Earlier this month, I headed off to Peru with the Belmond team. Despite having spent a fair chunk of time in Central America, this was my first stint in the South.
In a sprightly 10 days, we whistled through Lima and Cusco, up into the high Andes and the peaks of Machu Picchu, through old colonial streets and starkly urban landscapes. Lima surprised me - its new-found energy is palpable, with a buzzing arts scene and a hungry, young population. Very fun.
Machu Picchu, despite the anticipated crowds, was enigmatic and enchanting. Only 2,500 visitors are now permitted to visit the citadel each day, leaving plenty of space to get lost amongst the ruins. Whilst it remains one of the most photographed destinations in the world - it will still leave you reeling. Go for the deep blue sky, the spiralling clouds, the panoramic mountain vistas, and the spine-tingling chill of a surprisingly modern history.
Whilst I'm not a fan of Angkor, to me - Machu Picchu is in a league of its own.
Plaza de Sagrado, Machu Picchu
““In Kant’s epistemology, it meant something limitless, an aesthetically pleasing entity so huge that it made the perceiver’s head hurt. Machu Picchu isn’t just beautiful, it’s sublime.””