ENCOUNTER PERU -- ON A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL
Thanks for traveling with us -- since 2012
"You provided a portal into Peruvian culture, customs, history, food and friends that a typical tourist could never experience. The trip was essentially flawless thanks to your connections and due diligence. I highly recommend Encounter Peru by Bike to any traveler wanting a more comprehensive and fun adventure at a 3-4 star level." Maura Schwartz, October 2012 participant.
Russ Lawrence/Encounter Peru can show you a side of Peru that most tourists would never know. As U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, Russ and his wife, Jean, lived in Chivay (in southern Peru's Colca Valley) for two years, getting to know the area's resources, culture and, more than anything else, its people.
They worked to improve the business skills of local artisans, counseled hotels and restaurants in customer service, helped local guides to develop new trip offerings, and promoted locally-produced foods and crafts. Russ even co-wrote the Colca's theme song (with Richart Ore)!
On top of that, they hiked the trails and climbed the mountains with local guides; biked from village to village on Inca paths, and zoomed down paved highways on the flanks of volcanoes. They visited caves where prehistoric nomadic herders scratched out a record of their days, and watched their neighbors plant fields of corn and quinoa with ox teams and wooden plows.
This is the land of the condor, the vicuna, herds of llamas and alpacas, and some surprises, too--flamingos, vizcacha (relative to the chinchilla), and other plants and animals unique to its southern Andean geography.
"You and your wife did a great job as tour hosts. Your knowledge of the people and language, and willingness to share your info was really helpful.
This was really a trip of a lifetime. Totally different from other tours, as we got to see a lot of Peru from the inside. The home stays and the Pachamama ceremony with Zacarias, and subsequent stories on that beautiful mountain vista overlooking Chivay, were truly memorable." Hank Fiaccone, Encounter Peru October 2013 participant.
Sadly, Jean Matthews passed away in December of 2015. Russ continues to carry on their deep connection with this special place by leading the trips himself.
Let Russ share his knowledge of the Colca, the Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu, and northern Peru with you! "Encounter Peru" is an introduction to the Colca Valley, its culture and artisans, its scenic wonders, all of the marvels of this unique region. We'll explore it by bike, soaking in hot springs and staying in comfortable hotels, then with local families for one night. After that, it's on to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, with a day spent biking from the Cuzco region down into the Sacred Valley, before heading to Machu Picchu by train.
The mission is to help locally-owned businesses, and to reinforce the local culture of the Colca Valley, by bringing tourists from the U.S. to experience the area's culture, natural beauty, and culinary traditions in a sustainable manner.
Encounter Peru now offers "Peru 2.0 -- Treasures of the North," aimed at those who may have visited Peru and seen Machu Picchu and the Arequipa region, but want to see more. Click on the "Peru 2.0: Northern Peru" tab above to see the trip itinerary. Price depending on group size.
Inquire about departures or custom trips.
