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We arrived in Peru and stayed in Cusco to help us acclimatize to the elevation
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We spent two days enjoying Cusco
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And the amazing colonial architecture in Plaza De Armas - Central Cusco
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Many locals were selling their wares on the streets and alleys
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Everything from bracelets to handwoven items
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Many are weaving or making items in front of you, which adds to the authenticity
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Along with their faces ingrained with years of character and hard work
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Some busk, and use their cute kids to help persuade you out of your soles
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Whilst others have resorted to asking a small amount for photos with their lamas and alpacas
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Several of which have been dressed up in traditional Peruvian outfits for the photos (do Alpacas have a traditional Peruvian outfit that's not alpaca wool)?
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Of course, if you want a photo, you just need to have a cuddle too......
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Halloween in Plaza De Armas was a mass of people, with kids (and adults) dressed up
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And some real cuties 🙂
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Hotel Casa Andina - our home for a few nights in Cusco
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5 star service
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And pretty comfortable rooms too!
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Local touches and artwork adorned the walls and corridors
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We started our trek with a visit to the Moonstone after which the trek we took was named
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The building and rock work that the Incas did can be seen throughout the trek and is truly breathtaking
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Having a local guide to explain the different building techniques and reasoning behind them made a huge difference
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After a tour around the Inca Moonstone site, we set off on Day 1 of the trek
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Shortly after setting off, I was unsure whether we were in Peru or Wales... pouring rain and sheep everywhere!
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Our company on the trek was a guide, a chef, assistant chef, horseman, his two mules and three horses and of course...
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Rambo, Eusabio's dog who was with us the entire trek
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The mules and two of the horses carried anything that wasn't in our day packs
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On day 1, as we left the highway, we passed through some small local villages
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Day 2 we left the local villages behind us and were up into the backcountry
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With stunning scenery in every direction
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And trails everywhere, used by the locals
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The mellow pace allowed us to look around and appreciate the scenery in all directions
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So different from our mountains at home, but equally stunning
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With a full four seasons during the trek, clothing ranged from shorts, to ponchos and full winter gear
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Eusabio rounding up the horses and mules after a break for lunch
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After lunch, the climb to the highest point on the trek, just over 15,000'
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And cresting the saddle the views beyond, and our hike for the afternoon did not disappoint
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Stunning scenery in all directions, with help from a break in the clouds
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Day 2 was our longest day (about 14km) and reached the highest elevation
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But with an early start each day, and a long break for lunch, we were easily in camp for the evening by 3pm
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The view from the tent on each night was pretty stunning
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And as we settled in with views of the snowcapped glacial "Veronica" in the distance
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We had no idea how much we'd appreciate the hot water bottles we had (yep - camping with hot water bottles!!)
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Until we woke the next morning to this!
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Notice Eusabio up and about first thing.... in sandals and a lightweight Poncho
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Jo's new hero.... a horseman who wandered around in sandals in the snow
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We set off on Day 3 with mediocre weather, little knowing the views and scenery awaiting us
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The first hour of the trek was in light snow
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But as the clouds cleared we started to see the Sacred Valley below and where we were headed
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The clouds would roll in and out, giving us glimpses of the snow capped peaks around us
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Time for a cliched "pose on the rock" shot.... with some pretty impressive backdrops
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A short break before we descend, and time for Dino to check his messages!
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As we started to descend, the path for the day lay out before us
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And we headed down into a steep slot canyon
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Towering walls on either side and the Sacred Valley below us was an amazing view
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As we descended through a beautiful canyon the team, led by Eusabio, caught up and passed us to setup camp
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After a major drop in elevation, we reached one of the Sun Gates, another impressive Inca build
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With the drop in elevation, both Jo and I felt a lot better
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As we camped overlooking Ollantaytambo the night sky was amazing
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The morning of Day 4 we woke to clearing skies and some blue!!
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And breakfast was a cake. Yep! Do not ask us how they managed to produce an iced cake out of a tent and a camping stove!
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As we descended on day 4 to the valley floor, we looked back to see the Sun Gate disappearing into the clouds
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Time for a group shot with our Action Peru Treks team: Eusabio, Jo, Dino, Richard, Lizandro, Dave
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Down in Ollantaytambo, we spent a short time at Eusabio's house and met his family and the cute Amber (his granddaughter)
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After a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes we were treated to a beautiful hotel and warm shower!!
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Day 5: Machu Picchu - truly a wonder of this world
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You have likely seen better photos
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But nothing can capture the beauty or workmanship of this place
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You have to see it to believe it
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Climbing Wayna Picchu (the larger peak on the far side of Machu Picchu) shows the true scale of the work
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As well as the size of the rocks that the Incas worked with
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Awe inspiring
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Happy after 5 days on the trail 🙂
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We then flew to Hotel Yemaya - near Punta Sal on the north Peruvian coast near Ecuador
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Our home for 4 days after the trek
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Not a bad place to chill out!
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Catch some time in the pool and the ocean
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Watch the beautiful sunsets
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and have some dinner by the pool. A great end to an amazing vacation!!
