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Published: March 12th 2007
Tank in Lima
Not sure whether it was the changing of the guard ceremony or a more day to day sight, but the military were everywhereI passed 5 very relaxing days in Miraflores, wandering around the area, viewing the Pucllanac ruins and drinking more beer than was probably good for me in the hostal bar 😊 I made it into central Lima relatively briefly, taking the combi buses and then wandering around on foot. Came across a 'changing of the guard' style event involving military processions around Plaza de Armas. Then finally I checked into a hotel a little way across Miraflores in order to meet up with my tour group.
Cusco We took an early morning flight to Cusco, involving probably the most frightening landing approach I've been through. The first day I spent in Cusco, getting to know the group and taking in a few examples of Inca walls, including the 12 angled stone. I went rafting on the Urubamba on the 2nd day; miraculously we didn't flip the raft 😊
Inca Trail and Maccu Piccu It was good to finally get properly out into the Andes, and we had a tour of a couple of ruins (Pisaq, Ollantaytambo) on our way through the Sacred Valley. The night in Ollantaytambo (immediately before starting the Inca Trail) wasn't too
12 angled Inca stone in Cusco
This is an Imperial style Inca wall, the blocks are sculpted to sit flush together without any mortar. pleasant, as I got sick in the night. I thought it was something I'd eaten, due to the fact that I'd had no problems with the altitude in the previous 4 days (apart from catching my breath now and then due to breathing too shallowly). But apparantly it was classic altitude sickness.
Anyway, it was looking pretty bleak in the morning but I drugged myself up and was ok for most of the first days walking, which luckily wasn't overly harsh. The 2nd day walking I had an appetite back, which was lucky as the final part of the ascent up to Dead Woman's Pass (4200 metres) was a killer. The trail wasn't overly busy due to it being wet season and the fact that it was closed during February, so the trail was open and seemed pretty clear. Day 3 was the most enjoyable days trekking, as it was a nice mix of ups and downs, original Inca paths running beside sheer drops, open mountain views and jungle. And the sun was out which capped it. Day 4 was a very early rise followed by a pacy hour and a half walk up to the sun gate, which
is where you get your first view of Macchu Piccu.
Macchu Piccu was very cool, we arrived in good weather so the view to Huayna Piccu looking over the Inca buildings was stunning, and there was a big sense of scale. We had a tour around the main sights for a few hours, the most impressive areas for me being the Temples of the Sun and Condor. Then headed back to Cusco stopping off for lunch in Aguas Calientes. Despite the early rise we somehow managed to make it until 4am out in the Cusco bars, the Mojitos just kept on getting stronger 😊
.... At the moment I'm in Cusco, getting ready to leave for Puno in the morning, as well as starting to plan my route around Argentina during April.
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Katerina
non-member comment
Peru
Wow ... it is awsome!! It feels as if I'm there also ... good descriptions Matt .. keep going ..!