Ali worked some magic and managed to contain the situation before it escalated further (if that was possible) it’s amazing how loud a screaming kid is on a plane!

Once we landed in Lima, things actually went fairly smoothly. We had pre-booked a taxi through Booking.com, which turned out to be a lifesaver. Once we finally got our bags (slowest baggage ever) we were on our way no scrambling for transport or haggling over fares with two exhausted kids in tow.

The drive to our hotel took 30 minutes giving us just enough time to soak in our first glimpses of Peru from the car window bright city lights, bustling streets, and the sudden realisation that we were officially in South America (and damn they drive like lunatics)

We’re staying put for four days to gather ourselves, adjust to the time zone, and recover from the madness of travel. This hotel is just a base camp before we set off to explore properly.

So, what’s next? The real adventure starts soon! From here, we’ll be hitting the road and diving into everything Peru has to offer. Stay tuned there’s so much more to come!

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Lima is a city that unfolds in layers. One moment, you’re navigating lively streets filled with honking taxis and market stalls, and the next, you’re standing in front of a towering mud brick temple, a reminder of the civilisations that thrived here long before skyscrapers and shopping malls.

We started our day at Huaca Pucllana, a vast adobe pyramid tucked away in the Miraflores district. Walking up to it, you can’t help but be drawn in by the sheer scale of it rows and rows of carefully stacked bricks forming terraces that rise above the city. It’s incredible to think that over 1,500 years ago, people built this by hand, using techniques that have allowed it to withstand time, earthquakes, and urban sprawl.

Our guide brought the site to life with stories of the Lima culture, explaining how this wasn’t just a temple but a whole complex used for ceremonies, governance, and trade. Unlike the famous stonework of the Inca, the Lima people built with adobe, a mix of clay, water, and plant material that dries hard in the sun. Standing on the higher terraces, we had a perfect view over the modern city, a fascinating contrast of ancient and contemporary life

After our deep dive into history, we set off to explore some of Lima’s parks. We didn’t have any particular plan just the idea of wandering and seeing where we ended up and let the kids have some fun. That’s one of the best things about this city its green spaces are beautifully kept, and there’s always something unexpected to see.

We started with Parque Kennedy, a lively spot in the heart of Miraflores. Known for its colony of friendly stray cats, it’s a place where people relax on benches, street performers put on impromptu shows, and local vendors sell everything from churros to fresh ceviche..

From there, we wandered toward the Malecón, a scenic coastal park that runs along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The gardens here are immaculate. Every flower bed is perfectly arranged, every path spotless. You can tell the city puts a huge effort into maintaining these spaces, and it shows not just in the landscaping, but in the sheer number of gardeners and street cleaners you see out working every day. Whether it’s pruning trees, sweeping pathways, or keeping the lawns looking pristine, there’s a quiet dedication to keeping Lima looking its best in the UK you would be lucky to see 1 council gardener if the wind was blowing the right way, yet today I saw 25 gardeners in one park and there are so many parks all being attended like this it’s mind boggling

As we walked, we took in the ocean views, watched paragliders soaring over the cliffs, and let the kids run free in one of the many playgrounds. It’s easy to see why Lima’s parks are so loved not just by tourists, but by locals who come here to exercise, relax, and catch up with friends.

Tomorrow, who knows? But for today, Lima gave us a glimpse into its heart one where history and modern life exist side by side, and where even the smallest details, like a freshly swept path or a carefully planted flower bed all go towards making a difference in what is a slightly run down but vibrant city.

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On the Road to Paracas

And just like that, we’ve left Lima’s chaos behind! One minute it’s towering buildings and traffic madness, the next shanty towns, endless dunes, and stretches of pure desert. Peru doesn’t mess around when it comes to sudden scenery changes!

We’re driving down the Panamericana Sur, heading for Paracas, where tomorrow morning we’ll be hopping on a boat to the Ballestas Islands. Sea lions? Penguins? Dolphins? Who knows, If the ocean’s in a good mood, we might just spot some!

For now, we’re soaking up the view dusty roads, random roadside markets, and the occasional giant chicken statue (seriously, Peru loves those ).

On route we stopped at Chincha, Hacienda San José is a stunning 17th-century colonial mansion with an eerie history hidden beneath it miles of tunnels were used to smuggle enslaved Africans inland, avoiding Spanish taxes and authorities. Hacienda San José shows a glimpse into Peru’s complex history.

