Hanging From A Cliff

Dear Advisor Partners,

I just returned from visiting some of our amazing partners in Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta and meeting our mutual adventure travel enthusiasts, all of whom are so excited to get back out there to see the world the right way. Now aside from realizing my Alberta friends’ definitions of warm and mine are different, this visit reminded me of a really cool adventure I’ve been on with my family and repeatedly with our advisor partners, climbing up to Sky Lodge in Peru. For me, it’s what I look forward to as its one of the many examples of Peru beyond Machu Picchu.

On my last climb up, I kept thinking about the amazing footage a drone could take alongside the capsules, a bird’s eye view if you will. Fast forward and this week’s video features just that, amazing drone footage at the same altitude as the capsules. One can spend the night here, which is impressive, and others go up and down before lunch which I prefer, as it is equally impressive. This way I also get to enjoy my favorite lunch at this hidden gem of a local farm right off the square at Ollanta. There are two ways up, one via the Ferrata which is more psychological as it is about getting over our built-in fears of height and the other is a hiking trail, that is just as much fun. You are strapped in on both paths so falling isn’t a worry, even though your mind thinks it is. After a while, it just gets amusing!

Now coming down is just as much fun, with a series of zip lines that give you an amazing view of the valley as it opens up towards the horizon, each time bringing a new adventure for myself and our clients. This ranges from my people yelling obscenities midflight as the zip line gains steam (I learned a few new words in various languages I didn’t think even existed), to laughter, to a silent adrenaline rush. This is an adventure in its own right. You see, what I love about this whole experience is that it shows you that even in the most classic routing of Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, we don’t have to follow the classic touring that everyone else does. There are hidden gems, from Sky Lodge to unknown parts of the old Inca Trail that are not commercialized, that complete the memories of Peru we form, both before and after visiting Machu Picchu. If you agree, then you will definitely love this week’s video.

I close with a special thank you to Clare Isquith of Global Adventures in Travel. Her guests finished an amazing biking adventure with Duvine Cycling in Ecuador before we took over in Quito and later in Peru. Sky Lodge was a highlight for them and a reminder to me, I must get back to Peru!