 Peru
Peru is the home of hidden gems. Rooted deeply in its past, the ruins, temples, churches and stone carry the fingerprints of the country’s ancestors like detailed
snapshots of a time that won’t be forgotten. Roughly two-thirds the size of Mexico, it’s a country of constant discovery – a tradition that started hundreds of years ago
with the Inca Empire. In the sixteenth century, when the Spanish conquered the Incas, they inherited a society advanced far beyond the times. The vast adobe villages and impressive technology hinted at a people of sophistication and rich culture, but the Spanish missed the greatest gem of all: Machu Picchu.
Just as the grand city of Machu Picchu lay undiscovered for nearly 350 years, the rest of the Peruvian landscape remains equally as surprising. Even today, as studied archeologists and grand explorers have covered the land, new discoveries still unfurl with some of history’s most phenomenal stories.
Our time in Peru began, however, in the capital city that’s well known and well loved: Lima. Moving at a slower rhythm than most South American cities, Lima has a dreamlike and traditional constitution that settles over the outdoor marketplaces, plazas and street cafes like a thin mist. Every part of Lima has its own unique atmosphere. Downtown is crowded and busy, an amalgamation of modern and colonial times, and houses the most beautiful plaza in South America: the Plaza Mayor. Most neighborhoods around the centre are friendly and green, with many small parks and an unmistakable colonial touch, especially Jesús María and Magdalena del Mar. The other heart of Lima is the uptown shopping and business area, Miraflores, where stylish avenues and fancy beaches pepper the eyesight.
From Lima we headed to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire from the eleventh to sixteenth century. One of the greatest planned cities in the world, Cuzco is remarkable for its many colonial churches, monasteries, convents, and extensive Inca ruins. Almost every central street has remains of Inca walls, arches and doorways. From Cuzco we were able to explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, both Inca wonders that tell of a romantic time in South America’s storied history. Taken around by guides and then sent off to explore on our own, we delved into a past full of beauty and excitement.
After departing Cuzco, we traveled to Puno and visited, en route, the Church of Andahuaylillas, also called the "Sistine Chapel of America.” After nearly eight hours of travel, we arrived in Puno, which rests on the impressive Lake Titicaca. We spent time in the town and experienced the Andean culture firsthand before passing over the border to our next stop: Bolivia.
 Bolivia
Hidden in the interior of South America, Bolivia’s wonders go largely untapped. Framed by the Andes Mountains on nearly all sides and a jungle to the East,
the country reserves its preserved history and archeological finds only for those who are willing to travel and seek. We arrived in Bolivia via the lovely lakeside village of Copacabana with its remarkable church and views of Lake Titicaca. Crossing over, we saw the snow-capped mountains of the Cordillera Real.
We then boarded the Catamaran Cruise Ship and sailed to Sun Island, the legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire. Here we visited the Inca Garden and the Inti Wata Cultural Complex, which showed us everything from remarkable Inca terraces to handicraft centers and Andean cameloids.
Our ship continued on to La Paz, one of the world’s most dramatically located cities, where we discovered quickly why it was nicknamed the “City of Contrast.” A blend of many civilizations, we experienced everything from the Witch Doctor’s Market to Calle Jaen – the famous colonial street where museums, rich with history, cluster together. The few days we spent in La Paz, we saw how the country’s isolation conserved the city’s heritage, and we soaked in hundreds of years of art, architecture and volcanic rock formations. Though our time in Bolivia was short, we were excited about where we headed next: Brazil.
 Brazil
The exotic nature of South America’s giant, Brazil, has captivated wanderers for years. The energy and sensuality of the country seems to rise up like heat from the streets,
which stretches form the northwest corner of Tanzania to the southwest corner of and Brazilians welcome everyone with affectionate embrace – a token of their culture. While the entire country of Brazil would take months to adequately explore, we rooted ourselves to the contagious Rio de Janeiro and soaked up the mix of modern and historic as we weaved our way through small alleys, bright beaches, towering monuments and aged cathedrals.
We visited the Sambodrome, the Metropolitan Cathedral (in pyramid form), and got to know the traditional Cinelândia Square with the historical buildings, Municipal Theatre, National Library and National Museum of Fine Arts. We then took cable cars up the famed Sugar Loaf Mountain, which rises straight from the water’s edge. From the top, we could see the city spread before us and found splendid views of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and some beaches of Niterói. We also visited Rio’s most well-known land marker – Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain.
Our time in Brazil, however, was capped off with the Rio Carnival celebration, a sensory experience unlike any other. A bombardment of color, music, laughing, sensuality, dancing, costume and excitement, the Carnival quickly reels even the most quiet into a state of exhilaration. Taking part in the world’s biggest parade, in full costume attire, we found ourselves features on the biggest stage in the world. The festivities only continued at the Carnival at the Sambodrome, a building constructed in only 110 days to house the most amazing party on the planet.
After days of full immersion in Brazil’s party life, we ended our mAdventure exhausted on the beaches of Copacabana. Soaking in the sun, we relived our experiences through Peru, Bolivia and Brazil and wished we didn’t have to wait an entire year before our next adventure.
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