Lima
From Rio we flew to Lima via Santiago, Chile (our tickets are on the outstanding airline, Lan Chile) so it was a long day but we were met on schedule at 2 a.m. and our spirits were soaring. First stop was to join the South American Explorer's Club (SAEC) ... an outstanding resource for anyone visiting South America. With clubhouses in Quito, Ecuador, and Lima and Cusco in Peru (headquarters are in New York) this non-profit organization has a wealth of recent information for the traveler, a place to store luggage, book exchange, maps, reference books, etc., etc. The annual fee ($50 single, $75 family) is quickly recouped since many hotels, restaurants and tour agencies give discounts of 10% or more to members. We stored some excess luggage, did a quick look at the National Museum, and got out of the big city. Two months later we returned to Lima to collect our gear and catch our flight to Los Angeles. Had time for more sightseeing ... the catacombs and gold museum being the highlights. Happened across a small parade and caught these scenes.
Nazca
This fascinating place with the mysterious lines etched in the ground, ruins, graveyard and functioning aqueducts was a good introduction to the Inca and pre-Inca civilizations. We traveled there on a 'Business Class' bus which was very comfortable then departed in the middle of the night on an 'Executive Class' bus which had sleeping seats, headphones, and an attendant who served breakfast in the morning! This trip was heaps better than most airline flights, especially Qantas :-)
Arequipa
Our bus ride took us overnight into the mountains. This quaint city at 2380 meters altitude became homebase for awhile as we began adjustment to the altitude and explored the region. A new experience was enjoying a guinea pig dinner, a common dish in this region.
Colca Canyon
A four-day excursion into this canyon, twice as deep as the USA Grand Canyon, was excellent training, was COLD at night, had fabulous vistas, condors flying by, and a chance to celebrate Sandy's birthday. The hike out of the canyon was grueling but great training.
Puno
From here we visited the Lake Titicaca area .. highest navigable water on earth (3800 meters). Visited the floating islands (Uros) and did an overnight trip to several islands (Amantani and Taquille) with demanding hiking trails. The trout was delicious!
Cusco
This heart of the Inca empire became another homebase as we explored the Sacred Valley and made side trips to the Amazon and Cloud Forest. Walking to and from our hotel high on the surrounding hills made each day a training day (altitude 3310 meters). Here are some scenes from the city and it's surrounds.
Amazon
We flew to Puerto Maldonado for a week's trip in the jungle for nature hikes and a two-night camping trip to see the Colpa ... where the macaws and parrots feed on a particular clay at sunrise. Our young, enthusiastic guide made this enjoyable as we learned about the flora and fauna. Thanks, Jose'-Antonio.
Cloud Forest
A three-day excursion to a very comfortable lodge, by bus, was highlighted by a 50KM bike ride down the mountains and morning views (from a blind) of the Cock-of-the-Rock, a fascinating bird and the national bird of Peru. The treacherous roads added further excitement as we waited for previous night's landslides to be cleared.
Sacred Valley
An overnight trip to Pisac (with the best empanadas in the world) to explore the nearby ruins and do more hiking, day trips to nearby ruins, a three-day trip to Urubamba for hiking (climbed up 800 meters in an hour) and horseback riding (our first time on a Paseo!), whitewater rafting (supposedly Class 3 but not even that), and we felt prepared for the Inca Trail.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu The photos are here.
This was our main reason for being in Peru. We delayed our stay to increase chances for good weather (which it did) and then timed it to arrive at Machu Picchu on Terry's 65th birthday. Thanks to our preparation we found the trail to be easier than expected. Even the second day, when we hiked over a pass at 4200 meters, we were never out of breath. Of course, having a porter carry the big pack with the camping gear helped a lot :-). Three nights of camping with thin mattress pads and just adequate food didn't spoil the trip ... and our fourth night in a five star hotel to celebrate Terry's birthday made up for all of that!!!
Machu Picchu outdid itself, and our expectations, as we explored the ruins in perfect weather. Our last day was capped by climbing nearby Wayna Picchu for breathtaking views.
