Around the world in 300 days

We were meant to go to the Amazon Jungle for 3 days and 2 nights. Unfortunately there was yet another teacher´s strike and the protesters had set the runway on fire. Our flight was cancelled and we had to return to Cusco for another night. Luckily the following day the airport was up and running and we finally flew into the jungle.

We hopped aboard a motorised canoe and watched the sun set whilst we made the 1 1/2hr journey down river. It was hot and humid and our room was lit by candlelight. We dropped our bags in our room, tucked our trouser legs into our socks and set off on a night hike to see what creepy crawlies we could find. Wow! Once our eyes had adjusted we saw loads of six and eight legged creatures! Hairy caterpillars, leg biting ants, stick insects, colourful stripy leaches and even snakes. The highlight was of course the tarantulas! We spotted the chicken-eating tarantula and also the pink toed tarantula.


A relaxing start to our river cruise

It could have jumped out at any time!!!!

This was a big as David´s hand!

Boys and their toys!

After a hot and sticky night we woke and began a pre-dawn walk. With David armed with a machete we headed to a lake and on the way saw squirrel monkeys playing high up in the trees. We climbed into a rickety canoe and had a calm trip on the lake, on the way back to our lodge we passed banana trees, saw fire ants climbing trees and caught a glimpse of macaws that were squawking loudly!

A quiet start

Nic finally had enough!

Our trip to the jungle was already over and we began to make our way back to Cusco. We had a fantastic time and without a doubt had seen some brilliant wildlife.

We had now spent the best part of a week over 2700m and were fully aclimatised and ready for the hike. We started with a short bus journey to the famous KM82 starting point, where we registered and got our passports stamped! We started slow but as the day went own we found a good pace. We passed the first of our six Inka ruins on the trail and ended up walking for about 5 hours. The day ended by meeting the porters who cooked for us(!) and scrambling into our tent for an ealry night - the next day would be the hardest of the lot.

At the start!

End of the first day

We woke early with a suprised knock on our tent door - it was the porters offering fresh warm coca tea (we could get used to this!!!). After filling our tums and mouths with fresh coca leaves, we chewed our way all the way up to the dizzying heights of 4215m/13,820ft! It was hard to breath at points, with us having to take farily regular rests and plenty of water. We had climbed 1300m today, at altitude, and the only way down was the other side of the mountain - a knee crushing 600m!

Our picnic spot!

Just about to finish the big hike up

At the highest point

The next day was the most beautiful. High alpine traversing of the rocky mountains, looming glaciers still high above us with some parts of the track unrestored from the Inca period - including tunnel sections! We camped only a 2 hour walk from the Sun Gate.

The morning came, well, 4am to be precise and we started walking in the dark towards Macchu Picchu. We arrived at the sun gate as the sun peaked over the mountains and we were offered the first sight of the ruins - wow! We quickly walked down towards the first terraces and had views of an almost empty site from the classic angle.... Incredible. We spent the next six hours walking around one of the New wonders of the world before heading down to the train station. We chugged along a fantastic track all the way back through the valley to Cusco....

View from the Sun Gate

We made it!

At Macchu Picchu

Nic being at one with the ruins!

Macchu Picchu

Another early morning start saw us on the first of our internal flights from Arequipa to Cusco. We checked into our hotel and started to wonder down the many little streets. We were gearing ourselves up for plenty of ruins, history and culture! The following day we headed to the sacred valley for a tour of two Inca ruins before finishing up in Ollayamtambo where we would get our final chance of some decent sleep, before starting the Inka Trail.

A cobbled Cusco streets

Getting ready for a night out

Nic and some Inca foundations

Chilling out at Inca ruins

We left early in the morning and became very disoriantated by the time we reached the hostel in the mountains. We passed over a saddle that topped out at 5000m / 16,400ft! The highest either of us had been.....a piece of cake!!! We were a little tired the next day due to a restless night sleep at 3650m, still, we perservered and headed over to Condor Crush and the canyon.

We couldn´t have timed it better...as we arrived these huge birds (3m wingspan) were all over the place. We counted 16 at one point and were starting to get worried that they might try and pick Nic off and feed her to their young!!! After spending an hour with the birds, we took a stroll along the canyon´s edge and admired the massive drop down, down, down into the valley!

Condor!

Us at the top of the canyon

After a fantastic two days, we caught the bus back into Arequipa, however, this wasn´t going to be as easy as we hoped.....

A transport strike was under way making it impossable to pass certain points. Huge rocks had been dropped from the mountainsides onto the road, with a few protestors remaining behind to throw more down if anyone dared pass..... We managed to avoid rocks through the windows with some very careful driving. A point was then reached where we simply could not go any further. We waited and waited to see what would happen until eventually we strapped everything to our backs and headed towards the commotion. It was starting to get dark as we walked gingerly through all the boulders and broken glass. Lots of people were high up either side of us looking very amused at this group of confident tourists. With smoke billowing from burnt tyres and hoards of locals discussing the days events, we emerged the other side greeted by fellow tourists who were taking pictures of us!!! They were trying to get to the side we just came from!!!

Makeshift roadblock!

The bit we had to walk through...

After a quick regroup and an hour of trying to bribe police and locals alike, we managed to get an escort through all the back roads. This involved crossing train lines, through extremely bumpy dirt roads, crossing dry river beds and even more protestors who at one point surrounded the van!! We did sustain a puncture from one of the metal bars these people were proding the van with, but we eventually made it to the hotel safe and sound if not a little shaken!!!!

After quite a surprisingly comfortable night bus we arrived in Arequpia early doors breaming with energy! We dropped our gear off and headed into town for a couple of sights we had already read about. The first was Santa Catalina Monestary which dated from the 16th century. This was a very tranquil place and it was good to be away from the hustle and bustle of Peru´s second largest city. We also visted a frozen mummy called Juanita, who had been frozen through high up in the volcanic peak that loomed in the background - she was offered as a sacrifice! Poor little lass, they reckon she had a thump to the head before hand.... we all have to make sacrifices I guess!!!!

Arequipa main square

David chilling in Santa Catalina

Nic finding her way in Santa Catalina

For the rest of the day we pottered around the beautiful city centre and watched the protesters from the first of many strikes to come. We tried to get to bed early that evening because we had to leave early (2am) the following morning to get to the Colca Canyon and avoid more protestors!