Peru

We drop off our backpacks at the airport check-in and board our flight. The destination we’ve been longing for is getting closer and closer — and no, we’re not talking about the aisle seat.

Come oooon!

We land in Peru and hop on a very short domestic flight to travel from Lima to Arequipa.

We’re a little wiped out. We spend a day settling in and relaxing through the little streets of Arequipa’s historic center, doing calm, everyday things like: sipping coca tea, meeting a real mummy, and enjoying an aperitif on the rooftop of a colonial building with views of a 6,000-meter volcano rising behind the cathedral.

At dinner, we have a helpful trip briefing so you’ll know everything about what we’ll be doing over the next few days and how everything is organized. By now we’re completely exhausted, so it’s off to bed.

We’ve had enough of this life where you never get to cross the Andes in a pick-up truck. So we’re getting our hands on some powerful trucks and fixing that right away. As on many other Sto Gran Tour trips, we’ll be the ones driving throughout the adventure, no babysitters.

Here we go! We start the climb: we’re in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. We spend the day among llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and coca tea. It’s amazing how much things can change in just 20 hours of travel. Here, when grandmas invite you over, instead of lasagna they prepare mate tea with coca leaves. We’re on a high plateau surrounded by volcanoes much, much taller than us—and we’re already traveling at 5,000 meters above sea level. Awaiting us is the Mirador de los Volcanes, whose name needs little explanation.

The goal of our day will be the small villages of the Colca Valley. Now it’s time for bed! We’re sleeping nearby tonight.

We wake up full of energy in our Andean village and start the engine to reach the Colca Canyon. Compared to the Grand Canyon, this place is unfairly underrated. It’s like a 3,200-meter-deep chasm with condors soaring overhead.

We spend the day in the valley, following the edge of the canyon and stopping among the Inca terraces. There are lots of villages that few tourists ever visit, but it’s beautiful to witness local life. Isn’t it far better to lose yourself in unknown little streets than to queue up in Instagram-famous alleys? We stroll through the quiet squares of remote towns and meet a few elderly Peruvians who still live there.

In the afternoon, we begin driving toward Puno, arriving at sunset. Once there, we have dinner together and head straight to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day: we’ll be guests!

Today is a big day, so up you get! Come on, let’s go. We’ll spend the morning exploring the shores of Lake Titicaca, among ancient settlements and some stones shaped like… well, phallic symbols. Phallic stones. At lunch we’ll try the famous chicharrón (which, roughly translated from Spanish, means very, very fried pork that you’ll still be digesting for days to come).

Then, from Puno, we hop on a little boat that takes us right into the middle of Lake Titicaca and to the floating Uros Islands. Everything here feels wonderfully surreal. With great respect, we’ll meet the indigenous Uros community. And tonight we’ll even sleep on their floating reed platforms. Right there with them, on outrageously flashy beds with golden beads and highlighter-fuchsia details, floating on giant straw islands. And no, it’s not the fried pork playing tricks on you — it’s all real.

These floating islands are incredible. The Uros build them using totora, a local aquatic plant. They weave it layer upon layer to create the floating foundation. Their houses and boats are also made from totora, and they require constant maintenance to keep the islands from sinking. We’ll find out whether everything has passed its check-up.

And of course, we’ll be treated to a sunset here that is absolutely unreal.

Wow, what an incredible experience we just had! We still haven’t fully taken it in, but for now we’re heading back to the mainland in Puno. Today we’re taking it easy, as we need to reach Cusipata: we’re getting closer to Cusco. So we hit the road, watching the scenery roll by outside the windows and singing 90s songs at the top of our lungs without feeling shy anymore.

That’s the beauty of setting off with strangers: before you know it, it feels like you’ve known them forever, and you can truly be yourself.

Up at dawn—today is going to be a wonderfully colorful day. First, we leave our mountain lodge and get ready for the coolest rafting adventure ever, on the white waters of an Andean river (take a look at the extra activities info sheet). Once we’ve dried off, we continue the ascent: one of the most beautiful views of Sto Gran Viaggio awaits us. We keep climbing up to 5,200 meters, all the way to the base of the mountains. The hike is technically easy, but tiring because of the altitude and thinner oxygen. Nothing impossible! You don’t need to be especially fit to enjoy it. This little climb fills us with happiness—and leaves us all out of complaints—as we make our way to conquer the summit of the Rainbow Mountains.

After taking in the incredible rainbow-colored layers of stone and earth, we head back down and get back on the road, next stop: Cusco.

Once we arrive in the city, after a great dinner we dive into bed and say goodnight to the world. We’ve earned it.

Today we say goodbye to our beloved powerful rides—you’d become a real pro at driving them. From here on out, the only way to get around is by train. But first, Cusco! This is one of the liveliest and best-kept cities in all of South America. There are countless things to see: from the cathedral to the viewpoint, the city center, and the traditional local spots. We’re free to explore it as much and however we like, to unwind while wandering its little streets, or even get tempted in the souvenir shops.

We deserve this too. We deserve it all. And tonight we’re staying here. A well-earned day to recharge.

Here in Cusco, there’s an incredible amount to do and see — and we already know that. What you may not know yet is that we’re staying here today as well. You can choose to keep exploring the city, visiting Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, and Sacsayhuamán, or join one of these optional activities:

A visit to Lake Humantay, an 8-hour excursion to see this stunning lake nestled beneath the legendary Salkantay Mountain.
A wonderful tour through the archaeological sites of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Moray, the Maras Salt Mines, Pisaq, Urubamba and the beautiful town of Ollantaytambo.

The two activities cannot be done together, so you’ll need to choose one. Or simply staying in Cusco is not a bad option at all.

If you don’t get into trouble (and if you do, your Tour Leader will take care of you), we’ll see each other again at dinner.

Up and out of bed—today is another extraordinary day: the journey to Machu Picchu begins! We head to the station and board the first train, one of those that chugs through the mountains across the Sacred Valley. It will be a beautiful ride. We arrive in the afternoon at the last outpost of civilization before reaching the ancient ruins: we are in Aguas Calientes.

We take a stroll through the little town crossed by the railway, grab a bite to eat, and celebrate: tomorrow, one of the 7 wonders of the world awaits us. Let’s go!

We wake up early, hop on one of those buses that take you all the way to the top of the mountain, and pass through the gates of the citadel.

Boom. Bang. Ta-daaah. Any cry of wonder fits here: right in front of us is Machu Picchu. There’s not much to say, except that this place stays in your heart and is hard to forget. The view is outrageously spectacular. We spend the whole morning wandering through the ruins, among gateways, terraces, and scenic viewpoints.

In the afternoon, we take the train back to Cusco, where we won’t be able to sleep, thinking back on the incredible day we’ve just experienced. The alarm is going off again tomorrow though, just so you know!

We’re giving you a break: today we’re sleeping in and getting up late in the morning. Yesterday, in the end, we changed our plans and decided to party until late, enjoying Cusco’s nightlife. There’s less and less time left before something truly dreadful: the journey home. We’re starting to make our way to Lima, the last stop before heading back. If we have time, we’ll pop into the city center; otherwise, we’ll dash straight to the airport.

The time has really come. You have to say goodbye to this bunch of strangers who, somehow, have become friends. As if you’d known them your whole life. There are hugs and tears. We catch a flight from Lima that takes us home. On the journey back, we start to realize two things:

we made it. Blessed be your Team Leader, who thought of everything.
It was the trip you imagined, only even more so.

Here we are. There’s little to say, and so much to cry about. What a beautiful life experience we shared together.