I had so many amazing experiences in Peru because of the financial help I got from the SHIP grant. We were able to go on many weekend excursions that not only helped show us beautiful natural wonders, but furthered our education of Peruvian and Incan culture. On the weekends we went on a city tour of Cusco, the Maras salt mines, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu, Lake Humantay and Lake Titicaca. All of these weekend excursions happened over 1 or 2 days with tour guides that would explain the history and significance of these sites. My favorite experience from Peru was my visit to Machu Picchu. Cusco is the jumping off point for Machu Picchu and many other sites so it was very convenient to travel there. We were able to talk the new train line and stay overnight in the small town of Augas Caliente. The name originates from the hot springs that are in the town. The town was created essentially for tourists to have place to stay before early morning hikes so the environment of the town wasn’t very Peruvian. But the actual site of Machu Picchu was absolutely magnificent. Machu Picchu was a small civilization for the Incan people but is also a very important cultural, astronomical and architectural site. It is carved directly into one of the eastern sides of the Andes Mountain range. We had a 3 hour tour which began with a history of the Incan people and how Machu Picchu came to be. Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are about 200 structures in Machu Picchu and our guide explained the purpose of each as well as the difference between the rich and working class housing. We then had free time to explore all the structures and learn more ourselves. It was the most amazing place. I have truly never seen anything like Machu Picchu before and it was an experience I will keep with me for the rest of my life.