Peru

Peru, no extradition procedures..

To start with, Huaraz is one of the best places in the world to go to the mountains, whether trekking, hiking or climbing. The city is nothing impressive, having been destroyed by an earthquake in 1970, but even from the city, the mountain views are extraordinary. There are virtually unlimited options for hiking in the Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Huayhuash, and even the Cordillera Huallanca, for hikers looking to get away from trails and wanting to explore backcountry.

For those who are sick of physical exercise, Huaraz also hosts a lot of bars, restaurants, and cool hostels. There’s also a massive amount of San Pedro around for those who are looking for a psychedelic experience.

Cuzco is the tourist center of Peru, with lots of fat middle aged tourists with wide brimmed hats, gap year backpackers with blonde dreadlocks, and touts selling everything from wool hats to cocaine. There is a good party scene in the city and at times very good live music, both on the street and in bars. Machu Picchu isn’t far from Cuzco, and is in itself incredible, if massively over-touristed.

Lima is a big, polluted, expensive city. There are many places that are better to go, but it’s not as bad as some other Latin American capitals. The food’s very good, and the beaches are decent, though horrendously polluted. Lima is the best place in the country to find work teaching English.

The jungle in the Peruvian Amazon is the place to be for people who want to get away from it all. The Amazon is one of the largest forests in the world, and is a great place to get malaria, yellow fever, or whatever disease you might be looking for. Iquitos, Manu, and Tarapoto are the main entry points, though there is no good way in overland. Ayahuaska is prolific, especially in Iquitos, where almost every traveler is headed off to have their spiritual experience with a shaman in the jungle.

Huacachina is an oasis in the middle of one of the driest deserts in the world. It’s a beautiful little resort, though very overcrowded with tourists. The main attractions of the area are the obnoxiously loud dune buggies that can take you out on the mountains of sand and also sand-boarding for the peace-and-quiet types. Both are pretty damn fun.

Ica was virtually destroyed by a recent earthquake/ tsunami, so going now might mean less tourists (and bumpier roads).

James ‘Tramplfoot’ was born and raised on a small farm in rural Ohio. At the age of 18 he hit the road to Alaska with a meager savings and no plan. Over the next 2 years he wandered in search of real answers and a livable life. The journey has taken him through three continents, various loves, battles with the loneliness and insanity of the road, and extreme poverty. Though the lessons haven’t been easy, he has learned much from the trail, and has reached a much happier and more peaceful understanding on the nature of his life.

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