Day 1: Monday, April 11 – The Journey Begins
“Here we go again! Another family adventure, this time to Peru. We boarded the plane from Philly, ready to explore a country that’s been on my bucket list forever. I mean, Machu Picchu? Rainbow Mountain? This was going to be epic. I downloaded a few documentaries about Peru on the flight, getting hyped about the Inca Empire and all the natural beauty we were about to witness. After hours in the air, we were on our way to Lima, the capital of Peru.”
Day 2: Tuesday, April 12 – Arrival in Lima and Puerto Maldonado
“Finally, we landed in Lima, and I could already tell this place had a vibe. The city was huge, with a mix of old colonial architecture and modern buildings. But we didn’t stay long because we were off to Puerto Maldonado, in the Amazon rainforest! As soon as we stepped off the plane, the humidity hit us like a wave, and I knew we were in for something wild. That evening, I read about the Amazon and how it’s home to the most diverse species on the planet—my mind was racing, thinking about all the animals we might see.”
Day 3: Wednesday, April 13 – Exploring the Amazon in Puerto Maldonado
“Today was one for the books. We spent the whole day exploring the Amazon rainforest. We went on a boat ride down the Tambopata River, and I was on high alert, looking for wildlife. Monkeys swung through the trees, and I even spotted a caiman lurking by the riverbank. I was using this cool animal tracking app, and I couldn’t believe how many species we saw—colorful macaws, capybaras, and more. The Amazon is like another world. We also learned about the indigenous communities that live here and how they’ve adapted to the jungle for thousands of years. Talk about living in harmony with nature.”
Day 4: Thursday, April 14 – A Long Journey to Cusco
“Today was mostly a travel day as we left the jungle behind and headed toward the mountains. We took a bus that wound through the Andes—talk about breathtaking views. The mountains seemed to stretch forever, and we passed small villages that made me realize how different life is here compared to the cities. Even though it was mostly a day of transit, it felt like we were inching closer to the heart of Peru—the ancient Inca capital, Cusco.”
Day 5: Friday, April 15 – Rainbow Mountain Adventure
“Okay, this was unreal. We hiked to Rainbow Mountain today, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when we reached the top. The mountain was striped with colors—reds, yellows, greens—all from the minerals in the soil. It was tough getting up there (hello, altitude!), but totally worth it. I felt like I was standing on another planet. My brother and I challenged each other to see who could snap the best photo, and I think I won this round. Plus, our guide told us about how the Incas considered this place sacred. It made me think about how much the landscape shapes culture.”
Day 6: Saturday, April 16 – Cusco Morning and Machu Picchu at Night
“We spent the morning wandering around Cusco, which was like stepping into history. The city still has Inca walls, and you can feel the history in every corner. I tried some local food—alpaca, anyone?—and it was surprisingly good. By the afternoon, we were on a train heading to Machu Picchu. It felt like the world’s most scenic train ride, with snow-capped mountains and rivers rushing past us. When we arrived, Machu Picchu was waiting for us in the distance. The plan was to stay overnight, so tomorrow we’d have the whole day to explore.”
Day 7: Sunday, April 17 – Machu Picchu Magic
“Machu Picchu! I still can’t believe I stood there. It’s one thing to see pictures, but being there is something else. The clouds hung low, giving the ruins this mystical feel, like we had traveled back in time. Our guide told us all about how the Incas built this place high in the mountains and how it was a royal estate. My imagination went wild, thinking about what it must’ve been like to live there. We spent hours exploring the terraces, temples, and hidden corners. By the end of the day, I was exhausted but couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. This was definitely a highlight.”
Day 8: Monday, April 18 – Sacred Valley Exploration
“Today we explored the Sacred Valley, and it was just as impressive as Machu Picchu, but in a different way. We visited these ancient agricultural terraces at Moray—they’re circular, and it’s thought the Incas used them for experimenting with crops. It was kind of like their version of a lab. Then we checked out the Salt Mines of Maras, which looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. The locals still harvest salt there like they’ve been doing for centuries. It’s crazy how much you can learn from seeing how people live and adapt to their environment.”
Day 9: Tuesday, April 19 – Return to Lima
“We started our journey back to Lima today, but not without soaking in a bit more of Cusco’s charm. I took one last walk through the Plaza de Armas, taking mental pictures of the city before we left. We had one last flight back to Lima and spent our final moments there grabbing souvenirs. I picked up a traditional Inca-style necklace as a keepsake. Peru had been everything I hoped for and more.”
Day 10: Wednesday, April 20 – Heading Home
“Our adventure came to an end today. We flew back home, exhausted but full of stories. Peru wasn’t just another trip—it felt like a journey through time. From the Amazon rainforest to the peaks of Machu Picchu, I felt like we experienced every side of the country. Now I just have to figure out how to tell all these stories to my friends without making them totally jealous.”
