Tuesday 20 August 2013
Cusco
Early start for a flight to Cusco, bit of a wait at the airport but our guide was a great help to the group.
Long queues and flight delay so smashed another game of deal on the floor. Scary flight landing in the Andes, but the views were spectacular.
Met with our group and guide, tour around city and lunch. Hit the North face shops! Zoe struggling with Altitude, actually we all were. Headaches galore.
Went to Sacred valley and Ollyantambo, via textile village project and scary bus driver!
Started the Inca Trail, Altitude hit us straight away but brought the group together. Views amazing, porters phenomenal, cooks great 3 courses for every meal even rustled up a honeymoon cake for the honeymooners. Played shhithead and introduced the foreigners to Deal!
Scariest toilets in the world and no shower for 4 days, we STINK!
We all survived Dead womans pass altitude 4200m which was really steep steps up for 2-3 hours and the Gringo Killer which was 7km of steep steps.
Reached the sungate overlooking maacchu picchu and struggled with tthe sun walking around the ruins. It was an amazing finish and the group did amazing, we all made it. On the other trek 6 out of the 11 had to turn back.
Great train ride back to ollyantambo and flushing toilets and hot water. Bus ride tio Cusco was a killer 2 hours but was loveley overlooking the city at night. Reunited with our luggage. Team night out last night drinking til 1am,playing darts with the canadians and interesting bar staff.
First lye in of the holiday but still up at 7 am with hangovers!
Trekked around town to find immigration office for Zoe as she lost her piece of paper. All sorted now and she can come home lol.
Sorry for rubbish blogging and getting in touch with England but internet cafes do not all have skype and often everything is in spanish!
Off to Mcdonalds for a taste of home before briefing with group for trip to Amazon in the morning. Flying to amazon tomorrow morning we have heard from the others that it is very nice with good food and hot water. Who knows!
Speak soon
Nic, Lee and Zoe
Tuesday 13 August 2013
Day 1-2
Peruvian adventure begins...
Gatwick-Madrid
-Day began at Lee´s house with us trying on our backpacks for size. Lets just say we were like pack horses!!!
-Lee´s Mum made us some mammoth sandwiches for the journey' one of which Zoe fed a stray dog on arriving in Peru (no offence Linda).
-First beers of the holiday in Gatwick wetherspoons went down a treat!
-Noisy spanish kids on the plane.
-Nichola´s geography was tested on flying over France :)
-Got slightly lost at Madrid airport.
-Ate some manky pasta but were still in high spirits with 1 free beer to share between 3. Zoe is introduced to the card game ´deal´ with more games to follow- dangerous times!
-We were soon boarding our flight to Peru (which left a little late) and deciding on our song of the holiday- ´Wake me up when it´s all over´.
-Shhhhhhleeeeepppp required. Dribbly Giblin! Dry mouths on plane!!!
-Some turbulance on the plane. Zoe awakes from sleep to high five Lee thinking we had landed only to be told there were 5 more hours to go!
-Longest queues in the world at immigration. Eventually they let us in!
-Cab ride to the hostel- meeting ´Alejandro´ who laughed at Lee for trying to get in the drivers seat :)
-Arrived in the sleepy town of Barranco at 7am. First stop starbucks. Nichola refused a coffee with 50 soles. Not impressed! Breakfast in Lima = bread!
-More games of deal. Trip to the tourism office and Metro supermarket.
-Explored Barranco. Not much going on on a Sunday but had a nice stroll along the beach.
-Nic and Zo struggle walking up cliff stairs and blame altitude sickness!
-Short nap (4 hours) followed by first meal in Peru- spag bol for girls and fish supper for Lee.
-More deal then bed (or bobo as Carol would say).
Day 2
-Up at crack of dawn- girls woken by Lee´s head torch light display!
-Met American ´Ross´ at breakfast. More bread served!
-Dodgey but interesting bus ride to Miraflores.
-More starbucks and deal. Lee samples Zoe´s highly recommended strawberry frappacino!
