The Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
There are two ways you can get to the ancient site of Machu Picchu. One way is to catch the train and a bus. The second way involves four days of hiking through the mountainous Andean jungle. We chose the second way and we have zero regrets. Besides the amazing travelling experience that the trek was, the hiking and the food along the trail fulfilled our health and wellness goals! Along the way, we learned so much about the Incan people and their culture (or at least, what can be known) that by the time we reached Machu Picchu, we had greater context and understanding of what these ruins stood for. Long days of muddy, up-hill trekking, cold nights and early wake ups were certainly worth it.
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Our Inca Trail adventure began in Ollyantaytambo, a gorgeous town located in the middle of Cusco City, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. A short bus ride took us to Kilometre 84, the starting point of the Inca Trail. Day 1 of hiking involved an easy-going 6km stroll. Day 2 was more traumatic: 4 hours of trekking 400m up the side of a mountain, before 1.5 hours descending the other side. And that wasn't even the biggest day. The third day was 16km's of hiking up and down the trail, beginning at 6 am and finishing at 4 pm! Just when you thought you could rest easy, the final day began with a 3:30 am wake up just to get in line at the final checkpoint. The last part of the trail weaved its way up towards the Sun Gate, offering a bird's eye view of Machu Picchu nestled away in its lush valley surroundings.
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You can imagine by this point, we were ready to explore Machu Picchu itself - and it did not disappoint. This 500-year old wonder has stood the test of time, restored and reconstructed but mostly untouched since its original construction by the Incas. It definitely earns its place on the list of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Cusco and Surrounds
After Machu Picchu, we settled in Cusco where we volunteered for 3 months teaching English. During this long sting, we made sure we explored everything this ancient city has to offer. Known as the capital of the Incas, Cusco not only has history, it is historic. The many museums and monuments in town gather this history together, while the four Inca sites just up the hill (Tambomachay, Qenko, Puka Pukara and Saqsaywoman) are testaments to the Inca legacy. Our English students took us for a walk from Chinchero to Urquillos, providing us with a different, non-touristy perspective of this beautiful region.
Peru Countryside
Peru is a beautiful country and while we've been here we've tried to see as much of it as we can! From valleys to fields, this country has so many incredible landscapes that cannot be missed! Our adventures took us to Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, which lived up to its name with the full spectrum of colours on display. We also ventured through the Sacred Valley and all the Inca sites it has to offer. Another tour took us to the Salkantay trek, a two-night journey which saw us stay in an igloo and hike to the stunning Lake Humantay before conquering the Salkantay pass. We saw more of the sprawling hills of Peru when some of our friends took us for a drive to the Cuadro Lagunas and to the Qesawacha Bridge, a hand-made straw bridge dating back to the Incas! Our last stop in Peru was to Puno to visit Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, where we visited some of the island communities of the lake and learned about their unique way of life.
Amazon Conservation Project
Before finishing our time of volunteering in Cusco, we signed up for a week at the Panthera jungle conservation project deep in the Amazon. Panthera and its staff have worked for the last ten years to protect the rainforest and find sustainable and eco-friendly ways to interact with it. The camp itself is situated in a lush setting, with plenty of wildlife to admire and interact with.
Llamas
Of course, our highlights of Peru would not be complete without a tribute to llamas! Llamas are found throughout the Peruvian countryside, but they also held a special place in Inca culture and beliefs. Though not always the most glamorous of creatures, they never failed to provide the perfect photo op!
