The Semester Is Done, but My Trip Continues | WorldStrides

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Initially, I planned to leave Peru shortly after my semester ended, but the thought of saying goodbye so quickly after finals was heartbreaking. When my friend from the U.S. mentioned she was interested in visiting, I jumped at the opportunity to extend my stay and complete a victory lap through Peru. From touring the Sacred Valley and experiencing Machu Picchu at our own pace, to adventuring in the beautiful White City of Arequipa, and finally returning to Lima to see friends one last time, this extension felt like the cherry on top of an already unforgettable experience.

Traditional Fiber Processing in an Andean Village

While in Cusco, we went on a day tour through the Sacred Valley, which is a very affordable option from the city. I had visited the valley earlier in the semester with my class as part of the program, but it was just as enjoyable the second time around, if not more, after completing the semester. Having spent months learning about Inca and pre-Inca cultures, I was able to better understand how these societies shaped the different sites throughout the valley. Our first stop was Chinchero, where we watched a live demonstration of how wool is cleaned, naturally dyed using plants and insects, and spun into yarn to create traditional Andean textiles.

Maras Salt Pans Worker

Next, we visited the beautiful and expansive Salineras de Maras, which is made up of over 3,000 salt ponds owned by local families. As we descended into the site, the weather finally began to warm up, and the sunlight reflecting off the salt made it hard not to squint. We stopped at a small shop nearby to try local chocolate and salt harvested directly from the ponds, and we left with a large bag of Inca chips and smoked Maras salt to snack on for the rest of the bus ride.

Maras Salt Pans Worker

Aerial view of the ancient Inca agricultural terraces of Moray in the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Moray is another notable archaeological site, best known for its massive circular terraces. These terraces are believed to have been used by the Inca for agricultural experimentation, allowing them to observe how crops responded to different microclimates, since each level has its own temperature and humidity. This experimentation is one of the reasons Peru is home to over 4,000 varieties of potatoes today.

Alpaca Grazing on Ancient Incan Terraces in Pisac, Peru

We briefly visited Ollantaytambo, the town halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu, before heading to Pisac, the only site I had not previously seen and one that quickly became my favorite. Pisac is known for its dramatic cliffside cemeteries, where thousands of mummies were once laid to rest before being disturbed by grave robbers. If I return to Cusco, I would love to spend an entire day here, and I would highly recommend doing the same if you have the opportunity. While exploring the ruins, we met the cutest alpaca posing in front of the expansive terraces, which felt like a perfect way to close out our day in the Sacred Valley

Alpaca Grazing on Ancient Incan Terraces in Pisac, Peru

Machu Picchu: Ancient City in the Clouds

It was now the weekend, and I had the amazing opportunity to revisit Machu Picchu and the surrounding town. Because it was the off-season, we were able to purchase tickets in person for the Classic Route (Route 2A) by visiting the Ministry of Culture office in the main plaza of Aguas Calientes the day before our visit, making the process quick and easy and allowing us to secure tickets for the following morning. The Classic Route offered stunning panoramic views of the site, and we were greeted by llamas grazing peacefully on the terraces that had been out of reach when I visited with my class earlier in the semester.

Butterflies Feeding on Orange

After Machu Picchu, we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary near Aguas Calientes. The sanctuary features caterpillars, chrysalises, and live butterflies native to the Machu Picchu region. Admission includes a guided tour, and there is also a small café on-site with a beautiful view of the Urubamba River, making it a great place to relax after a long day of exploring. Watching hundreds of butterflies gather around bowls of overripe fruit was, unsurprisingly, a peaceful way to end the day.

Butterflies Feeding on Orange

Red Arches of Santa Catalina Monastery

While enjoying the freedom of post-semester travel, I decided to visit a new department and Peru’s second-largest city: Arequipa. Known as La Ciudad Blanca (The White City), Arequipa is famous for its stunning colonial architecture made from white volcanic stone. The city is framed by dramatic volcanoes and has a completely different atmosphere from Cusco. One highlight was touring the Santa Catalina Monastery, a massive convent complex that feels like a city within a city, and has stunning red and blue adobe walls and buildings. Founded in the 16th century, nuns continue to live and work in the monastery to this very day, selling freshly baked pastries for visitors.

Whitewater Rafting Adventure Through Rocky Rapids

While in Arequipa, I also tried white-water rafting for the first time on the Chili River. It was an unforgettable experience that required teamwork and coordination to navigate the rushing rapids. For the more adventurous participants (not me), there were options to cliff jump into the river and even flip the raft to experience the river’s full power. The photographers and the instructors’ GoPros captured so many fun moments, and I was especially excited to share these memories with my family and friends back home.

Whitewater Rafting Adventure Through Rocky Rapids

A toy Triceratops dinosaur in the foreground on a white salt flat with two people running in the distance under a bright blue sky.

With only one day left to explore, we opted for a half-day sightseeing tour to see the surrounding volcanoes and salt flats. While the volcanoes are visible from the city, seeing them up close was an entirely different experience. The most exciting moment of the day was at the Salinas Lagoon salt flat, where my friend and I saw a herd of wild and elusive vicuñas, Peru’s protected national animal. This moment was interrupted by loud stomping as a triceratops began to approach us, forcing us to run away.

Expansive Salt Flat and Mountain Landscape

Saying goodbye to Peru was still hard, but ending my time here in this way made my experience feel complete. I learned so much through my program and saw even more while traveling with friends. If you are on the fence about studying abroad, I would encourage you to just do it. There will always be reasons not to go, and in my case, there were many, including language barriers, finances, and leaving behind my apartment and friends back home. What pushed me to take the leap was encouragement from my Spanish professor, and I am so grateful that I put my worries aside and went for it, since the positives of my experience have infinitely outweighed the negatives I once feared.

Expansive Salt Flat and Mountain Landscape

Higher Ed Blogger - Alexandra G.

Alexandra G.

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