During the summer of 2018, I had the privilege of doing two weeks of field work on the…
Times visited: 1
Cities visited: Cuzco, Lima, Ica
Towns and villages visited: Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Nazca, Huacachina, Paracas, Pisco
UNESCO sites visited: 4/13
For years, my travels had been focused mainly on Europe and Asia – until the summer of 2018, when a whole new adventure opened up: I was accepted to join an archaeological field school in Lima. A new country, a new continent, and a new career opportunity all in one!
My younger brother had always dreamed of visiting Peru, so I invited him along. We started our journey in Cusco, the cultural heart of the country, where we spent a few days soaking in the rich local traditions and adjusting to the high altitude. Like so many travellers before us, we were preparing to hike the iconic four-day Inka Trail to Machu Picchu – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But we weren’t doing it alone. We had a dream team of archaeologists, expert guides, and hardworking porters who made the experience unforgettable. It was challenging, yes – but even more so, it was fun, educational, and breathtakingly beautiful. We spent the following week based in Cusco, taking day trips to explore more of the stunning Andean highlands.
Then it was time to head to Lima, Peru’s gritty and often overlooked capital. While I spent two weeks working at the field school, my brother was off on his first solo travel adventure. I explored Lima in the afternoons, and on the weekend we reunited for an incredible trip: flying over the mysterious Nazca Lines, sandboarding in the dunes of Huacachina, spotting penguins and sea lions at Islas Ballestas, and exploring the windswept beauty of Reserva de Paracas.