cavillstravels

We had two days in Cusco after Salkantay and I spent both days essentially doing nothing. I found an excellent creperie with a beautiful view over the city and I sat there to eat and write, enjoying some time to myself and a chance to sit and relax after putting my body through so much. … More Recovery in Cusco Before Heading to Puno

The Salkantay 4-day trek had been booked since July and I’d been dreading its arrival. I went through phases of trying to get fit, struggling to find both time and space to squeeze in some proper exercise. But the day had arrived and I couldn’t escape it, attempting an early night to prepare for the … More The Salkantay Trek, the Hardest Physical Challenge I’ve Ever Completed

We traveled to Cusco in style, choosing a cheaper bus company but taking a first class seat in the VIP section. Instead of a two person bus seat we each had a separate arm chair and could extend our chairs almost all the way back. It was probably the best sleep I’ve had on a … More Acclimatising in Cusco

Cabanaconde was a small town with little more than the main square and some residential streets. It had a nice, calm vibe to it and gave you views of the mountains around from wherever you stood. The bus had taken six hours from Arequipa and left us wanting dinner and an early night to prepare … More Advanced Level Hiking in the Stunning Colca Canyon

Huacachina was a tiny town entirely surrounded by sand dunes. It was beautifully simple and it was nice to be somewhere safe to walk around at night, despite completing a loop of the town in under 10 minutes. We walked to the top of one of the lower dunes to admire the sunset, our first … More Huacachina and Arequipa, a Desert Oasis and a Colonial Town

Paracas provided a nice location for me to spend another few days feeling unwell. I hadn’t been sick since Iceland which seemed an unfairly short period of time between instances, but I guess I can’t expect my body to keep up with the constant changes in diet and international bacteria. The grey sky had remained … More Paracas, Beach and Desert All in One Place

Lima felt western to me. Staying nearby a fancy shopping centre complete with well known brands and restaurants, overlooking the Pacific Ocean had me feeling like I was anywhere but Peru. An unfortunate layer of cloud hung over the city the entire few days I was there, and apparently lingers from May to December. Combined … More Lima, the End of My Solo Adventure… for Six Weeks

I arrived in the centre of Huaraz sitting at 3000m above sea level and walked to my hostel, out of breath by the time I arrived after walking up the somewhat steep hill to the door with my 15kg pack on my back. My hostel was big enough giving me space to sit on my … More Hiking Laguna 69 and Not Much Else in Huaraz

My bus from Guayaquil to Mancora in Peru was uneventful aside from the border crossing which took 2 and a half hours just to get our passports stamped. It’s been a while since I’ve done a land crossing, and I missed the efficiency of those that I went through in Europe and the US without … More Crossing Into Peru and Continuing the Lazy Vibes