Before the trip, we had done our research and knew that the altitude in Cusco could be a challenge, so we went to our doctor and got medication for altitude sickness ahead of time. Even with that preparation, the difference was immediate. The moment we stepped off the plane in Cusco, we could feel it. Breathing was noticeably harder, and there was no question that we had arrived somewhere very high above sea level.

We checked into our Airbnb, which had a beautiful view overlooking Cusco’s city center. After such a long travel day, I naturally needed to use the bathroom immediately. Unfortunately, I did not notice the sign hanging above the toilet that very clearly said “Do not flush toilet paper.” So, naturally, I flushed the toilet paper.

And naturally, I clogged the toilet almost immediately.

You can read the rest of that little introduction to Peru in the Funny Stories section.

Once we got settled, we absolutely loved Cusco. The city was full of history, beautiful stone streets, colonial architecture, colorful markets, and constant reminders of the Inca civilization. During our stay, we happened upon a parade through the city, which was fascinating to watch and gave us an unexpected glimpse into local culture and tradition.

We also quickly discovered something else about Cusco: massages were unbelievably inexpensive compared with what we were used to at home. We could hardly believe the prices, so naturally, we took full advantage and ended up getting several massages throughout the week. When travel gives you affordable massages at high altitude, you do not question it.

Cusco was also filled with llamas and alpacas, which, of course, immediately caught my attention. And apparently I had not fully learned my lesson from Rome that when someone offers you a picture with an animal—or anything else that seems like a fun tourist moment—there is probably a price attached to it.

Some lessons take more than one country to really sink in.

One of the things that stood out to us most, though, was the people. The Peruvian people were some of the friendliest we have ever met while traveling. Whether we were asking for directions, talking with someone at a restaurant, or simply interacting with people along the way, we were constantly met with warmth and kindness.

Of course, Peru also introduced us to some very different food traditions. One of the most famous Andean delicacies is cuy—guinea pig. Sarah, being far braver than I am when it comes to trying unfamiliar foods, decided she was going to give it a shot.

That experience deserves its own story.

And yes, you will find that one in the Funny Stories section too.

Getting to Machu Picchu was not simply a matter of hopping on one train and arriving. The journey itself became part of the adventure.

We started with a very long taxi ride from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, winding through the Andes with incredible scenery surrounding us almost the entire way. Mountains stretched out in every direction, and the farther we traveled from Cusco, the more dramatic the landscape became.

Once we reached Ollantaytambo, we boarded the Inca Rail for the trip to Aguas Calientes. The roughly hour-and-a-half train ride through the Andes was one of those journeys where staring out the window was entertainment enough. The train wound between mountains and followed the river through scenery that seemed to become more dramatic around every turn.

Eventually, we arrived in Aguas Calientes, the little town tucked into the mountains below Machu Picchu. We checked into our hotel for the night and immediately fell in love with yet another beautiful Peruvian town. Surrounded by towering green mountains, it felt completely removed from the rest of the world.

But we knew the real reason we had come was waiting just above us.

The next morning, we boarded the bus that would take us up to Machu Picchu. The road climbed the mountain through a series of winding hairpin turns, and with every turn, the anticipation grew.

And then we arrived.

There are some places you have seen so many times in photographs that you wonder if the real thing can possibly live up to what you have imagined.

Machu Picchu did.

We were in absolute amazement.

Standing there surrounded by ancient stone structures and enormous green mountains was one of the most magical moments of my life. No photograph truly prepares you for the scale of it or the feeling of actually standing there.

We explored the ruins and hiked through Machu Picchu before deciding to take things a little farther and head toward the Sun Gate.

Well…

one of us made it to the Sun Gate.

The other one has a story.

You can probably guess where to find that one too.

Looking back, Peru was so much more than Machu Picchu. It was the moment we stepped off the plane and realized breathing was going to require a little more effort. It was accidentally clogging the toilet within minutes of arriving. It was watching a parade in Cusco, getting more massages than we ever planned on, meeting incredibly kind people, riding through the Andes, and laughing our way through yet another collection of travel mishaps.

And then there was Machu Picchu.

Standing there, after everything it took to get there, was one of those rare travel moments where the anticipation, the journey, and the reality all came together perfectly.

Peru gave us history, culture, adventure, laughter, incredible people, and one of the most magical places we have ever stood. And somehow, even the clogged toilet became part of the story.