-Hunted out English pub- doesn´t open till 4pm (so not English).
-Internet cafe.
-Chilis lunch = Burger, fajitas and tacos. Yum!
-Trek around town and another park and beach walk to follow. Enquired about hang gliding but too windy!!!
- Lazy cab ride home back to Barranco. Chilled out watching ´Pearl Harbour´and all 3 of us fell asleep by 8pm! Missed dinner and woke at 5.30am. (Hmmm maybe our body clocks need some more tiume to adjust!)
Tuesday 6 August 2013
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Day 9-10 Amazon Jungle (2B, 2L, 2D)
Fly from Cuzco, high in the Andes, to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Amazon jungle. Travel by motorized canoe to our lodge in the Tambopata Rainforest Area, which holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area. Explore the jungle with experienced local guides based in the Amazon before flying back to Lima for a final night out.
About half of Peru is located within the Amazon Basin, however, due to its isolation, not a lot of it is available to the casual traveller. Puerto Maldonado is the region’s principal city and is serviced by air from the capital and from Cuzco. The town is situated at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers, and is a bustling, booming tropical frontier town. Its principal activities are gold mining, Brazil nut collecting, timber extraction, agriculture and ecotourism. After a brief stop in the town we depart on an afternoon boat trip by motorized canoe to our jungle lodge. Depending on flight arrival times we have either a boxed lunch aboard the boat or lunch upon arrival at the lodge. During our voyage you will have the chance to see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as Black Skimmers, Pied Lapwings, Capped Herons, Jabiru Storks, Roadside Hawks and several species of kingfishers, swallows, and flycatchers. The Tambopata area includes habitats ranging from the Andean highlands around the rivers' headwaters through some of the last remaining intact cloud forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. The area is renowned for its diverse plant and animal populations and include over 1,300 bird species (including 32 parrot species - 10% of the world’s total), 200 mammal species including 4 species of primates, 90 frog species, 1,200 butterfly species and 10,000 species of higher plants—all protected within the reserve. Some of the more famous residents are the Harpy Eagle, the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, tapir, peccary, jaguar, ocelot and playful river otters who live in the area’s oxbow lakes.
The lodge itself combines native architectural style and materials with low-impact eco-friendly technology. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito netting for individual beds, flush toilets, showers (no hot water), and kerosene lamps for lighting (no electricity). Local community members make up the majority the lodge staff, including multilingual Naturalist Guides. Here you have the opportunity to learn from them not only about the area’s rich flora and fauna, but also about their extensive practical uses for medicinal plants and other forest plant resources, through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting.
Approximate Distance: 320km
Estimated Travel Time: 4 hours
About half of Peru is located within the Amazon Basin, however, due to its isolation, not a lot of it is available to the casual traveller. Puerto Maldonado is the region’s principal city and is serviced by air from the capital and from Cuzco. The town is situated at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers, and is a bustling, booming tropical frontier town. Its principal activities are gold mining, Brazil nut collecting, timber extraction, agriculture and ecotourism. After a brief stop in the town we depart on an afternoon boat trip by motorized canoe to our jungle lodge. Depending on flight arrival times we have either a boxed lunch aboard the boat or lunch upon arrival at the lodge. During our voyage you will have the chance to see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as Black Skimmers, Pied Lapwings, Capped Herons, Jabiru Storks, Roadside Hawks and several species of kingfishers, swallows, and flycatchers. The Tambopata area includes habitats ranging from the Andean highlands around the rivers' headwaters through some of the last remaining intact cloud forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. The area is renowned for its diverse plant and animal populations and include over 1,300 bird species (including 32 parrot species - 10% of the world’s total), 200 mammal species including 4 species of primates, 90 frog species, 1,200 butterfly species and 10,000 species of higher plants—all protected within the reserve. Some of the more famous residents are the Harpy Eagle, the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, tapir, peccary, jaguar, ocelot and playful river otters who live in the area’s oxbow lakes.
