Ivey Grad Trip: 20 Days

Perched high up in the Andes Mountains, surrounded by lush green peaks and misty clouds, sits the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu. One of the 7 Wonders of the World and the most renowned archaeological site in the western hemisphere it's incredible in every way.

From its mysterious and elaborate temples to its out-of-this-world location, it's a sight that everyone should aim to see once in their lifetime. Our local Incan guide will take us on a spiritual journey up the mountain, stopping for Coca Leaf and thankfulness ceremonies along the way. This is one experience that will leave your soul rejuvenated.

After getting a taste of some of the local delicacies Peru has to offer, you’ll be itching to get in the kitchen and learn how to make some of these dishes on your own!

In the culturally rich city of Cusco, we have the opportunity to throw on some colorful aprons and get to cooking alongside our very own Peruvian chef. With step by step instructions on how to prepare a popular drink and delicious main dish, we leave the class ready to show all our family and friends back home the tasty treats Peru has to offer!

Wind down after some invigorating hikes and enjoy a tranquil yoga class in the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas just outside of Cusco, also known as the Urubamba Valley.

The quaint town of Pisac is surrounded by Incan Ruins and nestled along the same river that flows to Machu Picchu town known as the Urubamba River. Guided by an experienced and trained yoga teacher, we move through restorative poses and meditative postures to stretch out those sore legs post-Colca Canyon trek.

Palo Santo and gentle music fill the room to create a serene environment for quieting the mind as we connect deeper within ourselves. The energy from the ancient ruins that lay in Peru is known to be felt by locals and tourists alike.

Through this mindful yoga practice, we get the chance to receive the powerful energy that lies in the Sacred Valley. Leave this class feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with an improved balance between body and mind.

Nothing compares to the feeling you get the first time you paddle into a wave, stand up as it breaks and ride the face of it – this is the incomparable feeling of surfing. When you get it right, it feels right and you'll always ALWAYS remember that first time you caught that first wave.  Don't be surprised if this experience leads to an eternal addiction.

Surfing is arguably the most challenging sport in the world and requires you to learn much more than physical coordination. In order to surf a wave, you'll need patience, discipline, a lack of fear and an insatiable urge to have fun.  It's the timing of your prescence in the ocean combined with nature providing you with that perfect wave, just for you.  It's no coincidence that 6 of the countries that we run trips to (Indonesia, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru & Colombia) have wicked surf scenes because there's nothing quite like it.

Have you always wanted to fly like a bird? Then head out for an awesome paragliding session in Lima! Right on the edge of the Miraflores district (where we stay) and on a set of beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean, multiple Peruvian paragliding schools are available to take you out.

Whether you take a one-day paragliding course or just fly tandem with a professional, there’s nothing like running off the cliff and feeling the wind grab the canopy as you soar away. From way up above Lima, you’ll get an incredible ocean view, see how huge the city really is (10 million people!), and your instructor can point out beautiful sights and cool restaurants for you to check out later. This is definitely an amazing way to start or finish your trip to Peru!

Looking for the best views in Colombia? Well get your camera ready and head on up to El Peñón de Guatapé! Put on a comfy pair of shoes, fill up a water bottle, and grab your hiking partner: we’re going to a viewpoint!

Here at Free & Easy, we’re huge fans of viewpoints, and this is one of our favourites, so that’s saying something! In Guatapé, there are amazing rock formations all around, but El Peñón (The Rock) is made of a type of granite, and has avoided erosion. Former indigenous inhabitants of the region worshiped the monstrous formation, and today it is a National Monument in Colombia.

Up we go! The hike takes you up concrete stairs, 740 steps to be exact. Not exactly grueling, but a feat none-the-less, and you are well rewarded! Overlooking beautiful, flourishing islands in all directions across the lake, this peaceful viewpoint is totally worth the climb! Take a deep breath, take it all in, and take a selfie! There are also locals selling their handicrafts at the top, giving you a chance to pick up a souvenir before heading back down!

