During the summer of 2023, I opted for a humanitarian trip to Cusco, Peru, with the Peru Volonteer and Travel organization, rather than a traditional vacation. It was my introduction to South America and I helped underprivileged children. I learned Spanish through Skype and Duolingo and traveled via three flights from Montreal. Arriving in Cusco, admiration for the landscape replaced my initial stress.
Arriving in Peru, the author acclimatizes with coca tea and savors the local gastronomy. He bonds with other volunteers, explores Cusco, and participates in a chocolate-making workshop. The health advice received while volunteering does not prevent him from catching salmonella. After hospitalization, he must moderate his activities.
In this last excerpt from his travel diary, the author shares the end of his journey in Peru, marked by an illness. Despite this, he explains that he did not visit the Montaña de Siete Colores due to a question of altitude, but took advantage of Cusco and was lucky to get a last-minute ticket to Machu Picchu. After an emotional return to volunteering despite his convalescence, he concludes his visit with gratitude and the desire to return to Peru.