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Not Just the Mountains Are White
When Kiki Tapiero embarks on the Salkantay Trek as a twenty-one-year-old, she quickly realizes that she is completely unprepared for the journey – both physically and mentally. While the oxygen levels compromise whether she will even be able to reach Machu Picchu, the rest of the group’s comments and actions leave her unexpectedly isolated. Kiki is reminded of her upbringing as a multiracial kid in a mostly white town in Massachusetts – but having just obtained a sociology degree at Brown University, she has more vocabulary and confidence to address the racialized dynamics at play. Yet at the same time, she is made painfully aware of some of her deepest insecurities in her racial identity, from not feeling Latinx enough because of her imperfect Spanish to feeling like the stereotyped angry woman of color who plays the race card too much.
As the hike progresses, so does Kiki's relationship with the charismatic Peruvian tour guide, Julio. Her developing feelings for Julio create further tension between her and the group, and she quickly learns that she cannot be open about this crush. However, Julio seems to reciprocate her feelings through covert moments of intimacy that soon devolve into exciting late-night escapades in his tent and dancing in town. Their brewing romance provides more insight into how Kiki can make peace with her identity, and also with nature and its fraught historical relationship with communities of color.
As the hike progresses, so does Kiki's relationship with the charismatic Peruvian tour guide, Julio. Her developing feelings for Julio create further tension between her and the group, and she quickly learns that she cannot be open about this crush. However, Julio seems to reciprocate her feelings through covert moments of intimacy that soon devolve into exciting late-night escapades in his tent and dancing in town. Their brewing romance provides more insight into how Kiki can make peace with her identity, and also with nature and its fraught historical relationship with communities of color.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 2, 2025
My very first book!!!! A travel memoir that describes my five-day hike to Machu Picchu as the only Latine person in a majority white tour group. Woven throughout the narrative is history, humor, sociological analysis, and even romance! I aim to teach about anti-racism through one of the most accessible mediums available: storytelling.
Even though my writing and perspective have evolved, I'm proud of this work after working on it for almost 8 years and excited to share it with the community.
Even though my writing and perspective have evolved, I'm proud of this work after working on it for almost 8 years and excited to share it with the community.
July 2, 2025
firstly, i would be remiss if i did not mention that i do know the author, Kiki. therefore, there might be *some* bias in my review (but i will do my best).
kiki provided such phenomenal, enticing, informative, relatable and even some satire that i thoroughly enjoyed! i really loved the description of the characters persona, character development (for some lack thereof), kiki’s personal experiences between then and present. in doing so, it made me understand the intentionality of their experiences and strong convictions of their stance on environmental racism, privilege, colonialism, and imperialism. although i am not mixed race considering that my family origin is from Cuba, i still found a lot of the experiences that kiki described relatable especially when it comes to environmental racism and navigating White spaces where you are the tokenized person.
i feel like this story provided such great facts and historical research that i deeply appreciated and truthfully, did not know! moreover, i really appreciated the slow romantic buildup with the tour guide, julio and kiki. it was refreshing that kiki explained not only the connection felt with julio but also, the reality of a romance with someone they met during a backpacking trip and treasuring it instead of pushing for more.
all in all, this is a great book and i highly recommend for readers to check out!
kiki provided such phenomenal, enticing, informative, relatable and even some satire that i thoroughly enjoyed! i really loved the description of the characters persona, character development (for some lack thereof), kiki’s personal experiences between then and present. in doing so, it made me understand the intentionality of their experiences and strong convictions of their stance on environmental racism, privilege, colonialism, and imperialism. although i am not mixed race considering that my family origin is from Cuba, i still found a lot of the experiences that kiki described relatable especially when it comes to environmental racism and navigating White spaces where you are the tokenized person.
i feel like this story provided such great facts and historical research that i deeply appreciated and truthfully, did not know! moreover, i really appreciated the slow romantic buildup with the tour guide, julio and kiki. it was refreshing that kiki explained not only the connection felt with julio but also, the reality of a romance with someone they met during a backpacking trip and treasuring it instead of pushing for more.
all in all, this is a great book and i highly recommend for readers to check out!
November 6, 2025
I can’t remember reading many travel books outside of Into the Wild, which I disliked for many of the reasons pointed out by the author here— a mediocre white man goes on a grand journey, dies due to his own incompetence, and is mourned and celebrated as a folk hero by other would-be adventurers.
