Peru
Final stage of trip, a 6 day excursion into Peru. Peruvian-Chilian border crossingbetween Arica, Chile and Tacna, Peru
En route to Cuzco, we stop off at Arequipa for roast Alpaca
Tender loving care of our meat that tastes somewhere between duck and pork
Plaza de Armas, Arequipa
Cloud capped peak looking over the cathedral of Arequipa
Plaza de Armas, Arequipa from the roof of our restaurant
Rodrigo and I on the roof
Arrival in Cuzco, the toursit mecca of Peru, on the second morning. Plaza de Armas
Classic cars of South America
Third day, I set with my guide Chique on a three day trip from Cuzco, through El Valle Sagrado and following El Rio Urubamba towards Machu Pichu. En route we pass pueblitos and the subsistence farming of the campesinos
Urubamba
Inca monument in Ollataytambo
Having left Ollataytambo we head up by bus into Cordillera Malaga and zigzag through perilous mountainous paths. Reaching the summit and snow capped peaks of Nevado Veronica, 5,700M we descend towards the jungle only to run into a landslide
With only one road connecting both sides of the mountains we leave our bus and cross the landslide to catch another connection
View down into the jungle as we descend towards Santa Maria
Inca trails running throughout the mountainside
From Santa Maria we hitch a lift on un carro, an egg truck, which runs twice a day delivering local produce to the mountainous villages
Some Peruvian kids are also hitching a lift with us on their way home from school
Heading towards Urpipata
Having jumped off the truck at Uripata, we descend down some authentic Inca trails towards Rio Urubamba
My guide, Chique
Having spent a night in Santa Teresa on Rio Urubamba we set off at 2.30am to catch another carro and by 3.30am we start our ascend of Mount Llaqtapata by moonlight
The hillside from Mount Llaqtapata
A claim to ownership at the top of the mountain
From the top of Mount Llaqtapata we get our first glimpse of the South face of Machu Pichu
A quick descend towards Machu Piccu and we are able to take a welcome dip
Southern face of Machu Pichu. Agua Calientes is situated on the other side
Crossing the river towards Agua Calientes
7am the following day. Early morning at the top of Machu Pichu, the "lost city of the Incas" unearthed by the Americans in the early 20th century
The picture postcard portrait of Machu Pichu "old mountain" with Huayna Pichu "young mountain" in the background. This is the view from Intipunku, the Sun Gate. It is the first sight of Machu Picchu that hikers following the Inca Tail get
Granary stores of the Chequa people at Machu Pichu
Living quarters. Population approximately 1,000. The higher up you live, the higher your social standing.
Huayna Pichu
The famous stepped vegetation of the hill dwelling Chequa
Chequa masonry. The finest masonry was saved for the religious temples
Temple of the Sun
Tame Alpaca that seem to revel in the attention from all the tourists
Inca Art. A representation in the rock of the mountain behind
Mid-morning as trainloads of tourists arrive from Cuzco
Vertigo down from Machu Pichu towards the valley below
Scenery reminiscent of the opening sequences of Jurassic Park
Looking towards Machu Pichu from the summit of Huayna Pichu
Endless vegetation in the valley below
Relieved after a knackering climb up Huayna Pichu
At the summit of Huayna Pichu
Fifth day, before dawn at the Chilean-Peruvian border en route to Santiago. Cuzco to Santiago is a 50hr bus trip
View over the Andes from the plane en route to London via Madrid
posted by Ollie at 4:33 PM
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