Next stop: desert adventures, ocean breezes, and maybe a wild dune buggy ride if not this week maybe next.!

Stay tuned for the next chapter—this one’s gonna be fun! #LimaToParacas #DesertVibes #DolphinWatch #RoadTripPeru

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Paracas is the first stop on the Gringo Trail. If you’re backpacking through Peru, this place is basically a rite of passage. Everyone stops here, everyone does the same boat trip, and everyone leaves thinking, Well, that was… something.

It’s a town that feels like it peaked 20-40 years ago, the beeping makes absolutely no sense, and half the stuff in the markets looks like it was bought in bulk from an eBay warehouse clearance sale. But somehow, in between dodging dodgy dudes, avoiding the murky sand, and Ali launch herself off a sand dune, we had a weirdly entertaining few days.

We kicked off with the classic Ballestas Islands boat trip because that’s just what you do here. The ‘Poor Man’s Galápagos’ might not have the same ring to it as the real thing, but it delivered. We cruised past sunbathing sea lions, a very overdressed Humboldt penguins, and the massive Candelabra geoglyph carved into the cliffside. The whole thing was impressive, though the air was thick with a combination of sea spray, fish guts, and aggressive seabird smells.

Back on land, we wandered through Paracas’s famous markets several times, which, as it turns out, are famous for selling absolute rubbish. Think ‘luxury’ sunglasses that will snap before lunchtime, ‘handmade’ souvenirs that were probably made in a factory in China, and enough knockoff alpaca keychains to supply an entire season of tourists. And if you so much as glance at an item, expect an instant sales pitch that would put a used car dealer to shame.

While the rest of us stuck to the coast, and even found a upper class part which was shockingly nice, Ali went paragliding but before she did she had a bus ride into the desert, then got in a taxi with two burly men who drove the car up to the top of a towering sand dune, they strapped her in and then she was soaring out across the ocean and back. Her gliding through the sky would have been incredible to witness but we didn’t, and sadly for us Ali’s landing was graceful too so we are told so we cannot even laugh at that!

Ali and Georgia also tackled the inflatable water park, which was essentially a giant, sun-faded, wobbly plastic obstacle course floating in the bay. It was the kind of thing that looked fun but also like it could collapse at any second. No safety briefing, no lifeguards in sight just pure, unregulated chaos. Naturally, Georgia loved every second of it and even Ali had fun!

Dotty, on the other hand, was perfectly content digging in the sand, which let’s be honest is not the cleanest in the world. There were a few mystery objects buried in there that we chose to ignore. But she was happy, and that’s what counts.

I think there is a reason why everyone stops in Paracas, does the tours, and moves on. The town itself feels like a budget resort that hasn’t seen an upgrade since the early 80s. The buildings are sun-faded, half the places look permanently ‘under construction,’ and you get the feeling that if someone actually invested in it, it could be amazing. But instead, it just… exists.

And yet, the beeping.

Why?

No one knows.

The roads are practically empty, yet cars beep constantly at other cars, at pedestrians, at nothing at all.

In Lima, where the streets are gridlocked and people drive like they have a death wish, the honking makes sense. But here? You could walk down the middle of the road for five minutes without seeing a single vehicle, yet somewhere, someone is leaning on their horn like they’re in a high speed chase.

If you like weird, slightly rundown, totally unpredictable places? You’ll have a laugh but as I said earlier it’s a right of passage on the gringo trail, if your doing that expect this, just don’t expect the beeping to ever stop.

Paracas was our first stop on the Gringo Trail, but tomorrow we’re heading into the desert heading for an oasis. Dune buggies, sandboarding, and hopefully fewer pointless car horns. Let’s hope it offers more tranquility to be honest i don’t think it can get more ridiculous.

Read to the bottom for my top tip to save you from the madness!

Planning a Trip to Paracas? Here’s What You Need to Know:

Ballestas Islands? Do it. Just be ready for bird related incidents.

Paragliding? Worth the journey Ali said. Just aim for a smooth landing.

Markets? Enter at Your Own Risk. If it looks like an eBay reject, it probably is.

Beeping? There’s no escaping it. Embrace the madness.

Beach Expectations? Keep ‘Em Low. It’s fine, but let’s just say no one’s calling it ‘pristine.’ And don’t swim in the water imo.

