Dan and Joseph's Travel Diaries: Peru

Peru was an important trip for us, where altitude adjustment and layering up on alpaca jumpers replaced the Verdancy, beach days and Pura Vida spirit that characterised our time in Costa Rica.

I don’t know if it was the altitude, but there was a weight to the air in Peru. Similar to what people famously describe as they disembark the plane in Florida and are hit by the humidity, Cusco welcomed us with an instant tightness. I could feel, smell and taste the altitude and somehow, it sent a message that the ground holding us was of a special and profound place

Our journey began 3399m above the sea in Cusco, a historic city where charm radiated from every cobblestone. We began the day in San Pedro Market where we would head for the juice stalls. We visited the same lady each day who would pack as much ginger, carrot, celery and spinach into the machine as the laws of physics would permit and produce a surprisingly drinkable potion of health. We would graze on Chirimoya (custard apple) and pomegranate the size of Dan’s head (mine is very dainty you see…) before taking in the history of this incredibly rich city through the many museums, galleries and markets. It would also be our base for trips to rainbow mountain, where no amount of the sacred Coca Leaf that has been used as Andean Altitude medicine for thousands of years, could protect us from altitude sickness (that was a fun bus ride back) and Machu Picchu.

Rediscovering the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu was a bucket-list tick opportunity for us both. The majesty of a thriving ancient citadel in the sky amplified by the hours of upward hiking that lead us there. The Incas held an advanced understanding for the sciences, agriculture, infrastructure and astronomy that has captivated me for years. As a sound healer, the most mystical aspect is the temple where the architectural structure harnesses the technology of acoustics and harmonics for purposes of ceremony and healing.

We settled for some time in Pisac, a town between the mountains of the Sacred Valley. Like Cusco, there was a stillness in the air that made this feel like a place for introspection. The land had many lessons for us and the silence encouraged us to listen.

San Pedro Cactus growing tall and majestic in the Sacred Valley

We began each day with a Cacao Ceremony after our morning meditation. Having access to some of the best Cacao Puro we’ve ever tried (we’ve brought back pounds of chocolate from here and Guatemala for our ceremonies back home...we got you) we were able to start our day deeply centred, connected and inspired. Pisac honours it’s indigenous roots and this is evident in the town, we spent a lot of time here learning from local people about their traditions, lineages, skills and connection to the Andes. This was an important period of contemplation that catalysed deep healing for us both. It was a place to rise with the sun and lie with the moon, attuning ourselves to the frequency of the mountains to listen to their wisdom, to be held and taught by the elders and teachers that resided here and drink sweet sweet Cacao

We learned how to work with Palo Santo to clean space energetically and usher in the light, how to ground with Agua Florida, Shamanic Percussion to cleanse the spirit and Andean Flutes to sing to the soul.

Study continued in the electricity of the Amazon Rainforest in Iquitos. With the constant drone from all creatures great and small of Amazonia and the sweet scent of nectar that hung in the air, learning from Shipibo Curanderos (known as Shamans) about our relationship to the World around us and whatever may lie beyond. It was a comfort to be in the humidity of Iquitos, which felt like a warm hug after early mornings spent adjusting to the heights of the mountains, though I noticed a disappointing absence of Alpacas that we ran into all over Cusco and Pisac. My grandma, who has been leading a 5 year long argument with my grandad about why they can’t keep Alpacas in the garden, was very excited to hear of this.

From Iquitos, the trip came to a close in Lima. Lima brought much needed rest to integrate, very decent surf and some of the best food I have ever tasted. Ceviche is manner of the Gods and Lima is Mount Olympus. The aforementioned Gods showed me their sense of humour after discovering that one of my favourite DJs-Dengue Dengue Dengue, native to Peru, were playing in London the weekend I was visiting Lima.

Peru was an insightful and important trip and we are so excited to integrate all of the fruit Peru had to offer into our healing work with you back home.