On to Peru!

We flew to Lima the night before Day and have joined a “Peru Hop” tour that is anything but slow-paced. We left Lima at 5 a.m. and didn’t really stop moving until we reached Huacachina late in the day—with Paracas in between. It’s a popular route, and we are the more “seasoned” travelers on a bus full of very energetic younger folks. Thankfully, we were joined by our friends James and Carina, which made the whole experience more fun.

Our first stop was a boat trip out to the Ballestas Islands, often compared to a mini Galápagos, though having been to the Galapagos this is a stretch. The wildlife included sea lions, a lone penguin, and more birds than we could count. From there, we stopped at a vineyard visit to learn about (and sample) pisco, followed by a quick lunch before heading on again.

By the time we reached Huacachina, the pace hadn’t let up. The desert oasis is stunning, but the main event was dune buggying and sandboarding. Racing up and down the massive dunes made us wonder how much our travel insurance would cover for medical evacuation, and Michael was brave and slid down the dunes on a board which was equal parts exhilarating and slightly terrifying. Not exactly relaxing—but definitely memorable!Read more