We picked Peru for one reason: Machu Picchu. More specifically, I wanted to climb Huayna Picchu — that tall peak in the background of everyone’s famous photo. I’d seen the pictures for years and thought, That. I want to stand on top of that.
I mentioned it to a couple of friends I’ve known for 30 years, and they were all in. It would be our first trip traveling together — and the first of many to come.
Cusco & Acclimating to Altitude
We flew into Cusco, and let me tell you, thank God we were prepared for the altitude. That place sits at 12,000 feet, and your lungs know it. We took it easy the first couple days to acclimate — no hero moves, just soaking in the city and hydrating like we were training for a marathon.
(Pro tip: we actually got prescribed altitude pills before the trip, and they made a huge difference.)
Inti Raymi: Dancing in the Streets
We planned the trip around the summer solstice, which lines up with Inti Raymi — the Incan Festival of the Sun. The whole city of Cusco gets involved, and it’s wild in the best way. Street parades, dancers, colors everywhere. The kind of thing you don’t just see — you feel it.
Cuy: Not Chicken. Definitely Not.
We spent several days exploring Cusco. Took a
chocolate-making class, wandered cobblestone streets, and hit as many local food spots as we could. I went full Peruvian — tried lomo saltado (my go-to), and even ordered the infamous cuy… yup, roasted guinea pig. It came out whole — face, teeth, the works. But hey, when in Peru, right?
Let me be clear: cuy does not taste like chicken. If anything, it was closer to pork — kind of gamey, and honestly, not much meat on it. It was more about the experience than the flavor. One of those “I did it” travel moments… and I’ll leave it at that 😅
Pisco Nights & Dylan’s “Adult” Drink Menu
Every night we ended up in these tiny, hole-in-the-wall bars where pisco was the star of the show. Pisco sours, pisco with coke, pisco straight — they were proud of it, and rightfully so.
The wildest part? Dylan was only 13, and they had zero hesitation offering him all the same pisco options like it was totally normal. He stuck to Sprite , but it cracked us up every time.
Climbing Huayna Picchu
But the main reason we were there was still ahead: Machu Picchu.
We caught a scenic train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (aka base camp), and the next morning started early — like before sunrise early. We had to, if we wanted to hike up Huayna Picchu.
The climb was steep. Not just “catch your breath” steep — “don’t look down” steep. But Dylan and I made it. We stood at the top, looking out over the ruins and the Andes and the clouds below us, and man… it’s one of those moments that just locks in your soul. You don’t forget views like that. You don’t forget how hard you worked to get there, either.
The Shift: From Tourists to Adventurers
This trip changed things for us. It kicked off our more adventurous era. I realized Dylan and I could handle more than just chill city wandering. We could climb mountains — literally and metaphorically.
It was also a chance to introduce him to a culture that wasn’t European or American. To learn about ancient civilizations. To walk slower, breathe deeper, eat differently.
We saw alpacas roaming the streets like dogs. We danced in festivals, ate things we couldn’t pronounce, and pushed out of every comfort zone we had.
And the best part? We got to do it with friends I’ve known most of my life.
One Continent at a Time
After Peru, we made a pact — one continent at a time.
This was just the beginning.
Next Stop: Thailand
Our adventurous side’s about to level up…
Wherever We May Roam 