I Went to Peru Looking for Inspiration. I Found Much More.
- Jun 8
- 6 min read
How Peru Inspired My Art: Reflections from My Journey I traveled to Peru in search of inspiration.
As an artist, I'm always looking for new perspectives, experiences, and ways of seeing the world. I'd heard stories and seen photos, videos, and movies featuring Peru, but I never fully grasped the idea of visiting the country or being inspired by its landscapes. Most of my travel has been within the United States, exploring different cities and cultures. Peru felt different. It felt like an opportunity to step
completely outside of my comfort zone. What I found was more than I expected.
Arriving in Cusco
When I arrived in Cusco, I had no idea how intense the altitude would be. At over 11,000 feet above sea level, simply walking around felt different. Breathing took more effort, and I quickly realized this wasn't going to be like any trip I had taken before.
My first day was relatively relaxed as I explored parts of the city and visited Saqsaywaman, an ancient Inca site overlooking Cusco. Standing among the massive stone walls immediately brought me back to my travels in Egypt. I found myself asking the same question I had asked while standing in front of the pyramids: How did they do this?
The stones were enormous, yet fit together with incredible precision. Looking out over Cusco from the site, surrounded by mountains in every direction, I felt my first glimpse of the inspiration I had come searching for.
Later that day, I visited a llama and alpaca sanctuary where I learned more about the animals that are such an important part of Peruvian culture. It was a simple experience, but one that helped me connect more deeply with the region and its people.
The Sacred Valley: Pisac and Ollantaytambo
The next day brought me to Pisac, a place I honestly hadn't given much thought to before arriving in Peru. It ended up becoming one of my favorite stops.
The surrounding mountains seemed endless, layered one behind another in every direction. Ancient agricultural terraces wrapped around the landscape, blending human ingenuity with nature in a way that felt completely seamless. Everywhere I looked there were textures, patterns, and compositions that felt like they belonged in a painting.
As an artist, I found myself constantly studying the shapes of the mountains and the way light moved across them throughout the day. We later traveled to Ollantaytambo, another remarkable town rich with Inca history. Walking through its stone streets felt like stepping back in time. Massive terraces climbed the mountainsides while ancient structures stood as reminders of what was possible long before modern technology.
What struck me most throughout the Sacred Valley wasn't just the architecture—it was how everything felt connected to the landscape. Nothing seemed separate from the mountains. Everything existed in harmony with its surroundings.
Aguas Calientes: The Gateway to Machu Picchu
From Ollantaytambo, I boarded a train to Aguas Calientes, often referred to as the gateway to Machu Picchu. To be completely honest, I had done very little research before the trip. I tend to travel that way. I like leaving room for surprise and discovery rather than knowing every detail beforehand.
So when I arrived in Aguas Calientes, I was surprised. Nestled among lush green mountains, the town felt completely different from Cusco. The temperatures were warmer, the air was thicker, and the atmosphere felt more tropical. Small shops, restaurants, and winding streets filled the town, all centered around visitors making their way to one of the world's most famous destinations. That evening, anticipation began to build. Tomorrow would be Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu
Nothing could have prepared me for Machu Picchu.
The bus ride up the mountain was an adventure on its own, winding through steep roads as the clouds moved across the landscape. But once I arrived and saw the ancient city for the first time, everything else faded away.
It didn't feel real.
I had seen photographs my entire life, but standing there in person was something entirely different. The scale, the history, the architecture, and the surrounding mountains created a scene that felt almost impossible.
For a moment, I simply stood there taking it all in.
What inspired me most wasn't just the beauty of the site. It was the realization that people built this city centuries ago in one of the most challenging environments imaginable. Looking around, I couldn't help but admire the creativity, determination, and vision required to make something so extraordinary.
It's difficult to describe the feeling, but Machu Picchu left me with a sense of awe that few places ever have.
Layers of Inspiration: Moray and the Salt Mines
Back in Cusco, I joined another tour that wasn't originally part of my plan.
Sometimes the best experiences happen by accident. The tour brought me to Moray, an archaeological site consisting of massive circular terraces carved into the earth. The deeper you looked, the more fascinating it became. Each level represented a different microclimate used by the Incas for agricultural experimentation.
From above, the site looked like a giant piece of land art.
What inspired me most wasn't just Moray itself but the surrounding landscape. Everywhere I looked there were layers upon layers of mountains, fields, terraces, and textures. It felt like being inside a painting.
We also visited the Maras Salt Mines, thousands of salt pools cascading down the mountainside. The geometric patterns contrasted beautifully against the natural landscape. It was another reminder of how closely creativity and nature are connected throughout Peru.
Humantay Lake: The Hardest Climb
Day five brought the greatest challenge of the trip. Humantay Lake sits at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, and getting there required a three-mile uphill hike.
The combination of altitude, exhaustion, and dehydration hit me hard. There were moments when I questioned whether I wanted to keep going. Every step felt heavier than the last. But eventually, I made it. And it was worth every step.
The first sight of Humantay Lake is something I'll never forget. The water was an unbelievable shade of turquoise, sitting beneath towering snowcapped mountains. It looked almost unreal.
Standing there, exhausted but accomplished, I felt a mixture of gratitude, relief, and inspiration. Sometimes the most beautiful things require the most effort.
Humantay Lake reminded me of that.
Rainbow Mountain
On my final day, I visited Rainbow Mountain. Because my flight was scheduled for later that day, I didn't have enough time to complete the full hike. Instead, I hopped on a motorcycle that carried me much closer to the summit.
Even then, the altitude was no joke.
At over 15,000 feet above sea level, every movement required extra effort. The air felt thin, and I was reminded once again just how powerful these mountains are.
The views were incredible.
The colorful layers stretching across the landscape created a scene unlike anything I had ever witnessed before. Standing there on my final day, I couldn't help but reflect on everything I had experienced throughout the week.
The Flavors of Peru
Of course, inspiration didn't only come from the landscapes.
It came from the food as well. I discovered chicha morada, a sweet drink made from purple corn that quickly became one of my favorite parts of every meal. I tried choclo with cheese, a simple but delicious local snack, and enjoyed more rotisserie chicken than I'd like to admit.
I even tried cuy, or guinea pig, a traditional Peruvian dish. While it wasn't something I'd order every day, I was glad to step outside my comfort zone and experience a piece of the culture firsthand.
Returning Home
When I boarded my flight home, I carried far more than souvenirs.
I returned with inspiration. I returned with gratitude. I returned with a deeper appreciation for the beauty that exists when we step outside of our routines and immerse ourselves in something unfamiliar.
Peru challenged me physically, inspired me creatively, and reminded me why travel is such an important part of my life and artistic practice.
The landscapes, colors, textures, and experiences I encountered will undoubtedly find their way into my artwork for years to come. And for that, I'll always be grateful.
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