Blogs from Peru, South America - page 1162

Colca Canyon exceeded expectations. We were lucky enough to see 15 very large condors including several young ones which were perched on the rocks near the viewpoint. We were glad it was worth the trip as the bus ride was torturous, bumpy and dusty and with the same music tape looping for hours! Next day we explored Cusco, where we had arrived late the previous night, and generally chilled out in preparation for the Inca trail which was looming. In the evening we managed a few (very strong) drinks at Paddy´s Irish bar, before clubbing the night away. We suffered a bit in the morning! The day had arrived when the tour guide came to take us on the Inca Trail, no backing out now!!! Before we started the challenge we had a leisurely day of ... read more

When Ella announced she was staying in Cusco to learn Spanish, Salsa and Peruvian cookery instead of doing the Inca Trail I spent the next 2 days dithering (not like me I know!) about whether I really wanted to camp for 3 nights probably in the rain, with very limited facilities. But everyone said I couldn´t come to Peru and not do it, so suddenly I found myself equipped with walking pole, poncho and coco leaves (for the altitude sickness), waving goodbye to our tour guide. No going back now!! We spent the night before the trek at Ollataytambo, eating, drinking (to steady my nerves of course), dancing and learning to play the panpipes. Then at 8am the next morning we set off with Fredy, our guide and his two side kicks Alex and Jose. The ... read more

Having finally got to the lodge safely and dry, we spent the next few days in the Amazon and had a fantastic time....here are a few hightlights... *No electricity in the lodge, only gasoline lamps - very atmospheric..interesting having a wee at night though! *Fantastic food, which we helped prepare one day in the kitchen *Dawn and dusk canoe rides up the Tahuayo River, with the mist rising *Spear fishing at night *Camping over night in the heart of the jungle...where it decided it tip down with rain (luckily just after we had set up camp)....freshly caught bbq pirahnas)...fantastic jungle sounds. *Playing football with the kids in San Pedro village *Andrea, the very clingy woolly monkey. *Climbing 85feet above the canopy via zip wire, as the afternoon sun was setting...very heart pumping *Long treks in the ... read more

.....So we got on the speed boat from Iquitos for our trip to the lodge. It turns out that the Amazon is super low at the moment, which meant a two and a half hour trip took the best part of six... And the reason... Well..there are so many trees that fall into the river. And these trees are hard wood...which means they stay there...sticking up....waiting to snare boats...which is what one did... We were speeding along, and then all of a sudden a massive bang and we were all thrown a bit. The we looked down...and water was pouring in. And we were in the middle of the Amazon !!! Oh dear ! Anyway - the captain sped to the shore, at which point the thing was virtually submerged. We clambered off, into the mud...and ... read more

Iquitos is hot, sweaty and rammed with autokars (Peru´s version on the Tuk Tuk) rushing everywhere. The main square is beautiful, with a church that when lit up at night resembles a story book castle. We had a lovely walk around the town and had a great lunch in Ari´s Burger Bar, which is apparently THE place to hang out. Having been fed and watered we went about finding a tour to the jungle. Luckily the hostal was able to help us and we managed to book ourselves on to a 6 day excursion to the Amazon Explorers lodge (www.perujungle.com) which is about two and half hours away from Iquitos by boat, on a tributory off the Amazon called the Tahuayo River. (Look it up in your school atlases...). Finally - took a tour round Belem ... read more