Taking a Family Trip to New Heights

We began our Peruvian adventure from Willard Airport, because I fly C-U.

The following morning, we arrived in Lima, where we met up with all five of our adult children, their spouses and our oldest grandson. After a short plane ride, we arrived at our final destination — Cusco.

Fifteen years ago, our sons served on two-year missions for our church in both Peru and Colombia. They have always wanted to take us back to the country they came to love and the people they served.

My daughter America and her husband, Tyler Nelson, are experienced world travelers, working in undeveloped countries to help provide better health care through the non-governmental agency Health Builders.

As a result, they are very familiar with getting around in the world and had arranged for us to stay in a wonderful little neighborhood hostel close to the sites in Cusco.

Image: bridesmaid gowns

On our first day in Peru, we took a walk to the main city plaza. Cusco was built on the ruins of an ancient Incan city, and one can see large foundation stones climbing up the side walls of the buildings and shops. Each stone was hand-hewn and placed so precisely without mortar that one cannot so much as slide a piece of paper through the joints.

The people of Cusco are gentle and kind. Outfitted in their traditional dress, they are only too happy to pose for a picture.

The next day, we went on a horseback-riding tour through the foothills of the Andes. Several times, we dismounted and were treated to a walking tour of sacred burial grounds, temple sites and caves where the Incans practiced their religion and rituals.

Our time in Peru also included a ride through the mountains on ATVs, a visit to the historic chapel at Andahuaylillas and walking tours of Tipon and Pisaq.

On day four, we rose early to board a train for Aguas Calientes, a small town at the foot of the mountains near Machu Picchu. The train ride was a wonderful experience. Comfortably appointed, the train had...