A. Peru Experience
Since 2010, I’ve been traveling through South America’s special places. Yes—I organize journeys across much of the continent. But the Sacred Valley, where I live, and its surroundings, hold a different place in my heart.
With so many comfortable, easy-to-reach destinations in the world, choosing to come to a place as unique as Peru—and choosing to have an experience here—means something. And maybe it’s not even your first time.
Peru is a rare destination—especially because it hasn’t completely lost its older, cleaner essence, and because for some of us it brings awareness… even change.
I’ve always felt a little sad for tourists who come to Istanbul and only see Sultanahmet. A trip to Peru also deserves more than “visiting beautiful places.” Seeing Machu Picchu is wonderful—of course. But feeling and sharing the peace of the mountains and highlands where tours don’t go… that is a different kind of beauty.
Nature. A culture that still feels protected. Inca traces. Spirituality. Medicinal plants. Food traditions. Superfoods. The Andean way of seeing life… If you feel ready to taste these things that make Peru Peru—and if you sense that doing this with a standard tour company would miss the point—then you can leave the heavy planning to us.
If you don’t want to overthink routes, content, money, tough conditions, what to pack, or how to prepare spiritually—come, reach out.
We travel exclusively with small groups, which creates a more intimate experience and gives us greater flexibility.
Together we plan every detail around your needs. We prepare for the road side by side. We walk. We make fire. We visit Indigenous communities, the mountains, and the rainforest.
And for your whole journey, you receive deep, comprehensive, high-quality support.
Route
The route we suggest is shaped with one clear intention: tofeel the peace and stillness of these lands, and to touch the Inca traces—bothmaterial and spiritual—as deeply as possible.
We weave together the South American way of life, the grounded stance of the Andean people, the quiet magnetism of the Amazon, and the feelings of nature and the road—then we shape a journey from that blend. And yes: this travel takes us into one of thehardest-to-reach regions in the world.
To begin imagining your route, you can use the information under ourHigh-Altitude Journeyssection as a reference.
And of course, the many individual activities, circles, ceremonies, and learning spaces held here in theSacred Valley—all of those beauties also find their place within the route we create for you.
Exclusiveness
This journey isonly for you and your group. On this powerful, healing route, you are on the road in the way that feels right to you. You leave all planning-heavy details to us—and you simply live the experience.
With our private vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser), you step into a journey that is bothcomfortableandadventurous. With great joy, we share our knowledge of these lands and this culture—carried by15 years of travel experience.
Whenever you want to take a photo, connect more closely with a person or a place, buy something, sip a warm herbal tea or coffee (we carry everything with us), or simply pause and breathe—we stop, wherever you wish.
And as you travel the road with the responsibility and sweetness of “friend with friend,” you experience the magic of these lands one step closer. Vamoss holds balance and harmony within the group, and stays beside you for whatever you may need.
Road-Trip:
In South America, the destinations are breathtaking—but being on the road can be just as beautiful. Around Peru and beyond, with our own 4×4, we travel in a way that can take us to places most people don’t go—and often can’t reach. From the Andes to the Amazon, from Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu, those stunning drives have become an essential part of our journeys. And this naturally makes our route more free.
We carry everything that makes the road feel good. We can stop anywhere and brew a beautiful coffee, or cook a warm hot chocolate right there, in the middle of nowhere. High mountain passes, glacier views, rainforest edges, alpacas, Indigenous communities… all these beauties become something we can touch more closely.
That’s how our travels become even more powerful—and more intimate.
If this calls to you, you are welcome.
1. Seasonality
Peru and Bolivia sit within a tropical climate, so temperatures don’t change dramatically across the year. This means you can travel in Peru and Bolivia all year round.
In January and February, it’s the rainy season, so the rains can be generous. But this doesn’t stop our journey. The mountains turn into a lush green carpet, and the air becomes soft and humid.
In July and August, the weather is a little colder and drier than other months—especially just before sunrise, when it can drop to around 5°C / 9°F.
You can view the climate and current weather conditions where Vamoss is located here.
2. What to Bring
Packing is always exciting—good luck everyone (:
Because these lands are both adventurous and full of surprises, and because we are in the tropical belt, what to bring can feel a little mind-bending at first.
Bringing as little as possible truly increases the joy of the journey. And remember: along the way, you may want to buy many beautiful things to take back home. We can also do laundry on the road, so you don’t need more than about 7 days of clothing.
