Category: Peru

Радужные горы Перу — как попасть и не потерять дыхание

I love wild landscapes - especially when I don’t have to share them with 500 tourists. And yes, I hate getting out of the car above 3,500 meters. But some places are worth the altitude struggle. Like Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). Here’s how to do it with minimal effort and maximum reward.

When to Go and How to Avoid the Tourist Flood

Tour buses drop people off early in the morning. But by 3 p.m., the mountain clears out. I turned off the highway around noon - perfect timing. If you don’t want to deal with minibus chaos on narrow switchbacks, get there early and on your own terms.

Hike or Horse? Choose Wisely at 5,000 Meters

Let’s be clear: 5,000 meters is brutal. After a few steps, your lungs are screaming and your brain wants oxygen tanks. The trail takes a couple of hours on foot - or you can ride a horse. Problem solved? Not quite. This is Latin America, my friends.

At a random checkpoint below the summit, your guides might say: “Get off. It’s dangerous from here.” “Qué carajo?” I reply in my finest Spanish. Turns out there’s a sheriff at the viewpoint handing out $10 fines to any horse that dares cross the final ridge. Environmental protection, thin air - take your pick. No horses were harmed on our trip, but I walked the last bit.

Learn Spanish — Seriously

While launching my drone, sheriffs showed up immediately. Apparently, there’s a fine for that too.

Moral of the story? In Latin America, speaking Spanish expands your options - and reduces your fines.

Enjoy the Views and the Chaos

Latin America is always a bit of an adventure - rules shift mid-game, but the scenery makes it all worth it.

Why Driving Is the Best Way to Explore Peru

Перу — небольшая высокогорная страна в Южной Америке. Как и в большинстве других стран региона, на авто здесь намного интереснее, чем пешком.

But — there are a few key things to know before you go. I’ll cover the wild places in the next post. Today’s all about the driving.

Peruvian Drivers — Worse Than in Indonesia

🚘 The drivers. If you’ve driven in Indonesia, you’ve got an idea. Now imagine that - three times worse. If not, do not attempt Peru without your own stunt team.

Funny how neighboring countries can have wildly different driving cultures. Chile, for example, has some of the calmest, most polite drivers in all of Latin America.

From Sea Level to 5,000 Meters — Yes, Really

🌋 Peru is about elevation. Lima and the coast sit at sea level. Cusco and the Sacred Valley? 2,700 meters. Between them — the Andes, with passes around 5,000 meters. Most routes will have you driving high-altitude serpentines or sleeping in remote mountain towns at some point.

My tip: spend a few days at 2,500 meters first - Arequipa is perfect - and bring some oxygen cans. If you run out, stop by any medical clinic for a refill.

Some Places You Just Can’t Drive To

😱 Not everything in Peru is road-trip friendly. Two highlights - Machu Picchu and Iquitos - are completely cut off by mountains or jungle. Machu Picchu also requires booking months in advance. Raise your hand if you plan trips six months ahead! Yeah, not me 😂

More Peru Highlights Coming Soon

Peru truly surprised me. I spent over a month driving through it and loved it. I’ll share my favorite places in the next posts. Stay tuned.

A Flat Tire Turns Into a Language Class

Driving along the coast yesterday, I realized one of my tires was toast. It was Sunday - usually a day when everything is shut tight - but luckily, I found a small garage near the highway with a mechanic on duty.

Kids Are the Best Language Teachers (No Filters, No Mercy)

While the mechanic pulled out a nail and patched the tire, I chatted with his 10-year-old son, Danilo. Kids are the ultimate language tutors - they don’t care if you understand them or not, they just speak at warp speed, full slang included.

From iPhones to Geography — And an Unknown Country Called Russia

I tried steering the conversation away from “how much does your iPhone cost” to more neutral school talk. Danilo enjoys school - but had never heard of Russia.
“You’re going to Chile? Do they also have beaches and blue water?”
— Yep.

“Is Your Native Language... Quechua?”

About 10 minutes in, he paused.
“You don’t understand everything in Spanish. Is your native language Quechua?”

In Peru, Quechua is spoken by indigenous highland communities - about 13 million speakers. Explaining “Russian” or even the concept of “another language” didn’t go well 😂

My First Quechua Phrase, Courtesy of the Local Teens

Some older kids later taught me how to introduce myself:
Нуха сути Макс — меня зовут Макс.

What Have You Learned From Kids Recently?

Или чему хотите научить детей сами?