A walking tour is the best way to really get to see a city. Having a local show you around, you’ll learn all of the history, see all of the sights, and even find some hidden gems! Plus, you’ll get to stretch your legs and work off some of the rum from the night before! Medellin is a hub of beautiful architecture, amazing graffiti art, and a very interesting colonial style that is so unique to Colombia. If you think things like this are boring, think again! The history is at times interesting, devastating, and uplifting and you won’t be able to take your eyes off of your bright and captivating surroundings. As an added bonus, is there a better way to end a walking tour than by hopping in a cable car to see the city from above? We don’t think so! Hop into the Medellin Metrocable, and cruise up to the surrounding mountains. You truly have to see it to believe it! These are some of the city’s best views, so don’t miss out!

If you like food, you’ll love Colombia! Especially in the city centres, Medellin and Cartagena, the food scene is unreal! These great culinary experiences won’t break the bank, either! You will have some of the best meals of your life for a fraction of what you’d pay at home.

The restaurants range from great local eats, to funky cafes with specialty items, to cool bars with signature cocktails, to amazing fusion restaurants with brand new flavour combinations that will blow you away! The food is a major highlight in the two cities that bookend our 20-day trip in Colombia. Throughout Colombia, there is a definite European vibe, and it extends into the food.

From street meat to classy and artistic restaurants, you won’t be disappointed with your dinners here. Plus, in classic Colombian fashion, there’s more than meets the eye. Many establishments will have live DJs, street terraces, hidden gardens out back, and a really cool vibe that will remind you that you aren’t in any rush. Just eat, drink, and be happy!

A trip to Colombia is not complete without letting loose and enjoying some of the nightlife! The cities that book end our trip, Medellin and Cartagena, both offer unforgettable experiences.

Nightlife in Colombia has a unique Latin flare that is unlike anywhere in the Americas. All over the country, bars offer vibrant nightlife with amazing food and drinks, and the dancing will keep you grooving until the wee hours of the morning. While you’re out, you have to try some locally brewed beer, and of course, the rum!

Famous for its rum, Colombia even has whole bars dedicated to the local brew! In Cartagena, try out some of their cocktail bars, focused on perfecting their unique recipes. In Medellin, just grab your favourite drink and hit the streets!

It’s hard to explain, you have to see it to believe it, but the colourful streets are filled with happy people, all evening long, enjoying food, drinks, and a uniquely vibrant social atmosphere. You’ll see street performers, eat fresh street food, and join people dancing everywhere! So if you’re looking for a good time, join us in Colombia, and we’ll show you around!

It becomes clear upon arrival why the colonial city of Cartagena is an essential stop while in Colombia as you’re hit with the colourful streets lined with street performers, food carts, amazing restaurants, and cocktail bars. Also, the architecture is awesome, you feel like you’ve stepped into a piece of European explorer past, you can sense the history that exists in the ancient buildings and streets.

We love it so much that we include a guided tour of the city to take it all in at a FnEZ pace. You can expect to have your mind blown while sitting atop La Popa Monastery overlooking the entire city with your group, or walking the walled old city with a fresh coconut in hand.

We love Cartagena so much that we dedicate 3 days to properly explore this Caribbean gem, once you’ve arrived we dare you to take the smile off of your face!

It’s smooth, it’s aromatic, it’s bold: it’s coffee and your life wouldn’t be the same without it. Heck, a lot of things probably wouldn’t exist without it (that project you’re working on, for example).

Luckily for you, Colombia is the world’s 3rd largest coffee producer! If you’re a coffee fan, you could be at the source of it all. Once you try good, Colombian coffee, you’ll find it hard to go back to your regular brew. Colombia has a reputation for having a mild, well-balanced flavour to their coffee beans, and it’s darn delicious.

If you are into coffee at all, you’ll love what they’re brewing down here! If you aren’t, that’s because you haven’t been drinking this! Give it a try, trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Pour yourself a cup of joe every morning, and bring some beans home with you when you sadly have to leave this beautiful country. Just make sure you bring enough: once you share it with your friends, you’ll have them begging for more!

There may be no better way to get a feel for how beautiful a place is than by slowly soaring above it. As backpackers, an excursion like paragliding often gets neglected by the need for things like rum and more rum.

But when you get to a place that is just so visually incredible that it defies description then we highly recommend forking out the extra dough to get yourself high and enjoy a view like none you've ever had.

There are plenty of places in the world where you can paraglide, but Colombia is one of the best and when you're flying through the sky and staring down at the beauty below, it's easy to see why.