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Peru 2009/2010

Peru Dec 09/Jan 10:
  • 5 days in Cuzco
  • 1 day Sacred Valley Tour
  • 4 day Trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
  • 4 days in Lima
We spent five days in Cuzco to do some sightseeing and acclimatize to the altitude before setting off on our 4 day trek on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. During this time Tracey got pretty sick almost to the point where we were about to return home early. Luckily though, after seeing a doctor and taking some different medicines, she felt good enough to do the trek. Cuzco was a really cool city to explore, lots of history (both Inca and Spanish), and many Inca ruins to see. Since we were there for New Year's and the days leading up to it, there were nightly events at the city's main square, the Plaza de Armas. After spending some time in Cuzco, we began our guided trip with Gap Adventures. On the first day we saw different ruins and towns (such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo) in the Sacred Valley. Then we began our 4 day trek on the Inca Trail which would eventually lead us to Machu Picchu. Though it was a guided trek with porters that carried all of the group gear and up to 6kg (13lbs) of our personal gear, it was still more challenging than I had expected. On the second day we hiked through a pass in the mountains that took us above 13,000ft and the third day was our longest mileage day. We experienced pretty wet and rainy conditions on the 2nd and third day as well. Luckily, we did get some sun and blue skies on our final day of the trek at Machu Picchu, which was just an absolutely amazing and awe-inspiring place. It is a beautiful site that everyone should go and visit, just maybe not during the rainy season. After our trek ended we flew back to Lima and spent a couple of days there. I wasn't too impressed with Lima as it felt like another big city with a lot of pollution, but it did have some impressive Spanish architecture.
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Inca TrailPeruIMG9884

  • After lunch, on our way to camp.
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  • After lunch, we set off on the trail again while the porters cleaned up, packed the dining and kitchen tents and supplies, hit the trail, pass us on the trail, then get to the campsite before us and have all our  tents and stuff setup already when we arrive. It was amazing.
  • Campsite, not too shabby.
  • Everyone enjoyed some time to relax after the first day's hike.
  • Another impressive display of the abilities of the porters. They didn't bring some portable lightweight stove to cook the meals, they actually carried up two large propane tanks and large pots and burners. Crazy.
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  • First campsite elevation 9,776ft.
  • We were given tubs of warm water to wash our faces and soak our feet in. Our first day out was pretty plush. Unfortunately the next two days were much harder and wet conditions.
  • Beautiful views from camp.
  • Beautiful views from camp.
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  • Heading out the next morning. The second day on the trail had the most elevation change.
  • Last resting spot before we make a steep uphill climb to Dead Woman Pass @ ~14,000ft.
  • Even though you have to travel with a guide on the trail and they only issue so many permits per day, there were tons of other groups on the trail. There's another stand selling gatorade, water, snacks, and you would definitely pay the price for having access to that this far out.
  • You can see Dead Woman Pass (el. 13,828ft) way back in the center of the valley. The weather was pretty nice up until we got to the pass when it started raining pretty hard. After the pass you descend stone steps for a long long ways, more elevation descending than we climbed up to the pass. Not fun on wet, rocky steps.
  • You can see Dead Woman Pass (el. 13,828ft) way back in the center of the valley. The weather was pretty nice up until we got to the pass when it started raining pretty hard. After the pass you descend stone steps for a long long ways, more elevation descending than we climbed up to the pass. Not fun on wet, rocky steps.
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  • Our camp on the 2nd night after climbing up to the pass and descending a long long ways. Not nearly as nice as our first night, and it was wet the whole time as well.
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