Been to Paracas? Tell us your best dodgy market purchase or your weirdest beeping encounter in the comments!

P.S…

My tip: head past the Marriott hotel to reach a well kept upper class coastal path that leads to the desert, quiet bays and peace await, plus security and police make sure no riff raff are about there.

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Rolling in from a distance, it looked magical. A shimmering lagoon nestled between towering sand dunes, just like the postcards promised.

But then, as we got closer…

A row of old men sat in plastic chairs, watching the bus pull in like punters at a dodgy auction, eyeing up how much cash they could fleece. Behind them, a workshop if you could even call it that was piled high with scrap parts, rusting fridges, half-built buildings, and anything else that looked like it had been salvaged from a landfill.

If Paracas was supposed to be a gem and turned out to be a complete dive, then what fresh disaster awaited us here?

Dread set in.

But then, just as we braced for the worst, Huacachina started to redeem itself. The lagoon, framed by swaying palms, actually was beautiful.

And thankfully our hotel was a massive step up. A large garden courtyard, security on the gate, a pool, and air-con. After Paracas, that honestly felt like pure luxury.

Maybe, just maybe, this place wasn’t going to be another letdown.

Adventures in the Oasis

Determined to make the most of it, we rented sandboards and hit the dunes. While fun, it’s definitely not like being on snow it more of a controlled friction burning slide, or in some cases, an uncontrolled tumble. Still, we had fun Georgia hasn’t drank enough and moaned, but we all had a few slides and that’s what mattered. (Honestly at 30deg walking up a dune literally kills you, no chair lifts)

At 4PM, while we were on a dune, the desert exploded into life.

From nowhere, hundreds of dune buggies arrived, roaring across the sand, kicking up dust, and filling the horizon. It was honestly like a scene from Mad Max a full-on desert invasion of petrol-fuelled chaos. The peaceful oasis we had just been admiring suddenly felt like the starting line of some dystopian death race. The noise, the speed, the sheer number of them it was mad.

We also took a pedalo out onto the lagoon, a slower paced way to take in the oasis. Drifting on the water, surrounded by towering dunes, was one of those rare moments where the place actually felt peaceful.

The next morning when it was quieter I couldn’t resist popping up the DJI Mini 2 for a few aerial shots. While the girls were in the pool, Running it over the dunes was incredible, but trying to see what I was actually filming on the phone screen in the harsh sunlight? Nearly impossible. So, I’ll have to wait until I can properly review the footagebut hopefully, it captured the surreal beauty of this little oasis.

We also ate out at various restaurants and the average price for us 4 was about £17 including a tip so it’s cheap (and they are the premium establishments overlooking the oasis),

Final Thoughts

Before arriving, we were warned Huacachina was far worse than Paracas.

In reality? It was far, far better.

Sure, it’s rough around the edges, but unlike Paracas, it actually has something to offer. Once you get past the scrapyard entrance, there’s a charm to the place. It may not be a luxury retreat, but it was a world away from the chaos we had just escaped.

Almost… relaxing.

P.S. The Adventure Continues…

Just as we were getting on our bus, we’ve now been told that a massive landslide has hit after Nazca. Apparently, no one is leaving, so we might end up stuck there for a few days.

Because, of course why wouldn’t there be a bit of extra chaos thrown into the mix?

Stay tuned… this could get interesting.

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This is a sad and sobering post. But also, what the hell, Nazca?

We came here expecting history, mystery, and a bit of that ancient wonder you get from a place steeped in legend. What we found was a town that feels like it’s been left behind forgotten by time, abandoned by hope, and, apparently, by any sense of basic sanitation.

Nazca greeted us with torrential rain, which we later learned is about as common here as a tourist walking away saying, “That was totally worth it.” Luckily, our bus dropped us right at the hotel door, which turned out to be decent clean, comfortable, and mercifully a little out of the way. That, as it turns out, was a major win.

Because the town itself? Oh boy.

Nazca, without a doubt, is the most run-down place we have ever visited. And not in a charming, rustic, “oh look, the paint is peeling” kind of way. This is a town that has straight-up given up on itself. Missing sewer covers reveal murky streams of filth running down the roads. Kids splash in what we can only hope was just rainwater (but, deep down, we know it wasn’t). The general atmosphere? Somewhere between dystopian future and that place your mum told you never to wander into alone.