First: gear (then we’ll move to clothes)
We always carry at least one of each of these: flashlight, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a knife, a speaker, a power bank, a simple first-aid kit, a small oxygen canister, a thermometer, muscle relaxant, band-aids, soap, wet wipes, tissues.
Of course, you might read this list and think: “I’d like to have that with me too.”
Clothing: the most important items
A mid- or high-ankle hiking boot, a rain/wind jacket to wear over warm layers (thermal top, sweater, fleece), plus a hatand sunglasses (polarized if you have them).
For clear daytime weather, bring plenty of light summer tops like t-shirts.
Even though the tropics are generally warm year-round, remember: Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Vamoss are on the Andes. Here, temperature is shaped mainly by altitude.
When we climb toward 4,000 meters (routes like Ausangate, Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca), you’ll want three warm upper layers, thicker pants, and good socks—and some of you may also want a beanie and gloves.
A second, everyday pair of shoes can also be helpful—especially in the rainy season. And for hot springs, sandals/flip-flops make life easier.
If we have routes close to water—natural hot springs, lakes, or the Amazon—you may want to bring your swimsuit and a towel.
When we go into the Amazon (or the high Amazon), a light long-sleeve top and light pants help protect you from mosquitoes.
If you will join an Andean offering ceremony, you can bring a small item to offer to Mother Earth—something meaningful to you, even if it’s a little hard to give away.
If you’re traveling between October and March, a plastic rain poncho is important.
And if you wish, you can also bring small gifts for children and for people we meet in the highlands—coca leaves, pencils, crayons, fruit, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, a notebook, hair clips, small toys, and similar items.
And finally: a water bottle, a few snacks, maybe a musical instrument, your adventurous spirit—and that beautiful smile—are more than enough.
One more detail: apart from shoes and thermal base layers, you can easily find most items here. This region is also famous for wool—especially alpaca—and you’ll see many beautiful pieces in local markets. And we have a generous gear stock ourselves—please ask; we can often lend what you need.
Enjoy the preparation.
3. Altitude Sickness
Peru and Bolivia hold some of the world’s highest livable regions—often mentioned just after the Nepal/Himalaya region in terms of everyday high-altitude life.
As we rise above sea level, the pressure of oxygen in the air (and therefore in our blood) begins to drop. This shift is usually felt after about 1,500 m, and becomes more noticeable at 2,500 m and above.
Atmospheric pressure is about 760 mmHg at sea level, about 706 mmHg at 2,000 m, and about 680 mmHg at 3,000 m.
Oxygen pressure can drop from about 160 mmHg at sea level to around 110 mmHg at 3,000 m.
With lower pressure, the boiling point also drops. For every 305 meters we climb, water boils about 1°C lower. So in San Salvador where Vamoss Home is located (3,000 m), water boils around 90°C. When we camp around 4,500 m(where snow begins), you may see water boiling around 85°C.
Our bodies respond through natural adaptation: breathing becomes deeper, the heart rate rises, the adrenal system produces more adrenaline/cortisol, and with longer stays the body increases red blood cells; the heart can even grow slightly in volume over time.
Most of you will fly from Lima (sea level) to Cusco (about 3,400 m)—and this is where you first meet mountain air. For some people, adapting can take 1–2 days. This adjustment period is what we call Acute Mountain Sickness (also known as altitude sickness, “mountain hangover,” soroche).
To support your body, we ask you to move slowly during the first few days after arriving in Cusco. Even if you feel energetic, walk gently, take your time, and don’t rush. Symptoms often appear 6–12 hours after reaching altitude.
If you do feel it, you may feel a little “light-drunk” for 1–2 days, and then the symptoms usually fade quickly. During this time, it’s generally recommended to avoid sleeping pills and alcohol.
What can help (5 common supports)
Oxygen support — we carry a small oxygen canister in the first days; you can use it if needed.
Coca leaf — one of the fastest local supports. If you start to feel weak or tired, ask us; chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea can help you feel steadier.
Sorojchi (medication) — often taken a day before going higher to help prevent symptoms; it may also speed recovery if symptoms begin. It’s more often suggested for those with shortness of breath or older travelers. Important: if you have a sulfonamide allergy, this may not be appropriate. We leave this choice to you, and we don’t recommend using medication unless it feels truly necessary—please consult a clinician if you’re unsure.