The lodge itself combines native architectural style and materials with low-impact eco-friendly technology. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito netting for individual beds, flush toilets, showers (no hot water), and kerosene lamps for lighting (no electricity). Local community members make up the majority the lodge staff, including multilingual Naturalist Guides. Here you have the opportunity to learn from them not only about the area’s rich flora and fauna, but also about their extensive practical uses for medicinal plants and other forest plant resources, through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting.
Approximate Distance: 320km
Estimated Travel Time: 4 hours
Day 8 Cuzco
Today is free to explore Cuzco, considered the mecca of Peru and rightly so. This beautiful colonial town offers much to the visitor with its nearby ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and lively atmosphere. Among the more adventurous optional activities available in Cuzco are: horseback riding around archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara; white water rafting on the Urubamba River; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting an Inca ruin along the way.
Note: If you have pre-booked the Peru Culinary Theme Pack, your Cuzco cooking class will be today and the Lima cooking class will be on Day 12 (departure day). As this pack does not include extra on-trip time in Lima, it is necessary to bundle it with a pre or post-trip stay.
Approximate Distance: 320km
Estimated Travel Time: 4 hours
Note: If you have pre-booked the Peru Culinary Theme Pack, your Cuzco cooking class will be today and the Lima cooking class will be on Day 12 (departure day). As this pack does not include extra on-trip time in Lima, it is necessary to bundle it with a pre or post-trip stay.
Approximate Distance: 320km
Estimated Travel Time: 4 hours
Day 4-7 Inca Trail (3B, 3L, 3D)
The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is physically challenging but worthwhile, and the excursion is within the ability of most reasonably fit. It is a 44-km (27 mile) hike, with 3 high passes to be crossed, one of which reaches an elevation of 4200m (13776 ft). The trail is often steep, and it may rain even during the dry season. The temperatures at night may fall below zero, so it is important to come prepared.
Depart Ollantaytambo for km 82 where we begin our walk in the footsteps of the Incas. Our local crew of porters, a cook, and an experienced, knowledgable guide look after us for the duration of the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear for the hike, so those travellers doing the hike only carry a small daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc. As you walk the trail that linked this ancient empire, admire breathtaking views at every step as we move from high plateau areas to dense cloud forest. Depending on the season, you may see a great variety of flora, including miniature and large orchids, and fiery rhododendron bushes.
You pass several smaller ruin sites, the first of which is Llactapata. The second day climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass. At 4198 m (13769 ft) above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. The second pass of the hike is at 3998 m (13113 ft) where on clear days, we enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. The trail goes through some beautiful cloud forest on the gentle climb to the third pass, where you will walk through a causeway and a tunnel, both original Inca constructions. The highest point of the third pass is at 3700m (12136 ft). On clear days you are rewarded for all this work with beautiful views of the Urubamba Valley below. Soon you reach the serene ruins of Phuyupatamarca, or the 'Town above the Clouds', at about 3650 m (11972 ft) above sea level. We will camp either here or an hour and a half further along close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) ruins, a grandiose terraced hillside site, with panoramic views of the valley below and just a short hike from Machu Picchu.
On the final day of the hike we climb the steps to the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. When the morning is clear, there is no way to describe the feeling of the first views of Machu Picchu, as the mist rises off the mountains early in the morning and the famous site appears in front of you. Following the visit to Machu Picchu, time allowing, travellers can opt to visit the Inca Bridge (15 min walk away) for no additional charge.
Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.
NOTE: Those passengers not able or interested in the hike spend 2 days in Cuzco, then travel by train to Aguas Calientes, where they overnight. Next morning they take the bus to the Machu Picchu entrance and rendezvous with the hikers at the ruins. If you decide not to do the hike we need to know prior to your departure in order to obtain train tickets. There is an additional fee for any changes made once Inca Trail permits are confirmed. This fee may vary depending on the changes that are made to your itinerary. Please advise your agent or G Adventures.
