10 favorite moments from our Convention Tour in Peru

Go Ahead’s Convention Tours are an exciting way for our Group Coordinators to network and learn about the Group Travel program, all while exploring an incredible new destination. This month, the team traveled to Peru with three Go Ahead staff members in attendance. Our Associate Photo Editor, Christie, recounts her top 10 moments from tour and what made them so special.

1. Canopy walk through the Amazon

“We were about two stories up and it was really amazing to see all of our travelers get outside of their comfort zones and conquer their fears about being so high off the ground.”

2. The Andes Mountain pass

“Everywhere we went, the weather, terrain, and altitude constantly changed. It was unbelievable to see this view and then to have it start snowing when we got to the top.”

3. Canoe ride on the Amazon River

“You are so close to nature when you’re on the river and you see so many things in person that you learned about in school.”

4. Brainstorming in an open-air lodge

“We had some great breakout sessions as a group, completely surrounded by nature. We heard some wonderful stories from Group Coordinators and shared valuable tips, like what makes a good Group Coordinator and how to recruit your group.”

5. Paying a visit to Sol y Luna

“Proceeds from the hotel we stayed at went to this local school. We visited a second-grade classroom, which was such an exciting moment for two of our Group Coordinators. One was a former second grade teacher, and she was able to tell the kids about her story thanks to another Group Coordinator, who translated into Spanish.”

6. Seeing Machu Picchu

“This is the moment everyone was waiting for in Peru, so it was incredible to finally see it in person! The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking.”

7. Learning about traditional Peruvian dress

“The Peruvian women wore beautiful, brightly colored traditional clothing that symbolized different aspects of their culture.”

8. The floating islands

“Peru has all of these floating islands, made out of reeds that have been woven together. There’s even a mayor for all of these little islands!”

9. Meeting the mamitas in Umasbamba

“This was my favorite day of the trip, by far. We spent time with these local women who showed us how to spin yarn from sheep and told us about the crafts they make by hand. We got to buy souvenirs directly from them and it made us feel good to help support the indigenous community.”

10. Eating lomo saltado

“Lomo Saltado is from the Chifa (or Chinese) tradition that has had an influence on some Peruvian cuisine. It was surprising to learn about how important starches are to their diet: because of the high altitudes, Peruvians eat a lot of starchy foods to help settle the stomach. There are over 2,000 varieties of potatoes!”

Have you ever been to Peru? What was your favorite part? Tell us about it below in the comments!