The beautiful people of Peru

What’s on your bucket list? For many they would say Machu Picchu! For me, that magical trip happened in August 2022. A dream trip, a trip of a lifetime, a trip I’ll never forget. This is about the people who made that magical trip possible. The guides, porters, cooks, travel companies, and more are really hurting right now. They need our help. Peru has plummeted into political chaos. While the causes are complicated the consequences are clear – the tourism industry is at a standstill. My friend Darwin, who led our tour told me ALL the scheduled trips have been canceled for the year. The ripple effect is disastrous. The iconic Machu Picchu was closed - only opening a few weeks ago to a very limited capacity. The livelihood of families has been significantly impacted. Darwin shared that supplies are extremely limited leading to outrageous prices. Propane that was 30 soles ($7.75) a tank is now 450 soles ($118). You can imagine that covid already hit this country really hard and now this is a second blow.

My experience in Peru was life-changing. While preparing to fly from Lima to Cusco I received the devastating news that my big brother had died. He was fighting multiple myeloma and his body was finished. My heart was broken and I was looking at a difficult 3 day hike in the Peruvian mountains. How could I be excited to explore new places when my buddy, my protector, my sweet brother was gone? In the coming days I found myself on the trail of the mountain in Peru. It was really tough - high altitudes, tiny paths on sheer cliffs, and cold (so cold!) nights. But also - breathtaking views, God’s wonders, laughs with fellow travelers, and amazing food. As I stood a t15,450 ft on the peak of the mountain my broken heart started the healing process. I am so incredibly grateful for that moment.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel and so lucky for all of my experiences. I want to give back even if it is small. If you also love to travel consider making a small donation to the people behind the scenes in Peru. The total of this account will be given to my friend Darwin who will use it to help his people. He has connections throughout Cusco and I am confident he will use this money to take care of them.