Descending about 400 meters from the altitude where symptoms started.
Acclimatization — shaping the route with altitude in mind, and climbing step by step.
Even if we sometimes cross passes near 5,000 m, we design our routes with this in mind. And to help your body adapt more easily, whenever possible we pick you up in Cusco and bring you down about 400 meters to Vamoss Home first—so you rise gradually, and your body meets the mountains with more ease.
In short, altitude sickness is not something to be afraid of—but it is a possibility worth recognizing.If you feel a little low on the first day, remember: it’s often simply your body meeting the mountain air—new to you, and quietly renewing in its own way (:
We wish all of us journeys filled with trust, and good health.
4. Money Issues
Carrying some cash with you usually means paying less commission than withdrawing often from ATMs.
Because euros are still sometimes exchanged a little below their true value, we recommend bringing US dollars in cash. Smaller bills may be exchanged at a slightly lower rate, so $50 or $100 bills tend to work well.
In daily life here, we mostly pay in cash. Credit cards are starting to be accepted more and more—you can use them in many tourist restaurants, for example.
At local ATMs, you can withdraw USD or Peruvian soles with your bank card. The fee can be around $10 per withdrawal. If you withdraw soles, your bank may convert your money from your home currency to USD, and then from USD to soles, using the bank’s live rate. Because of this, withdrawing during your home country’s business hours can be a little wiser.
One more note: in Bolivia, conditions have been changing quickly in recent years due to economic strain. If our route includes Bolivia, please ask us separately so we can guide you with the most current realities.
5. Weather
Welcome—already—to this journey of many flavors. We’ll begin by the ocean and in the city, then find ourselves among unmixed, full-blood Indigenous peoples at altitudes reaching up to 5,000 meters, and later, inside the rainforest.
The region we travel through lies in the tropical climate belt, found roughly between 20° north and 20° south of the Equator. Here, when the sun is more direct, the season tends to be wetter; when it is less direct, the season is drier. And through it all, the weather changes mainly with altitude.
Lima
The first place you will step into in South America will be Lima. With a population of around 12 million, Lima is a major port city on the continent’s less-developed western side. In the way it feels and moves, many parts of it can remind you of Istanbul in the 1990s.
Peru’s diversity and its “hard-to-fit-into-a-system” spirit, multiplied by the crowd, can make the city feel fast and a little chaotic. And because Lima sits by the ocean—under the influence of the Atacama Desert to the south—it carries its own unique climate. Rain is rare, but it can show itself especially during seasonal transitions, most often around March and September.
The Rainforest
As you can imagine, in the Amazon we will meet serious heat and humidity. Humidity stays high all year. In the rainy season—during the summer months of December, January, and February—rain can come in waves and sometimes continue through the day. In the drier season, it tends to appear a few times a week—short, strong, and full of life.
The Andes
Day / Night (a simple feeling map):
Around 4,000 m: 15°C / 0°C
Around 3,000 m: 20°C / 10°C
Around 2,000 m: 25°C / 15°C
Around 1,000 m: 30°C / 20°C
Especially in the mountains, being close to the Equator (by latitude) and close to the Sun (by altitude) makes sunlight feel very strong. You can sit under the sun in a t-shirt, sweating—and then feel cold the moment you step into the shade.
At high altitude, temperatures can also change quickly within the same day. Because we’re in the mountains, clouds often move fast above us. When a cloud comes and covers the sky, the air can cool suddenly—and then, just as quickly, the sky can open and the warmth can rise again in one sharp wave.
That’s why it’s wise to always keep light summer clothing with you—yet also something you can put on when you enter shade or when the weather closes in. And interestingly, too many layers while the sun is out can sometimes make you feel colder, because the sun can’t reach your body and warm you directly.
Vamoss Home
To describe the weather where Vamoss Home stands—at 3,000 meters—we use one simple phrase: “Spring in the mornings, summer at noon, autumn in the evening, and winter at night” (: When you arrive, you’ll see it’s real.
So in short: outside of the rainforest, we’ll need to have both summer and winter clothing with us.
One last detail: especially at high altitude, the sun can be very intense—so sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses become some of our most important travel companions. In a way, the weather here can look a little confusing—because it’s both changeable and unfamiliar. We hope we’ve made it feel a little simpler.
In the end—
May we not get cold at all.
With love,