By Stephanie Rizza

Graphic design by Jinny Moon

“Well then… what are we going to do for the month of March?” I asked my supervisor after learning that our lab would be closed for maintenance. While there is always work to be done as a graduate student, I couldn’t help but see the lab closure as a rare opportunity to escape the cold after a long, busy winter. “I’m planning to take some vacation during the closure,” my supervisor said, “you should too!” That was all the encouragement I needed to start browsing flights.

I had never been to South America before and had heard great things from friends who had visited Peru and Bolivia. With flights to Lima being relatively inexpensive at the time, the choice was easy. My partner and I set off on a three-week adventure. 

We landed in Lima, Peru’s sprawling capital, where we explored the historic city centre, the coastal neighbourhood of Miraflores, and the artsy streets of Barranco. 

We then headed south to Huacachina, a desert oasis surrounded by towering sand dunes. There, I crossed an experience off my bucket list: sand skiing! The friction made it feel different from skiing on snow, but the steep dunes were just as thrilling.

We continued to Arequipa, the most beautiful city of the trip, with historic buildings lining the streets, framed by views of three large volcanoes in the distance. We tried delicious Peruvian cuisine, including ceviche, lomo saltado, and queso helado, a traditional Arequipan dessert. Beyond the food, we enjoyed learning about the city’s rich Spanish-colonial history and culture. 

Next, we crossed the border into Bolivia and headed to Copacabana, a small town on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. It was the perfect place to acclimatize to the high altitude, while relaxing lakeside and watching alpacas wander past. 

Soon after, we found ourselves in the bustling city of La Paz. We explored the famous Witches’ Market and rode the city’s extensive cable car system, which offered us great views of the city and surrounding mountains. While there, we completed a day hike to Laguna Charquini, a blue lagoon nestled high in the Andes mountains at over 5 000 metres above sea level. The altitude made the short hike surprisingly difficult, but the beautiful scenery made it well worth the effort.

We headed back into Peru for our final destination, Cusco. After exploring the city’s Incan ruins, we embarked on what would become the highlight of our trip: the four-day Salkantay Trek. Over roughly 70 km, we crossed everything from rainforests to rugged alpine terrain. After passing the stunning Humantay Lake, reaching the Salkantay Pass at 4 600 metres above sea level, sleeping under the stars in geodomes, and roasting our own handpicked coffee beans, we finally reached the iconic Incan city of Machu Picchu. It was the perfect ending to our trip.

What began as an unexpected lab closure turned into an unforgettable trip to a new destination. It was a reminder that sometimes the best adventures can begin with a change in plans.