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Northtrotter
Explorer of the north & beyond
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Category: Peru

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.

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Archaeology Peru Travel while studying

Archaeological field work at Huaca Pucllana in Peru

by Mel on 07/11/2018
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During the summer of 2018, I had the privilege of doing two weeks of field work on the…

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Outdoor travel Peru

Paragliding over Lima

by Mel on 04/11/2018
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On one of our last days in Lima, Luise, Amalie, Christine and I decided to say our goodbyes to…

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Outdoor travel Peru

Spotting wildlife at Islas Ballestas and Reserva de Paracas

by Mel on 30/10/2018
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The second part of our weekend trip from Lima took us to Islas Ballestas, an island group known as “the…

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Peru

Endless fun in the sand dunes of Huacachina

by Mel on 23/10/2018
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After the adventurous flight over the famous Nazca Lines, we headed to Huacachina, a small village built up around…

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Peru

Flying above the ancient Nazca Lines

by Mel on 18/10/2018
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On our second and last weekend in Lima, the entire group went on an excursion to a place that…

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Peru

Two weeks in Lima is two weeks too many

by Mel on 08/10/2018
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This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission…

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Peru

A day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

by Mel on 27/09/2018
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Two days after arriving back to Cuzco from the Inca Trail trek, Brandon and I decided it was time to explore…

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Outdoor travel Peru

An epic four-day trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

by Mel on 24/09/2018
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Machu Picchu is one of those places that most people know and dream to see. It’s one of…

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Outdoor travel Peru

Horseback riding to the not-so-Rainbow Mountain

by Mel on 13/09/2018
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The majority of travellers that come to Peru go to Cuzco and head straight to Machu Picchu. Naturally,…

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Peru

Days in the colourful mountain city of Cuzco

by Mel on 08/09/2018
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Six hours after arriving in Lima on June 11th, we had a flight scheduled for Cuzco, where our…

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I'm a Danish/English archaeologist with an ardent passion for exploring the north. Whether it’s the windswept cliffs of the Faroe Islands, the icy fjords of Greenland, the misty moors of Scotland, or the deep forests of Scandinavia - the north is where my heart feels most at home. I may sometimes go astray and travel south, east or west, but I always find my way back north. In September 2023, a scruffy little pup from Romania named Minnie trotted into my life - and onto the road with me. She’s now my loyal sidekick, and the best adventure buddy I could ask for 💙 If you're into unusual destinations, wild northern landscapes, and forgotten places, you’ve come to the right corner of the internet. So go ahead - pack your virtual backpack and come explore the north with us!

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Fun facts

‣  88 countries & territories visited
‣  6 continents visited
‣  10 countries lived/worked in
‣  3 total solar eclipses seen
‣  122 mountains conquered
‣  56 destinations explored solo
‣  153 UNESCO sites visited

Where am I?

Currently just a girl trying to find a place in this world...

‣ May-June: Swedish cabin life
‣ July: Denmark

Top 10 dream destinations

1. Tristan da Cunha
2. Socotra, Yemen
3. Arctic Russia
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Falkland Islands
6. North Caucasus, Russia
7. Turkmenistan
8. Transnistria
9. Shetland Islands, Scotland
10. Antarctica

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