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South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco September 11th 2008

Day 67: Thursday 4th September - Eating Guinea Pig! No sign of troubles on the way to Cusco and by 6.30am we've safely arrived at the hostel. Head straight for breakfast and am reunited with Jonathan and Eddie (Jonathan had been getting a different bus from Arequipa and Eddie was the guy I travelled with for a few days in Ecuador). I had joked on with Eddie that I would catch up with him in Cusco (In reality I bumped into him in the street in Arequipa.....its a small world!). After breakfast the three of us head into the centre of Cusco. First up I need to sort out my Inca trail. Pay the balance owed but have to fork out an extra $15 as my passport has changed which is annoying. My frustrations don't end ... read more
7. Cuy, better known in the UK as Guinea Pig!
29. Saqsaywaman inca ruins
30. Puma paw in Saqsaywaman inca ruins

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco September 11th 2008

I wanted to make one more entry before we began our trek at the delightfully early hour of 5:15 a.m. on September 12, but uploading the photos was going very slowly, so here it is a bit late. We are back safely from our trek over the Andes to Machu Picchu and will write and add new photos of that adventure very soon. After nearly 48 hours in buses and border crossing, we arrived in Cusco in mid-afternoon on September 9. Though long and somewhat tiring, the bus rides were definitely interesting. We took a Chilean bus, Pullman, to Arica, the northern most city in Chile, known for world championship surfing. Unfortunately we didn’t get to stop to look at the big waves. We had cama (reclining) seats on the bus and our fellow passengers were ... read more
A Farewell Photo
Atacama Desert: Driest Place on Earth
Atacama & the Andes

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco September 9th 2008

Inca Trail Sept 9 - 13 The first place name proposed as a must see in Peru is "Machu Picchu." The second might be the Inca Trail, with a terminus at Macchu Picchu. Nazca or the Amazon basin and the Madre de Dios river region, the Sacred Valley, the Urubamba river, Sacsayhuaman, Manu Biosphere Reserve, or the city of Iquitos would be some of the others, along with Lima, Arequipa, Ausangate, Mares, and Inca Trail alternates such as Salkantay and Lares circuits or the Choquequirao to Vilcabamba trek. The Camino Inca typically consists of a 25-mile, four-day hike from a point at "kilometer 88" near the Inca ruins and village of Ollaytantambo, another evocative place name, to Macchu Picchu. There are condensed versions and a leisurely five day option available through some agencies if you've got ... read more
First Camp
Warmiwanuska
Inca Trail Evening Light

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco September 7th 2008

¿Qué país? "What country?" Shorthand for where are you from? That's a common question here, and the question calls for a simple answer. "El Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos." But the answer is also the beginning of a new experience. One's home is never the same after going somewhere else. El Medio is a different middle than it was before. Eight months ago, I didn't know that Cuzco was in southeastern Peru. I'd never heard of Ollaytantambo, Quechua, Pisac, la Chicana, Chincero, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Winay Wayna, Wayna Picchu, Intipata, Andagua, Cirani, Choco, Chachacoma, and a dozen other places. I'd never met Edison, Mario, nor had shishkabab in Arequipa, nor cuy, or cebiche, or ricotto rellena. Lima was a bean, and quinoa was something that sounded as if it should be in a cereal, which ... read more
Back at Armas
At Thupaq Amaru
At the school

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 30th 2008

I think I'll get straight to it this time. No point messing about is there? Friday 22nd August Did the sights in Puno. Saw the Cathedral. There was some sort of military parade going on. Also saw Casa del Corregidor. Took a two person moto-taxi to the market. We were going to go up the hill for city/lake views but were advised against it by the Tourist Information Office. There have been lots of violent muggings up there apparently. Peru seems to be a bit more like that than anywhere else we've been. It spoils it really! Saturday 23rd August Travelled to Cusco. 15NS (2.59 quid) each. A 7 hour journey (that turned into 8 hours with all the cheeky cash-in-hand pick-ups the driver did). Quite a few food stops too. The locals sell food and ... read more
Moto-taxi to the Market
Juice anyone?
Dawn Trek