Also note that the Inca Trail will be closed for general maintenance during the month of February each year. Also, closures may occur at various times throughout the year due to inclement weather or other conditions beyond our control. During these periods, any tour affected will do the Lares Trek.
Approximate Distance: 20km
Estimated Travel Time: 40 minutes
Distances of the Inca trail:
Day 1 Km 82 to Wayllambama
Approximate distance: 11 km
Estimated hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Day 2 Wayllabamba to Paqaymayo
Approximate distance: 12 km
Estimated hiking time: 6-7 hrs
Day 3 Paqaymayo to Wiñaywayna
Approximate distance: 16 km
Estimated hiking time: 8 hrs
Day 4
Wiñaywayna to Intipunku (Sun Gate)
Approximate distance: 4 km
Estimated hiking time: 1.5 hrs
Intipunku to Machu Picchu
Approximate distance: 1.5 km
Estimated hiking time: 45 mins
Depart Ollantaytambo for km 82 where we begin our walk in the footsteps of the Incas. Our local crew of porters, a cook, and an experienced, knowledgable guide look after us for the duration of the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear for the hike, so those travellers doing the hike only carry a small daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc. As you walk the trail that linked this ancient empire, admire breathtaking views at every step as we move from high plateau areas to dense cloud forest. Depending on the season, you may see a great variety of flora, including miniature and large orchids, and fiery rhododendron bushes.
You pass several smaller ruin sites, the first of which is Llactapata. The second day climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass. At 4198 m (13769 ft) above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. The second pass of the hike is at 3998 m (13113 ft) where on clear days, we enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. The trail goes through some beautiful cloud forest on the gentle climb to the third pass, where you will walk through a causeway and a tunnel, both original Inca constructions. The highest point of the third pass is at 3700m (12136 ft). On clear days you are rewarded for all this work with beautiful views of the Urubamba Valley below. Soon you reach the serene ruins of Phuyupatamarca, or the 'Town above the Clouds', at about 3650 m (11972 ft) above sea level. We will camp either here or an hour and a half further along close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) ruins, a grandiose terraced hillside site, with panoramic views of the valley below and just a short hike from Machu Picchu.
On the final day of the hike we climb the steps to the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. When the morning is clear, there is no way to describe the feeling of the first views of Machu Picchu, as the mist rises off the mountains early in the morning and the famous site appears in front of you. Following the visit to Machu Picchu, time allowing, travellers can opt to visit the Inca Bridge (15 min walk away) for no additional charge.
Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.
NOTE: Those passengers not able or interested in the hike spend 2 days in Cuzco, then travel by train to Aguas Calientes, where they overnight. Next morning they take the bus to the Machu Picchu entrance and rendezvous with the hikers at the ruins. If you decide not to do the hike we need to know prior to your departure in order to obtain train tickets. There is an additional fee for any changes made once Inca Trail permits are confirmed. This fee may vary depending on the changes that are made to your itinerary. Please advise your agent or G Adventures.
Also note that the Inca Trail will be closed for general maintenance during the month of February each year. Also, closures may occur at various times throughout the year due to inclement weather or other conditions beyond our control. During these periods, any tour affected will do the Lares Trek.
Approximate Distance: 20km
Estimated Travel Time: 40 minutes
Distances of the Inca trail:
Day 1 Km 82 to Wayllambama
Approximate distance: 11 km
Estimated hiking time: 5-6 hrs
Day 2 Wayllabamba to Paqaymayo
Approximate distance: 12 km
Estimated hiking time: 6-7 hrs
Day 3 Paqaymayo to Wiñaywayna
Approximate distance: 16 km
Estimated hiking time: 8 hrs
Day 4
Wiñaywayna to Intipunku (Sun Gate)
Approximate distance: 4 km
Estimated hiking time: 1.5 hrs
Intipunku to Machu Picchu
Approximate distance: 1.5 km
Estimated hiking time: 45 mins
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