Peru (not backpacking)
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 9:15 pm
Peru, Nov 27-Dec 7, 2015.
This was not a backpacking trip, but rather a group trip with my husband’s Spanish class. It was during rainy season (pretty much precluding backpacking) and was mostly cultural with the purpose of speaking a lot of Spanish (I do not speak any Spanish!). Although it was a bit agonizing to be so close to backpacking I really wanted to do, and not be able to do it, I got a good overview of Peru. I would love to go back and do some actual backpacking a bit more away from the tourist traps.
The flights both down and back were brutal with the usual delays. We left Sacramento noon on Friday and arrived in Lima 8AM Saturday. A private bus took us to our hotel in Mirafores during rush hour. They drive CRAZY in Lima! Then another crazy bus ride to the downtown plaza and the market. We went to another district for dinner and took local taxi back to the hotel.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
I was ready for a sleeping pill and a good 8 hours of sleep that night! Back to the airport in the morning and we flew to Cusco. Getting off the plane at 11,000 feet was not that bad. I drank gallons of coca leaf tea that was always available in the lobby of the hotel. One whole day was spent in Cusco touring the city to acclimate.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next day we toured a site in the Sacred Valley and continued to Aguascaliante, part way on bus and the last hours on the train. I really liked the train. We arrived late in the evening. Next morning we got up at 4AM and took the bus to Machupicchu for the sunrise tour, but it was foggy and no sun until late morning. I hiked up to the ridge (the sun notch). It was about another 1000 feet gain, with not much of a view. Then back to the ruins for another look. I would have loved to stay longer but the group was leaving at 1PM. (That is the trouble with group tours). Then back on the train and bus to Cusco for another night. Both my husband and I spent the entire night sick- probably some bad food in Aguascaliante.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Thankfully the next day all we did was a long bus ride to Puno. Next day we boated to the floating islands and Amantani Island for our home stay which included a climb to the top of the mountain (rock paved road to 13,000 feet) for sunset and wild indigenous dancing with a live band. We stayed with a wonderful couple who had a 6-year old boy.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next day we boated to Isla Taquile to see another culture, and back to Puno for the night. .
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-2.jpg[/rimg]
The next day’s bus ride took us to Chivey, and over a pass at 16,100 feet elevation! We stopped at a little town with an unusual playground in the middle of nowhere above 13,000 feet! In Chivey, the hotel was quaint and beautiful and we spent several hours in the hot springs.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next morning we could either do the zip-line or a tour of Colca Valley; we chose the tour.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Then it was another long bus ride to Arequipa where we arrived just in time for dinner. Next morning we toured the town and flew back to Lima at 8PM, just in time to get on the flight back to Dallas. We were literally running to the next plane, and arrived in Sacramento at 2PM. Needless to say, we are still recovering from lack of sleep and the time change.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
I really liked Peru. The lack of environmental laws or ability to live environmentally soundly has left the roadsides strewn with litter and most water highly polluted. On the other hand, the lack of personal cars has saved much of Peru from air pollution. Regardless of poverty, the people were very happy. The public spaces and transportation are well used. We got a large dose of “Inka pride” with our guides- all whose first language was their native, second Spanish and third English. The tour we took was highly “touristy”- sort of like those busloads of tourists in Yosemite Valley. I would never to another tour like this, but would go back in a heartbeat to do some real backpacking and my own agenda.
This was not a backpacking trip, but rather a group trip with my husband’s Spanish class. It was during rainy season (pretty much precluding backpacking) and was mostly cultural with the purpose of speaking a lot of Spanish (I do not speak any Spanish!). Although it was a bit agonizing to be so close to backpacking I really wanted to do, and not be able to do it, I got a good overview of Peru. I would love to go back and do some actual backpacking a bit more away from the tourist traps.
The flights both down and back were brutal with the usual delays. We left Sacramento noon on Friday and arrived in Lima 8AM Saturday. A private bus took us to our hotel in Mirafores during rush hour. They drive CRAZY in Lima! Then another crazy bus ride to the downtown plaza and the market. We went to another district for dinner and took local taxi back to the hotel.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
I was ready for a sleeping pill and a good 8 hours of sleep that night! Back to the airport in the morning and we flew to Cusco. Getting off the plane at 11,000 feet was not that bad. I drank gallons of coca leaf tea that was always available in the lobby of the hotel. One whole day was spent in Cusco touring the city to acclimate.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next day we toured a site in the Sacred Valley and continued to Aguascaliante, part way on bus and the last hours on the train. I really liked the train. We arrived late in the evening. Next morning we got up at 4AM and took the bus to Machupicchu for the sunrise tour, but it was foggy and no sun until late morning. I hiked up to the ridge (the sun notch). It was about another 1000 feet gain, with not much of a view. Then back to the ruins for another look. I would have loved to stay longer but the group was leaving at 1PM. (That is the trouble with group tours). Then back on the train and bus to Cusco for another night. Both my husband and I spent the entire night sick- probably some bad food in Aguascaliante.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Thankfully the next day all we did was a long bus ride to Puno. Next day we boated to the floating islands and Amantani Island for our home stay which included a climb to the top of the mountain (rock paved road to 13,000 feet) for sunset and wild indigenous dancing with a live band. We stayed with a wonderful couple who had a 6-year old boy.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next day we boated to Isla Taquile to see another culture, and back to Puno for the night. .
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-2.jpg[/rimg]
The next day’s bus ride took us to Chivey, and over a pass at 16,100 feet elevation! We stopped at a little town with an unusual playground in the middle of nowhere above 13,000 feet! In Chivey, the hotel was quaint and beautiful and we spent several hours in the hot springs.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Next morning we could either do the zip-line or a tour of Colca Valley; we chose the tour.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
Then it was another long bus ride to Arequipa where we arrived just in time for dinner. Next morning we toured the town and flew back to Lima at 8PM, just in time to get on the flight back to Dallas. We were literally running to the next plane, and arrived in Sacramento at 2PM. Needless to say, we are still recovering from lack of sleep and the time change.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ited-1.jpg[/rimg]
I really liked Peru. The lack of environmental laws or ability to live environmentally soundly has left the roadsides strewn with litter and most water highly polluted. On the other hand, the lack of personal cars has saved much of Peru from air pollution. Regardless of poverty, the people were very happy. The public spaces and transportation are well used. We got a large dose of “Inka pride” with our guides- all whose first language was their native, second Spanish and third English. The tour we took was highly “touristy”- sort of like those busloads of tourists in Yosemite Valley. I would never to another tour like this, but would go back in a heartbeat to do some real backpacking and my own agenda.