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 30th 2008

SATURDAY 23th Aug Up early to get our 9am bus to Cusco 15 soles (UNDER 3 POUNDS ). It was a slightly annoying as it was only suppose to take 7hrs but the bus driver keep stoping and picking up randoms so it took around 9hrs. So we had to leave the train station until tomorrow as we havent a clue about prices. We have seen alot of tour offices doing a car to Machu picchu for 8/10 people so we will look in to that aswell. Cusco looks real nice and plenty to see and do, we went to a real nice bar for happy hour and tried the local drink Pissco sour which I have a real taste for now. They played english music and have live bands on which we will try and ... read more
lunch anyone???
Highest point
Dangerous road

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 30th 2008

On this sunny Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast, a taxi collects me at Los Ninos Hacienda at 9 a.m. My plan today is to visit the South American Explorers (SAE) Cuzco Clubhouse and catch the 2:45 Lan Peru flight to Arequipa. Now back at the friendly Los Ninos I at calle Meloc 442 I walk up the hill to Tambo de Montero, and on that street walk northeast, first down a hill as the street narrows and the shops give way to a series of small flats with tile or tin roofs, then up a steep set of steps toward San Cristobal church on the hill. From just below the church, breathing raspily, I turn southeast down Atuad, then northeast at Ladrillo, finding a way into the San Blas neighborhood. I see signs for backpacker ... read more
South American Explorers Cuzco
Arequipa Approach
On Arequipa Streets

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 29th 2008

Cusco, Puno, La Paz Did the best days mountain biking I could have imagined in Cusco, but it was really hard work. It was a full 10 hour day with about 6 hours cycling in high altitude and it was also very hot.. about 30 degrees. We got picked up from the hotel and were dropped off in the middle of knowhere called Moray, and cycled along alot of dirt tracks and ancient mule routes for 2 hours with the most beautiful views. I naively thought that the trip was probably for beginners as it was fairly tame. How wrong I was, as after lunch we experienced some hardcore cycling with our kamikaze guide. Even though I have cycled a fair bit, some of the gradients we were supposed to go down scared the hell out ... read more
in the middle of knowhere
I'm not tired I'm just admiring the view...
Circular Inca Ruins

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 29th 2008

The Los Ninos Hacienda appears on the right side as the cab bumps along a rock road on the outskirts of a town named Huasao. The traveler looking for a quiet place to adjust to the Andes will like the Hacienda. The Los Ninos hotels are located in the neighborhoods where the children that they support live, and one soon sees that livelihoods in Huasao are meagre. There are now three Los Ninos hotels, Los Ninos 1 and 2 in bustling Cuzco, and the placid Hacienda 15 km east of Cuzco. I've bought a package that features a horse ride to nearby Inca site of Tipon, followed by a picnic, then dinner, the rooms that are rustic yet very comfortable. The water is hot too, as they were in every place I stayed. I'm appreciating the ... read more
Mantai
Waters of Tipon
Tipon Backdrop

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco » Cusco August 28th 2008

On this morning, after a quiet slumber, the tour van collects me at ten to 9 a.m. for a Sacred Valley tour. Eduard Herrara, guide to our Cuzco City tour, bright and chipper this a.m., tells us we will visit the Inca sites (and corresponding towns) of Pisac, Ollaytantambo, and Chincero. The Sacred Valley is northeast of Cuzco, 25 km, over a pass. Pisac village, with the ruin high above, is 30 km north into the Sacred Valley. It is typically the first stop on a one-day Sacred Valley tour, and the site calls for half a day for any interested in exploring on 500 year old trails to 500 year old adobe and cut stone finished stone works. On the way to Pisac we stop in a village where there's a large open air market. ... read more
Sacred Valley




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