In 2007 I travelled to Peru to work on a conservation project at Reserva Ecologica Taricaya (two hours by boat from the small town of Puerto Maldonado). I absolutely loved my time there and still miss it terribly. I have always always loved animals and actually wanted to be an animal behaviourist before changing my mind to photography (the week before I started uni) so being able to live and work in the rainforest was a dream come true.
I personally wish I was a better photojournalist, I just dont have the right eye and I find it very frustrating. This blog will by no means be a photojournalism/travel blog by heart is in fashion and fine art, i guess this is more of a hobby for me, which i hope to peruse with more vigour and to improve my skills.
Before I flew home I travelled up to the mountain city of Cusco which was a beautiful contrast from the rainforest where I also discovered I have no head for altitude, getting out of breath walking up a flight of stairs was very alien to me. Visiting Machu Picchu (Peru’s most famous Inca ruins) is an experience that should never be passed up by anyone. I travelled up by train (you can do the 5 day Inca trail but that is often booked up months and months in advance) which is wonderful itself as you start out from Cusco at dawn and the train slowly winds its way up through the formidable mountain ranges. A little tip if you are staying over night in Aguas Calientes (the “base camp” town for visiting Machu Picchu) is to get up before dawn the next day and go and see the ruins again. By the afternoon (the time you arrive on the train) they are very very full with tourists which can slightly take the edge off the experience but the mornings are much more peaceful and I found I was able to appreciate the ruins much more, plus the sun rising over the surround peaks is the definition of breathtaking.
Peru is a truly incredible country with warm, welcoming people and even though I travelled alone I never once felt insecure or intimidated (I do think it helped that I could speak a bit of Spanish as, the few times people did try and harass me into buying souvenirs and postcards in Cusco, I was immediately left alone when I asked them politely to do so). I urge anyone who is thinking of travelling to South America to add Peru to their itinerary; Machu Picchu is on all of the “things to do/see before you die” lists, and there is a very good reason for that. Below are some of my favourite photos from the rainforest and Machu Picchu.
View from the lodge (this was shot at midday with a super fast exposure)
Madre De Dios river
View from one of the observation platforms at sunset
The peak immediately behind the ruins is Wanya Picchu which you can climb, its a hard going walk but well well worth it, but stay off the top if you're afraid of heights
Machu Picchu at sunrise
Me and Sumpa the lovely, crazy, antisocial pony I often rode whilst in Cusco
On the top of Wanya Picchu
Oh and if you’re a student and heading to Peru TAKE YOUR STUDENT ID the reductions are incredible, I forgot mine and was kicking myself the whole trip. Just to give you an idea of the savings, entry to Machu Picchu was 125 nuevo soles (back then) with a student ID it was 30 nuevo soles!!!
