It’s nearly 1am and flight cancelled….. not sure what to think, I’ll save that for my next post.

Update 23:45

Plane cancelled, sounds like from the hearsay we are getting a replacement flight…

We shall wait and see.

Update: 22:28pm

So our flight boarded, then un-boarded at 8:50pm because the aeroplane was broken and now the limited information translated from Spanish by some random person is it’s broken for three hours while they fix it, pretty frustrating but rather they fixed it then flew the plane knackered.

Kids are a bit grumpy as quite late now, we had planned a flight time with their bedtime. It’s now 10:28 and it’s incredibly frustrating but we would rather be safe or sorry, so it’s a bit of a delay we hadn’t factored in but at least we haven’t got a connection flight like many other people will have!

…..

As we step onto our flight out of South America today, we leave behind not just Peru, but an entire chapter of our journey one filled with towering peaks, ancient ruins, and a mix of wonder and frustration. Peru gave us breathtaking sights and moments of awe, but it also left us with a lingering sense of neglect, a country rich in history yet weighed down by decay and survival rather than progress.

But before Japan, there was one Andean stop that took us by surprise: La Paz, Bolivia I’ll go in to the details in a second.

Peru: A Country of Contrasts

The Highs: The Moments That Took Our Breath Away (Sometimes Literally!)

• Machu Picchu: As Magical As Promised – Even after all the photos, all the hype, seeing it in person was surreal. The mist lifting, the ruins revealing themselves, the sheer scale of it all—it’s something we’ll never forget. And yes, we bussed it instead of hiking, but that didn’t take away from the experience one bit.

• Cusco’s Timeless Charm – This city had layers. One minute we were standing in a bustling market, the next we were exploring a centuries-old temple. It was a place where history was woven into everyday life, and we loved it.

• The Sacred Valley: An Open-Air Museum – From the salt terraces of Maras to the fortress of Ollantaytambo, every stop was like turning the pages of an ancient book. And with far fewer crowds than Machu Picchu, some moments felt almost private, like we’d stumbled upon something the world hadn’t fully discovered yet.

• La Paz: A Wild Card We Didn’t Expect to Love , While technically Bolivia, La Paz felt like an extension of our Andean adventure. And wow, what a city. The cable cars gave us some of the most epic views of any city we’ve been to like a real-life sci-fi metropolis in the mountains. The streets were hectic but alive, the altitude was intense but manageable, and somehow, despite the chaos, it all worked.

The Lows: The Other Side of Peru

• A Country That Feels Left Behind, There was an undeniable sense of neglect in many places we visited. Buildings crumbling, streets filled with rubbish, an air of resignation rather than hope. It was a stark contrast to the pride we’ve felt in other countries here, it often felt like people were just getting by, Lima is a mix of posh and poor but as a place it’s well worth a visit.

• Rubbish Everywhere outside Lima, We weren’t expecting pristine streets, but the sheer amount of waste was hard to ignore. Piles of it, even in otherwise beautiful areas. It made us wonder why does a country with such a rich heritage feel so abandoned?

• Altitude? Surprisingly Fine! We braced for the worst, but maybe because we bussed up from sea level to 5000m rather than fly it didn’t hit us like getting out of a plane?. A few deep breaths here and there, but overall? We handled it well.

Peru and Bolivia gave us moments we’ll carry forever. But now, it’s time for something completely different.

A Two-Day Madrid Stopover: A Taste of Spain

Before Japan, we will have two days in Madrid which should be just enough time to enjoy a small slice of Spain without feeling rushed between flights and give time to regenerate.

Madrid will be a palate cleanser, a brief pause before jumping headfirst into a whole new culture.

In 2 days from posting this it’s, onwards to Japan: A Total Reset

Swapping the Andes to Europe, and then stepping into a world that couldn’t be more different Japan will be a head spinner.

I mean Peru and Bolivia were raw, rugged, and steeped in ancient history. Japan will be futuristic, structured, and endlessly fascinating.

From Incan ruins to Shibuya’s digital billboards, llama-filled valleys to Tokyo’s bullet trains, this next chapter is set to be a complete contrast, and we’re ready for it.

Stay tuned the adventure is about to take a whole new turn! 🇯🇵