Blog post 3 – Living in Pisac, Peru: Heartbreak, Healing, and New Opportunities in the Sacred Valley
Finding My Way to Pisac, Peru
It’s been a couple of months since I first set foot in Pisac, a small town in the heart of the Sacred Valley of Peru. This was back in early March. As some of you might know, one casual walk down the street changed everything: I bumped into a cheerful local indigenous artist, and we immediately connected over our love for art and in particular painting. What followed was one of those intense romances that made me stay far longer than the two days I had originally planned. Eventually, with tears in my eyes, I had to leave - first to experience Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, to then catch a flight to a friend’s wedding in Australia, and to visit my family in the Netherlands after.
When I returned to Pisac about four months later, I didn’t really know what to expect - but it certainly wasn’t such a heavy heart. What began as a story of connection ended in heartbreak and some big realisations of knowledge I had carried deep inside me all along. It felt as if I had once again walked straight into a giant mirror - BOOM - face to face with myself. It was hard, painful, it actually still is… And yet, as per usual, that ending cracked open space for something new and bigger.
Learning From the Sacred Valley
In the weeks that followed, I found myself surrounded by new experiences, friendships, and opportunities that I never would have imagined. Here in the Sacred Valley, every day feels like a lesson - in art, in community, in spirituality, and in the deep connection the Incas held with Pachamama, Mother Earth.
Heartbreak has a way of making you stop and listen - to yourself, to the world around you. Instead of rushing away, I chose to stay. And in that stillness, Pisac began to open itself to me in new ways. I have been invited into circles of art and community, guided through stories of Inca history, and introduced to rituals that honour the land and Pachamama. What felt like an ending slowly transformed into a beginning. Bittersweet.
Now I find myself at the point of collecting documents to apply for another visa. Why not add Peru to the list of countries I’ve lived in during my lifetime? I know 80-year old me would regret not taking the chance to fully immerse myself in this unique culture in the Andes. Life is here very different from the Netherlands, yet it reminds me in some ways of my time in South Africa and Australia. In South Africa, I would sit in the morning sun with tea or coffee, listening to the lions roar or watching elephants roam. In Australia, the Kookaburras and the Cockatoos were my morning wake-up call. And here, in Pisac, it’s the donkeys and at 8 am the music at the local plaza.
Life Beyond the Rat Race
It’s a simpler, closer-to-nature lifestyle. The one I have always preferred over the rat race in the Netherlands. People here are warm and friendly. Peruvians often welcome you - even as a stranger - into their homes, traditions, and communities. They take pride in being Peruvian and in their rich history. Their beliefs are a fascinating blend of Christianity interwoven with ancient bonds to Pachamama and the mountain gods, the Apus.
What has made this new chapter of my life, here in Pisac, even more meaningful are the teachings and experiences that keep finding their way to me. From learning about astrology through my friend Octavio, to creating art with local artisans, hiking to old Inca and Pre-Inca ruins, and joining ceremonies honoring Pachamama - each moment feels like a door opening into a deeper understanding of both this land and myself.
The tranquility of life here, with its focus on living in the present, allows me to actually pause, sit down and start new projects that bring me joy. It has been quite a transition - from living in Australia, working two jobs and running Vino & van Gogh, to the uncertainty of a visa ending, losing that stable life I had build, traveling the world, immersing myself in countless cultures, and learning a new language along the way. I feel scared sometimes, but I also realise life is too short to be anywhere but present, to focus on anything but creating a life that feels full of joy, curiosity, and meaning and step-by-step work towards your biggest dreams as anything is possible.
Why Pisac is More Than Just a Stop in the Sacred Valley
For anyone thinking of visiting Peru and the Sacred Valley, Pisac is more than just a stop on the map. The town bursts with color - from its famous Pisac Sunday market and artisan shops to the stunning Pisac ruins on the mountains, which stretch even wider than Machu Picchu. It’s a place where artisans still shape silver by hand, where there’s music on every corner of the street, ceremonies are woven into daily life, and where the Andean mountains and rivers seem to whisper their stories if you’re quiet enough and listen.
If you ever find yourself here, come with curiosity - the valley has a way to open itself to you in unexpected ways. There is so much to see! As for me, I’ll keep writing, painting, exploring more of this region and sharing these moments. If you’re dreaming of your own journey to Peru including the Sacred Valley, I’d be happy to help you shape your path!
Because sometimes, life places us exactly where we need to be in that moment of time. And for me, right now, that place is Pisac, in the Valle Sagrado, Peru.
Follow me @ColorsofKimberly for what is yet to come and more about the projects I am working on! Exciting things to come!
With warmth,
Kimberly 🌻