Sunday, March 9, 2014

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Huacachina, Peru













Huacachina, Huacachina, Huacachina!  Sand dunes, sand buggies, and sand boarding!  What a thrilling experience!  

Laguna 69 Trek























The most AMAZING day of the entire trip! Our second day in Huaraz we decided to do the Laguna 69 trek in Peru's Cordillera Blanca.  We took a 2-3 hour van ride from the city of Huaraz on country dirt roads passing through the rural Peruvian villages. Once we reached our destination we then hiked for 3 more hours until we reached the "oh so beautiful" Laguna 69.  There are really no words to describe this experience.  It was simply breathtaking! 

Huaraz, Peru













The moment we got off the plane in Lima, Peru we hopped on an overnight bus to Huaraz.  Huaraz is a tiny, poor town in the middle of Peru with some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen.  After our long bus ride we were eager to go exploring right away.  We dropped off our backpacks at a hostel and arranged a mountain biking tour through the endless mountains of Huaraz.  Although quite challenging, it was one of the most peaceful bike rides I have ever experienced.  We biked up and down the rolling hills, passing donkeys, tiny dirt-floor-huts, local Peruvians, and breathing in fresh mountain air.  We ended a perfect first day in Peru with a few Sierra Andina Peruvian beers!