You ever get that feeling that you’re being watched, and not in a friendly, curious locals way? More in a “I hope my travel insurance covers being mugged” way? Yeah, that was Nazca in a nutshell.

We had one solid plan in Nazca visiting the ancient aqueducts. A bit of cool, old school engineering that actually works! But the flooding? It had other ideas. Trip cancelled. So, we did what any sensible travellers would do we wandered the town to see what was what.

We wanted to visit an Inca site, because of our cancelled trip hey, if you’re in Peru, you chase history. We didn’t make it even halfway there, we made the executive decision to turn around in the interest of keeping our belongings and possibly our lives. Turns out, we weren’t the only ones. When we were on the bus to Arequipa, we met others who had the same experience. One couple walked the full hour to get there, only to find it shut despite the door saying open :P. A Peruvian girl travelling on the bus we met told us the town made her cry not out of awe, but out of sheer sadness.

Alright, let’s talk about the big draw, the Nazca Lines. These world famous geoglyphs, etched into the desert thousands of years ago, are one of the greatest archaeological mysteries of all time.

And yet.

No other country on Earth would look at a world wonder and go, “You know what this needs? A highway through it.” But Peru did. There’s a literal road running through the Nazca Lines. Incredible.

And as for seeing them? You can take a flight over them, for a price. Or, you can stand on a viewing platform that gives you a very underwhelming glimpse of just a couple of them. Either way, the whole experience left us feeling like we’d just fallen for the world’s most elaborate tourist trap.

Nazca could be amazing. It has history, mystery, and should be a place that leaves you speechless for the right reasons. Instead, it left us speechless because we just couldn’t believe how rundown, unsafe, and neglected it felt.

If you must visit, do it fast. See the lines if you’re determined, spend as little as possible, and move on. Preferably before nightfall.

P.S our over night bus our of Nazca was amazing kids were great and we arrived in the White City at 6am, the journey was a bit bumpy there was several land slides we had to navigate, first glimpses of this City show you the heavy Spanish influence and miles of buildings that have been well maintained, this is a place that appears on first look to be chalk and cheese, the Peruvian girl told us that Arequipa has been pushing for independence from Peru and on first looks I can see why you could be stood in a European city.

P.P.S to top it all off my phone broke on our last night in Nazca.

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After the disaster that is Nazca, we needed a reset. Somewhere to shake off the frustration, breathe a little deeper, and remind ourselves of why we’re doing this because I can tell you now it isn’t to wade through streets of poo and rubbish and call that culture! (Looking at Nazca).

after our over night bus that I have now called (escape from Nazca) that was an amazing bus journey, I might do a separate post on that one day but for now back to the story.

I am now posting having been in Arequipa a few days, and from the moment we arrived, it felt like a weight had lifted. The streets are calm, clean but still full of life, the architecture is beautiful, and there’s just something about the place that makes you want to explore. After the chaos, sewage and letdowns of the past week, this city has been exactly what we needed.

Arequipa is known as La Ciudad Blanca The White City because of its dazzling colonial buildings made from volcanic stone. Walking through its streets, everything feels open and inviting, with wide plazas, intricate facades, and a sense of history woven into every alleyway.

The Plaza de Armas is stunning, with its grand cathedral stretching across one side and arcades framing the square. It’s the kind of place you could sit for hours, just watching life unfold. Locals chatting on benches, street performers drawing a small crowd, people going about their day there’s a rhythm to it all that feels effortless.

Arequipa has that perfect mix of history and atmosphere that makes it easy to just be. We’ve spent our time getting lost in the side streets, stumbling upon hidden courtyards, and soaking in the beauty of the old buildings they are something special.

One of the highlights so far has been the Santa Catalina Monastery. It’s a city within a city a labyrinth of brightly painted walls, peaceful courtyards, and tiny rooms that once housed nuns in near total isolation. It’s quiet, but not in a sombre way. More like stepping into another time, where life moved slower, and every corner tells a story.

The monastery is massive, full of little details that make you pause a blue washed alley here, a sunlit archway there. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget about time for a while and for us, nearly 5 hours rolled by before we knew it!

It’s funny how quickly things can turn around. A few days ago, we were stuck in a place that felt completely wrong for more reasons than I can even list, we were frustrated and disappointed / sad for how people live and yet now, we are somewhere that just fits, this a place that has not given up on life but in fact drives forward while embracing the past.

