Our Stories: Peru

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Our Stories · Peru

Peru was one of the countries we absolutely wanted to visit. It’s a country where historical culture takes center stage, much to our delight as travelers. From our first hours in Cusco bewildered by the traffic and amazed by the cuisine—to the cobblestone streets at an altitude of 3,400 meters, Peru lived up to all our expectations.

Peruvian stories are not only numerous and detailed but also incredibly fascinating. We recount the Salkantay trek day by day, from its mountain passes at 4,600 meters above sea level all the way to Peru’s beaches and protected national parks.

All Our Stories:

Animal volunteering in Peru: our experience at a sanctuary

Volunteering at a dog shelter and looking after 98 dogs for 2 weeks is quite an adventure—you really build an amazing bond with the animals!

Peru 21 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

Inca engineering: the questions everyone asks

Imagine 60,000 km of roads built without wheels, 200-ton stone blocks seamlessly fitted without mortar, and suspension bridges swinging over deep canyons. On our Salkantay Trek adventure, we set out to answer the big questions about the marvels of Inca engineering.

Peru 13 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

Apus, Pachamama and Syncretism: Understanding Andean Spirituality

Deified mountains, high-altitude sacrifices, and Christian festivals packed with Inca roots: here is your guide to Andean cosmology, all shared with us by our local guide on the Salkantay trek.

Peru 13 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

The story of Peru’s tropical glaciers

Peru is home to 75% of the world's tropical glaciers. While hiking the Salkantay Trek, our guide explained what they mean to the locals, as well as the natural disasters they can cause. | Our travel guide, specially crafted by De Sacs et d’Eau

Peru 13 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

5,000 years of Andean civilizations: from Caral to the Incas

Long before the Incas, Peru was home to Caral, the Chavin, the Chimu, and dozens of other forgotten civilizations. We retrace 5,000 years of Andean history through the stories shared by our guide on the Salkantay trek.

Peru 13 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

Peru, a country of true superlatives

From the Atacama Desert and tropical glaciers to the richest coastline in the world: here is what makes Peru truly exceptional, well beyond Machu Picchu. Discovered while hiking the Salkantay trek. | Our travel guide, specially crafted by De Sacs et d’Eau

Peru 13 May 2026 Kisses from us!
Mathilde et Tristan

About Our Travel Blog

Mathilde and I chose to travel slowly, favouring overland transport and real exchanges with locals. That slower-than-average pace let us experience things a classic itinerary never would: staying with a family in a village with no tourists, sharing an impromptu meal on the side of a Bolivian road, or stumbling on an archaeological site no guidebook mentions. That's what we share here.

Our stories are also a concrete source of inspiration for planning your own trip. We describe the atmosphere, the real costs, the travel times and the surprises, good and bad, of every leg of the journey. If you're still on the fence about leaving, these accounts will give you a precise idea of what's waiting for you on the ground, no filter, no embellishment.

Browse through our travel journals and let yourself be swept up in the adventure. And if a story makes you want to know more about a destination, our detailed travel guides are there to help turn that inspiration into an itinerary.

Learn more about us and our “De Sacs et d'Eau” project

We're Tristan and Mathilde. A French duo who set off for a year of backpacking across South America, with one conviction: the best memories are made along the way. De Sacs et d'Eau is our travel blog, with complete guides, itineraries tested on the ground, and interactive maps to help you plan your trip with everything you need, right in your pocket. To do that, we favour overland travel over flying, buy local, and choose accommodation and businesses run by local people. Travelling far, yes, but with our impact in mind.

About Us