Peru: From Jungle to Mountains
I spent 17 incredible days in Peru, a journey that combined meaningful documentary work with unforgettable landscapes and some of the best food I've ever had.
The trip began in the Amazon River basin near Pucallpa, where I documented medical clinics for Eagle Projects International. We stayed in a jungle-themed hotel where each morning started with the unmistakable sound of a resident parrot greeting the day. Eventually I decided to make friends with the parrot, and before long it was happily perched on my hand as I carried it with me to breakfast.
During our time in the Amazon, we witnessed daily life along the river, from families paddling dugout canoes to a young girl proudly showing off her freshly caught piranhas.
One of the moments that stayed with me the most happened after an elderly woman received her first pair of eyeglasses. She immediately found a place to sit beneath a tree, pulled out her needlepoint, and got to work. Watching something so simple become possible again was a powerful reminder of the impact these clinics have on the communities they serve.
After a week in the jungle, I traveled to Lima and spent a couple of days exploring the city before my wife joined me for the remainder of the trip. We wandered through the city during Easter celebrations, including “flower carpets” of Easter scenes in the city square.
We also enjoyed some of Peru's incredible cuisine, including fresh ceviche and lomo saltado.
From Lima, we flew to Cusco to begin exploring the Andes. The elevation, over 11,000 feet above sea level, made itself known immediately as we spent time wandering Cusco's narrow cobblestone streets, where centuries-old stone buildings, colorful markets, and lively plazas make it one of the most fascinating and friendly cities I've visited. The blend of Incan history and Spanish colonial architecture gives the city a unique character and makes it a destination worth exploring before even heading to Machu Picchu.
We took the train toward Machu Picchu before hiking a section of the Inca Trail, climbing through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery I have ever experienced. The Andes have a rugged, dramatic beauty that is difficult to describe. Their sheer scale is hard to comprehend, and even though I live in Colorado and spend a lot of time in the Rocky Mountains, the Andes made our mountains feel surprisingly small. Towering peaks stretched in every direction, while deep valleys and rushing rivers carved through the landscape below.
As we hiked, we passed several remarkable Incan ruins, each one blending almost seamlessly into the mountainsides. It's incredible to think that these structures have stood for centuries in such a remote and unforgiving environment, connected by a trail that people are still walking today.
Reaching the Sun Gate and seeing Machu Picchu spread out below us was everything I had hoped it would be. The light was absolutely perfect, and after dreaming of photographing this place for nearly 30 years, I was finally able to capture the image I had always imagined. We spent time watching the llamas that roam the ancient city before spending the night in Aguas Calientes, a lively town that exists almost entirely to welcome visitors to Machu Picchu.
One of our final adventures was hiking to Humantay Lake, a stunning alpine lake known for its brilliant turquoise water surrounded by towering Andean peaks. The hike is just over two miles, but with most of it above 13,000 feet, the altitude made every step a challenge. Reaching the lake, however, made the effort completely worthwhile.
Peru exceeded every expectation I had. From documenting life-changing medical clinics in the Amazon to standing at the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu and hiking through the towering Andes, every part of the journey offered something unforgettable. It is a country filled with remarkable people, breathtaking landscapes, and a rich history, and I left already hoping that one day I'll have the opportunity to return.