OWR Peru: How Natalie’s Wild Start Turned Into the Trip of a Lifetime

Ever missed a flight, almost flew to the wrong country, and still ended up having the time of your life?

Natalie did. In this guest blog, she shares the full story—of chaos, kindness, and a Peru trip that turned out to be way more than just Machu Picchu.

What leads us to the decision to travel on a solo trip? A recent breakup, friend’s too busy or uninterested, or an irresistible urge to explore hidden gems that you’ve only experiences through Google’s eyes. 

For me, after a break up I wanted to finally experience the sacred allure of Machu Picchu and the opportunity to meet a new group of people roughly the same age, sharing the same interests and leaving the familiar behind for a while.

But it’s a bit of a gamble, and that’s probably what stops most people to pressing “book”. Here’s where OWR stands out. After exchanging a few emails and having a couple of Zoom calls with Steve (Founder of OWR), who graciously took time out of his busy schedule to address my long list of questions—and essentially alleviate my fears about joining a group of strangers for two weeks—I began to feel reassured. 

“THAT LEAP OF FAITH I TOOK IN BOOKING WAS BOLSTERED BY STEVE DISCUSSING WITH ME THE INCREDIBLE ATTENTION OWR’S PLACE ON ASSESSING POTENTIAL TRAVELLERS AND GROUP DYNAMICS”

Steve made me feel that all the questions I had were completely normal and he had heard them before, were are all human after all, unknown is scary!

That leap of faith I took in booking was bolstered by Steve discussing with me the incredible attention OWR’s place on assessing potential travellers and group dynamics.

Two weeks prior to departure, OWR provides absolutely everything you need—a comprehensive guidebook detailing what to pack, daily food and drink arrangements, and accommodation details. No stone is left unturned. All you need to do is turn up at the airport and board your flights.

And that’s where the adventure began! London to Miami, Miami to Cusco – booked the connecting flight with 3 hours between – so what could possibly go wrong? Seasonal storms over Miami, of course. Circling over MIA, tick-tock, each minute chipping away at my 2-hour transfer window. 

Finally, after 40 minutes we landed, relieved to have just enough time left to collect my bags and dash to the connecting terminal—easy, right?

Not when your bags take their sweet time to appear! It was clear that I wasn’t destined to catch that flight.

No problem, I thought—there were 4 more flights from Miami to Cusco that evening. I dropped our guide, Manny, a quick WhatsApp: “Missed the first flight, will jump on the next, see you soon.” Manny instantly replied, “Don’t worry, get the next one, I’ll let your driver know to wait for you—all is good!”

Well, let’s just say the next 2 hours tested my usual “chill – everything happens for a reason” mantra. 

All flights from Miami to Cusco were fully booked with no availability until Tuesday (it was Saturday night). Options ranged from flying to Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, or other countries that stretched my geography knowledge to its limit.

“If I fly to one of those countries, when would I reach Cusco?” I asked. “Tuesday,” the lady replied like no big deal. Knowing our group was taking a bus on Sunday morning to head straight to the Amazon, landing on Tuesday would mean missing everything entirely.

My blood pressure rose, and I felt desperate for someone to hold my hand—cue Manny! 

Manny called at just the right moment and said, “Don’t worry, Natalie, we will work out a plan.” With that, he hung up, giving me a sense of calm.

After an hour, Manny called back with a plan: “Just find the closest destination you can fly to tonight, and we’ll work with that.” I went back to my friend at the desk to check tonight’s flights again, and suddenly, one seat had opened up on the midnight flight to Cusco!

There were no words to describe my relief and joy. “BOOOOOKKKK IT!” I exclaimed (perhaps too loudly), and just like that, I was back on track.

“I KNEW THE NEXT 14 DAYS WOULD BE PRICELESS”

After that, what could phase me—meeting a group of strangers? You’d think not, but the nerves still crept in.

Enter Manny, was like a Peruvian angel—a calming force who hugged me like a long-lost sister and made me feel as though I was soon to meet his family.

I walked into the hotel breakfast lounge, greeted by massive smiles and a palpable warmth. They had heard what I’d been through, and one by one, each of them introduced themselves and hugged me. In that moment, I knew the next 14 days would be priceless.

“GUIDE: MANNY IS BEYOND WORDS—NOT ONLY THE MOST GENUINE, KIND, AND LOVING, HUMAN BEING, BUT ALSO THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PROUD PERUVIAN I’VE EVER MET”

I hope my stories puts your mind and any hesitations you may have to bed- but there’s more! To avoid turning this into a 3,000-word essay, here are the highlights:

• Guide: Manny is beyond words—not only the most genuine, kind, and loving human being, but also the most knowledgeable and proud Peruvian I’ve ever met. His insights and nuanced facts about Peru’s history brought every experience to life. He struck the perfect balance between providing context and letting the group connect.

“OWR MANAGED TO CREATE A SCHEDULE THAT OFFERED JUST ENOUGH OF THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF CITY LIFE, THE CALM OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH THEIR ANCIENT WISDOM, AND THE UNKNOWN DEPTHS OF THE AMAZON’S BEAUTY AND DANGER”

• Itinerary: City, Amazon, mountains—Peru has it all. OWR managed to create a schedule that offered just enough of the hustle and bustle of city life, the calm of the mountains with their ancient wisdom, and the unknown depths of the Amazon’s beauty and danger. The focus is never on the final destination—it’s the journey. And of course, Machu Picchu—a profoundly unique and personal journey into a different era and world.”

“PERU’S CULINARY SCENE EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS”

• Food: From local street food to fine dining, Peru’s culinary scene exceeded all expectations. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or lactose intolerant, every dietary requirement is accommodated seamlessly. Mani and the restaurants even send surveys to customize meals for travellers.

There’s so much more I could say, but to summarize: this trip was life-changing. Our group has stayed in touch nearly a year later, arranging two reunions within nine months of our adventure.

And I had the honour of witnessing the start of a romance between Manchester and Switzerland, which now has wedding plans for late 2025.

So, what are you waiting for? 😊