In this book, Tapiero uses a different framework to look at hiking and camping, a field usually dominated by white folks/ people with class privilege. This story follows a group climbing Machu Picchu while exploring the racial, gender, and class issues that often go unnamed in these activities. Through Tapiero’s eyes, we see a parallel between the grit and determination needed to complete this arduous trek and the lived experiences of difference and non-belonging the author has faced as an immigrant, queer, multiethnic person of color. From the planning logistics to the social dynamics of the hike itself, the book is a retelling of the mainstream story of engaging in recreational outdoors sports in the Global South.
I really look forward to seeing Tapiero’s growth as an author and can’t wait to read whatever they write next!
In this book, Tapiero uses a different framework to look at hiking and camping, a field usually dominated by white folks/ people with class privilege. This story follows a group climbing Machu Picchu while exploring the racial, gender, and class issues that often go unnamed in these activities. Through Tapiero’s eyes, we see a parallel between the grit and determination needed to complete this arduous trek and the lived experiences of difference and non-belonging the author has faced as an immigrant, queer, multiethnic person of color. From the planning logistics to the social dynamics of the hike itself, the book is a retelling of the mainstream story of engaging in recreational outdoors sports in the Global South.
I really look forward to seeing Tapiero’s growth as an author and can’t wait to read whatever they write next!
May 4, 2025
Loveeeed this book! It felt like I was hiking along side of them. I found myself laughing and smiling. I also loved learning more about the history and culture of Peru. Kiki did an amazing job highlighting important topics in the black and brown and Queer communities. Add this to the top of your TBR!
December 3, 2025
A dear friend of mine wrote a book and I am only mad I did not get to it sooner.
Have you ever seen a book for someone's adventure out in nature and thought "another one?" This is my usual reaction to these types of books because it is usually written from a white perspective and one that not only reeks of privilege but one that enforces the legacies of colonialism.
Not Just the Mountains Are White is not that kind of book. Kiki tells us about a trip they took with a friend to go to Machu Picchu, but in every step of their journey we are not only seeing the beauty and the struggles of the hike, we are also having real conversations: why more BIPOC people are not represented in these narratives on 'the outdoors'; why the industry of hiking is built upon extraction and tourism that follows an asymmetry of power; how frustrating it is to be the designated translator; the loneliness of being the individual to call out problematic conversations, and more.
What I loved most is that I felt like I was taking the journey along with them. Seeing the progression of wondering 'was this a mistake' at the daunting trek to the zen of connecting with nature and realizing you belong, we get an intimate look at Kiki's journey. I would be remiss not to mention connecting with this story as a Panamanian-American. I remembered my own childhood in Panama, the relationships with my cousins, the utlimate struggle that is saddling your identity when you live in the U.S. far away from Panama. I felt like I was looking at my reflection in water; we share different backgrounds but with the ripples I could see myself in those moments.
Thank you Kiki for sharing this story with us. I only wonder if you ever saw Julio again.
Have you ever seen a book for someone's adventure out in nature and thought "another one?" This is my usual reaction to these types of books because it is usually written from a white perspective and one that not only reeks of privilege but one that enforces the legacies of colonialism.
Not Just the Mountains Are White is not that kind of book. Kiki tells us about a trip they took with a friend to go to Machu Picchu, but in every step of their journey we are not only seeing the beauty and the struggles of the hike, we are also having real conversations: why more BIPOC people are not represented in these narratives on 'the outdoors'; why the industry of hiking is built upon extraction and tourism that follows an asymmetry of power; how frustrating it is to be the designated translator; the loneliness of being the individual to call out problematic conversations, and more.
What I loved most is that I felt like I was taking the journey along with them. Seeing the progression of wondering 'was this a mistake' at the daunting trek to the zen of connecting with nature and realizing you belong, we get an intimate look at Kiki's journey. I would be remiss not to mention connecting with this story as a Panamanian-American. I remembered my own childhood in Panama, the relationships with my cousins, the utlimate struggle that is saddling your identity when you live in the U.S. far away from Panama. I felt like I was looking at my reflection in water; we share different backgrounds but with the ripples I could see myself in those moments.
Thank you Kiki for sharing this story with us. I only wonder if you ever saw Julio again.
March 3, 2025
An insightful and funny story by an amazing first time author. Can't wait to read their next novel!
May 3, 2025
A breath of fresh air in the literary world of adventure travel. Through beautiful and thought provoking storytelling, this book touches on so many important yet often ignored themes that all aspiring ethical and anti-racist travelers should consider. As someone who used to work as an adventure guide, I wish I had this book many years ago! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to broaden their perspective on how we can more authentically connect with nature and collectively make the adventure travel industry more inclusive.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews