Your #RemoteYear Update from Cusco, Peru.

You know the drill by now — Acuity’s Account Manager, David McLaughlin is traveling the world with Remote Year, a program that allows its participants to work remotely while traveling around the world to 12 different cities, spending one month in each location. This month David journeyed through Cusco, Peru, which is known for the Inca ruins.

If you are traveling to Cusco, David insists that Machu Picchu is a must-see. The former Inca citadel is breathtakingly beautiful and it’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You can get to the citadel by hiking the famous Inca or Salkantay Trail, or riding the PeruRail Train. Like all true adventurers, he took the train.

David found the Inca civilization to be fascinating. The guides were informative, and shared so much throughout the tour, but the food definitely stood out as the  one part he will never forget. What was on the menu? Guinea Pigs of course. These creatures that we may know as loving house pets were actually raised and eaten by the Incas as a fine dining delicacy. We’re really proud of our world explorer, but David couldn’t find it in himself to eat the
Guinea Pigs. He tried — it just wasn’t going to happen. (Check out this picture and you might agree.)

Up next, was adventuring to the Rainbow Mountains. Never heard of them? It’s no surprise, they don’t even have a Wikipedia page, because there’s no scientific proof explaining why they look the way they do. Pretty phenomenal, right? David’s favorite part of his travels through Peru, was horseback riding through these mysterious Mountains: “They are a site you just can’t miss and were only recently opened up for tourists to explore.”

Another list-topper for David was his time in Lima. He actually enjoyed Lima more than Cusco. Lima is a gorgeous city on the Pacific Ocean with high cliffs and rocky beaches that look kind of similar to Southern California. The citizens of Lima told David to come back in the summertime where he could catch a wave, surf all day and eat divine ceviche. If he could do it all over again, David would have spent the month in Lima, instead of Cuzco.

Thinking about heading to South America this summer? Check out David’s Q&A lightning round for the quick and dirty snapshot of his experience:

• Bolivia or Peru — which did you enjoy more?

They are just so different. Peru is a much wealthier country than La Paz, Bolivia, so it’s not like you’re comparing apples to apples.  Cusco had better food, cleaner water and air, and is several thousand meters lower; so I had an easier time breathing which was important.

• Where have you been working?

Our headquarters this month was in an abandoned hotel in the main square of Cusco.

• What’d you think of Cusco?

The city is vibrant, full of life and filled with travelers from every corner of the globe.

• Any quick dining or entertainment attractions we can’t miss?

1. Walk-through or stay at the JW Marriott, a 16th century stone convent transformed into a luxury hotel.
2. Eat at Le Soleil, a French restaurant. Splurge and get the 5-course meal. You won’t regret it.
3. Don’t miss the festivals at Plaza de Armas or the perfected Inca Walls, which were built without mortar.

Keep following along on DMac’s travels with the itinerary below:

1. Córdoba, Argentina
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina
3. La Paz, Bolivia
4. Cusco, Peru
5. London, England → up next
6. Prague, Czech Republic
7. Belgrade, Serbia
8. Split, Croatia
9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10. Chiang Mai, Thailand
11. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
12. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Be sure to subscribe to our blog, follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page to get all updates on DMac’s travels. We’ll be using the hashtag #DMacRemoteYr or #remoteyear as we update you on his explorations as he takes Acuity around the world.