Peruvian Magic

Five days are not enough to soak in the beauty of Peru, but artist Gregory Emvy and photographer Guilherme Licurgo made the most of it, and even managed to squeeze some work in

Peru, for me, has always been a place of mystery: one with a tremendous cultural legacy, as well as beautiful mountains, people, and its own unique and delicious cuisine.

My friend, Guilherme Licurgo, a well-known photographer, and I have been working on a mixed-media project called Back to the Roots. The project is centred around the relationship between humans and nature, and we’d like it to serve as reminder of our common roots and how we should take responsibility in protecting the environment.

We’ve already travelled to six countries as part of this initiative, and Peru was one of our destinations.

First, I’d like to mention the hotel we stayed at: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. It’s an incredible spot located in Sacred Valley. It offers a unique combination of style and comfort set against the backdrop of wild landscapes.

Sacred Valley is one of the key nature attractions in Peru, and is famed for its spectacular views. It is also a stone’s throw away from Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Inca Bridge, Maras Salt Mines, Rainbow Mountain, and other key sights of the country.

The Urubamba river valley where the hotel is located was important for the Incas because of its geographical and climate features, which made it an almost sacred area that fed the civilisation. It was the heart of the Incan Empire.

If you are a free-spirited traveller, I would suggest renting a car. It is inexpensive here and provides all the flexibility you’d need. Taxi service isn’t always reliable, so having your own vehicle will solve all your problems. You can hire a car right at the airport. We used Europe Car service.

Be ready, however, for the poor quality of the roads. There are stones, potholes, and winding paths—but the views are worth it.