Highlights from Peru: 2 Months in Photos

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Now that I am back in NYC after my amazing 2 month journey through Peru, I have had more time to reflect on just how incredible this trip was. Sometimes it takes going back to your old routine to appreciate that special moment in time.

I will still be sharing stories, photos and videos from my journey, but for now, I would like to leave you with a glimpse of some of my favorite moments from Peru.

These are 2 variations of the traditional reed boats on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca. Each boat is made entirely of dried reeds and filled with empty water bottles, and is steered with paddles and a Eucalyptus pole. Floating down the lake on one of these handmade boats is a surreal experience.

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Sunsets and Sand Dunes in Huacachina, Peru

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There are some places in the world that will always hold a special place in my heart. Florence taught me how to sit for hours in cafes and developed my love for pasta at all hours of the day (or night!) Bangkok took away my fear of foreign cultures and food, and Huacachina gave me a totally new perspective on my place in the world.

Located high among the rising sand dunes, Huacachina, Peru houses a giant oasis at its center; life bubbling forth amongst the miles of nothingness. Just a 15 minute mototaxi ride from Ica, this little resort town is the perfect layover on your journey down south to Cusco. Hostels and streethawkers compete for your business in sand board rentals, dune buggy rides, and neighboring day trips.

Rent a board for the day and spend the sunny hours hiking to the highest dune and racing down, snowboarding style. Enjoy the afternoon from a boat and paddle around the lagoon, or just enjoy the view from the surrounding eateries. An hour before sunset, grab a bottle of Pisco and a trek up as far as your legs will take you. Watching the sun change from red to orange to pink as it dips lower and lower is an incredible sight.

As you toast to good friends and a good life, make sure to take a few moments and get lost in the undulating peaks and neverending sand. Time stands still on these dunes, and it is a rare moment to experience such breathless clarity.

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Photo of the Day: Alpacas, Soft & Stylish

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After a shopping frenzy in the tourist trap that is Cusco, I decided to debut one of my latest Alpaca finds while on a tour of the Sacred Valley. While browsing through the piles of chompas (sweaters) I was unsure at first. I was expecting the itchy quality of wool, and perhaps even a strange animal scent permeating the thread.

I couldn’t have been more wrong! Warm and woolly, my sweater held up marvelously against the finicky Andean weather.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the numerous Inca ruins, and marveling at the glorious pop of color against the bleak landscape.

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Photo of the Day: Traditional Duds on the Floating Islands

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One of my favorite things about visiting a new country is scoping out the local fashion. So when I spent three nights on the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca, I jumped at the chance to have a photo op dressed in the traditional garb of the Islas Uros.

The women all wear brightly colored outfits from softly draped skirts, to warm, woolen sweaters, to pom pom accessories. I styled mine as a necklace, but this piece is typically worn as a fastening at the bottom of each woman’s long braids. Rocking the Peruvian kicks I picked up in Cusco, and with my jeans peeking out, I look like a typical Gringa!

What do YOU think of the local style?

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Small Town Life in the Peruvian Andes

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The van rounded each bend with a sharp turn, and I felt my stomach drop at the combination of nearing the cliff’s edge, and the breathless mountain scenery. With each pass the air grew thinner, yet the views grew more magnificent. Rising mountain peaks, cotton ball clumps of fluffy, white sheep, and the occasional Quechua native, dotting the landscape with a burst of color.

While traveling through the Sacred Valley region of Peru, I had been given the change to visit the tiny town of Rumira, high up in the Andes mountains. Accompanied by Threads of Peru, an NGO dedicated to the preservation of the traditional Quechua weaving traditions, I had the rare opportunity to meet and speak with the women of Rumira, talking about their daily routines, the process of weaving, and raising children while working such a laborious life. Continue reading →

An American Girl in…. INDIA

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हिन्दी: ताजमहल English: Taj Mahal, Agra, India...

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An American Girl in Transit will be partnering up with Compass India this April 2012 to bring more awareness to the beauty of India. Compass is a luxury touring company offering set or personalized tours through all of India. Highlights include Ayurvedic spa treatments, wildlife safaris, elegant train rides across the country, and sampling some of the finest Indian cuisine.

I am so excited to explore this mysterious country and share the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells with you.

Leora

How to Choose a Tour Operator for the Inca Trail

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Embarking on a 4 day trek through high altitudes, possible rainstorms, and no electricity for miles is the experience of a lifetime. The Inca Trail is the stuff of legends, with many a traveler completing their journey as a different person than before. With such high stakes, and the huge risk of altitude sickness, medical emergencies, and severe weather, finding the right company and guides to lead you through this journey is paramount.

In 2001, the Inca Trail became heavily regulated, due to the high number of independent travelers passing through each day. The campsites were overrun, the trail became littered with garbage, and the Peruvian government feared the slow demise of their prized jewel, the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Now, travelers are required to book with a tour agency and can only hike the trail with a registered tour group. Each group is led by a trained guide, most of whom are Peruvian locals, and are accompanied by a fleet of porters who transport the tents, food, and other equipment needed for the hike. Continue reading →