The road to Machu Picchu

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This has certainly been a spectacular 3 months for us. Quito, Galapagos, Selva Amazon Lodge, Cuenca, Barranco/Lima & now 12 days on the road to Nazca and beyond.

The schedule is hectic. Many days start at 5.30am and involve plenty of walking, climbing and scrambling, mostly at altitude.

I can’t say enough good things about Peru Tourism. We looked at their suggested tours then custom built our own 12 day trip. They looked after everything...transportation, transfers, accommodation, guides entrance fees and many of the meals. All the hotels have been top notch, way above what we would normally book. And the cost a very reasonable $5300US for the 2 of us. No, I’m not on their payroll!

3 Panoramas above, 5 second delay between each:

1. The Andes Mountains behind Arequipa. Misti is the perfectly shaped volcano.

2. The floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca.

3. The south end of the magnificent Colca Canyon.

Just one more entry to come: Cusco, The Sacred Valley and finally Machu Picchu. Then home to recover!

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Photos

Our route
Lima, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca, Puno now Cusco.

Huacachina oasis
Just outside Ica where we were shamed into taking a wild dune buggy ride (the dunes were enormous!) All passengers wore 4 point seat belts; the driver, nothing!

Nazca overflight
Who remembers Chariots of the Gods? 1968, Von Daniken....he tried to explain ancient mysteries as Alien Assisted.
Somehow it has always been tucked back in my memory and we couldn’t miss the opportunity to see these strange geoglyphs....can only be appreciated from an overflight.

Overflight route
We flew out of Ica an had 1 hour 10m. In the air. The map shows the lines that we saw but there are over 300 in all, some up to 200m in length.

“The Astronaut ”
Probably the most famous of them all and the one that got Von Daniken all wound up. He was convinced the figure was wearing a space helmet.

The spider
The mystery remains as to the choice of things to represent by the ancient Nazcans (100BC - 800AD)
The figures were created by aligning overturned rocks.

The condor
Looks like they hadn’t seen many condors, but it was a very important symbol for most of the pre Columbian civilizations.

The Monkey
His tail incorporated into the familiar stylized Peru .

Arequipa
What a welcome contrast to Lima! Comparable to Cuenca vs. Quito.
Here is the inevitable cathedral in the main Plaza (De Armas seems to be the popular choice of name)

This translates as cheese ice cream
But in appearance only. A local specialty that our guide wisely advised us to try. How could you resist!

Arequipa Convent Santa Catalina
A remarkable collection of buildings dating back to C 16 and continuously occupied by Dominican nuns.
Here a water sluice where they did/do their laundry.

High Andes
Our journey to Cusco took us through the heart of the Andes. In the foreground a herd? of vicuña...close cousins of llama

Camelids
Alpaca is upper, llama lower.
Both native and domesticated for thousands of years.
Alpaca valued for fine clothing and meat, llama for warm blanket wool and as a beast of burden.

Inka tea
Infused with coca leaves and a few other ‘good for you’ ingredients. No tea bags in this place!

High point
The highest we’ll get in South America.
4910m or 16 100 feet.

Colca Canyon Lodge
After a loooong bus ride this was a welcome sight.
No city traffic noise here tonight!

Off to the natural spa!
Time for a relaxing dip in the natural thermal pools by the rushing river.

On the bridge
After our spa we crossed the bridge to see the condor exhibits, a preview of tomorrow’s potential..

Colca Canyon Condors
We rate this in the top 5 of our experiences on this trip.
Here are a juvenile and adult waiting for the right updraft conditions to lift off.
Thanks again to Dan, our Amazon Lodge guide for teaching us to use the binoculars as a telephoto lens for the camera on the phone.

El Condor Pasa!
I never really understood ...”the condor happens” but that is exactly what we experienced! A magnificent condor would suddenly materialize in front of you, silently, gliding effortlessly on the updrafts. That haunting music, written by a Peruvian in 1915 (minus the Simon & Garfunkel lyrics) is still with me.

Colca, the Valley of the Condor
If you ever visit Peru don’t miss this place. It is very special.

Comments

[Lorraine Runstedler]

Machu Picchu
Hi - Love the name - what a wonderful tour you have taken me on - Your time is near for Home Bound - you are going to have a Melt Down upon your return LOL - Naaaa - will be thinking of where to go to next