There’s still so much to see places we haven’t explored yet, things we’ve only heard about. We haven’t spotted the famous volcanoes yet, but knowing they’re out there, watching over the city, and that just adds to the sense of something bigger. We will find you!

For now, we’re just enjoying the feeling of being in a place that is thriving and that has not given up on life. if the rest of our time here is anything like these first few days, we might just have found one of our favourite stops yet.

Onwards and upwards!

P.s I took my phone to some local shop, who on the face of it looked more dodgy than Del Boy but as asked they replaced the battery for 30 quid, and to be honest they we’re good at their job, I watched them fix my phone and it felt cheap to me and having replaced many phone batteries in my time I could see they did everything correct.

Speaking to our Airbnb owner tonight, though, he said I was ripped off! Honestly I think it was cheap, what do you think?

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Our two day adventure into Colca Canyon was a journey through Peru’s breathtaking landscapes, but we never expected to get as close to the legendary Andean condors as we did. Seeing these magnificent birds soaring over the canyon is always a bit of a gamble some visitors wait hours without spotting one most trek or visit without ever seeing one. But we were about to experience something incredibly rare.

Day One: Into the Mountains

The trip began with a long drive from Arequipa into the towering Andean mountains. As we climbed higher, we made stops at various viewpoints, including the breathtaking 5,000-meter pass. At that altitude, the air was thin, and we all felt it lightheaded, sluggish, and just a little worse for wear, Dotty was sick, but recovered fast to our relief (though we later found out I left her straw out of her drink) which didn’t help her at all, epic fail on my part!

Ali had pounding headaches and Georgia just moaned (but there’s nothing new there). However, the stunning views made up for it. Snow capped peaks stretched in every direction, and the sense of vastness was overwhelming the landscape was striking rugged and endless.

By late afternoon, we were glad to be at a much lower altitude (3590 meters) where we arrived at our overnight stay at Magico, a small town nestled in the mountains. The moment we stepped inside the very basic accommodation the skies opened up, and the rain began to fall a steady downpour started that would last the entire night. Despite the storm, we enjoyed dinner in the highest Irish pub in the world(weird right) and then had an early night, knowing we had a 5 AM start ahead of us.

Day Two: The Condor Chase

At dawn, we boarded our bus in bright sunshine completely different from the stormy night before. As we made our way deeper into the canyon, we encountered small rockslides on the road, a common sight in this rugged terrain. At one point, I even had to jump out and help clear rocks to keep us moving a unique little moment that added to the adventure.

We made a few scenic stops before finally arriving at Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons and a prime spot for condor sightings. At first, the sky was empty. Then, after about 15 minutes, we spotted two birds high above, circling in the distance. Before we knew it, they had drifted lower until one landed less than five meters away Georgia.

It was a juvenile Andean condor, still developing the iconic white collar that marks an adult. Georgia was quick to get snap with this rare visitor before it took off again, joining another condor in the air. We watched in awe as they swooped, played, and glided through the canyon. (This pics on Ali’s phone, I’ll upload them later)

The best was yet to come.

Our host, seemed confident that he could find more, he suggested a short hike to another viewpoint not typical for a bus tour so we were alone walking on the cliffs just 9 people and the rugged terrain. We set off on a 40-minute walk, but within less than 20 minutes, we were rewarded two adult condors who appeared in the sky, gliding effortlessly just 20 feet from us!

Seeing condors was a special experience, but getting this close is exceptionally rare we were told. These massive birds one of the largest flying creatures in the world and usually keep their distance from humans. The fact that we not only saw multiple condors but had them soaring just above our heads was unbelievable.

I managed to capture some incredible photos, but no picture can truly convey the feeling of standing so close to these majestic birds, watching them ride the thermals with effortless grace.

we continued our bus journey, stopping at a few more viewpoints before making the long trek back to Arequipa. By the time we arrived, we were utterly exhausted but completely overjoyed.

This trip gave us an extremely rare, up close encounter with one of the most iconic birds on the planet.

For anyone visiting Peru, a trip to Colca Canyon is always worth it. But if you’re lucky really lucky you might just find yourself standing mere meters away from an Andean condor, witnessing the true magic of the wild.

Would you go searching for condors in Colca Canyon? Let me know in the comments!

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