AAVE Trip BLOG » Peru & Machu Picchu
July 15, 2010
Traveling well in Peru!
Posted by the AAVE team in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Peru & Machu Picchu , add a comment
Greetings friends and families from Cuzco!
Day 13 has come to a close and just as I suspected, Peru has yet to cease to amaze all of us. Our nightly meetings have revealed that this has been THE most incredible journey of our lives. Since our last update The Tribu de Gringos have overcome some serious obstacles and have met each challenge with impressive strength and courage.
We were all a bit apprehensive to leave Puno after creating such incredible bonds and dazzling memories of singing, laughing and dancing hand in hand with the men, women, and children of the native communities, embracing the colonial charm of Cuzco with open arms. Our tribe took the city by storm as we hunted for photo treasures on a scavenger hunt throughout the city center. Our Urban exploration provided us with opportunities to connect with the locals, taste the traditional delicacy of Cuy (Guinea Pig), and to show our Kung Fu skills to the Peruvians in the city square. Cuzco has been good to us but seriously pales in comparison with our incredible outdoor adventures.
While Mountain biking through the steep and jagged Andes we took a few spills but hopped back on with the help our friends and finished our tour at the stunning Salt Mines above the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The Lares Trek challenged us all with incredibly high altitude and varying weather patterns. Our hike was blanketed with a misty fog, and was filled with roaming wildlife, floating Frisbees, riddles, and a delicious lake-side lunch! We spent our nights camping under the starry nights of Peru´s back country enjoying the fresh air and the enchantment of the discovery of a new world. Our trek came to an and at the sizzling sulfur hot springs in Lares - an incredible end to a long journey! In the grand tradition of the Tribu de Giringos, we entertained the locals with some fun and attention-grabbing games in the water while soothing our aching muscles! .
Our most exhilarating day was spent exploring the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. Our dedication and a 3 am wake up (yikes) earned us the coveted tickets for the Waynu Picchu hike - only the first 400 people out of thousands of daily visitors receive a pass! The view from the top of the iconic mountain top was absolutely stunning and literally breathtaking. The rest of our explorations throughout the Incan labyrinth held us in awe as we tried to envision these early architects build a city out of impossibly large stones. Our trip to Machu Picchu has gifted us a sense of accomplishment and a smile that has yet to fade.
Navigating the turbulent Urubamba river was our most recent adventure this week. We divided into three teams and hit the water without hesitation. Team chants, water fights and plunges into the frigid waters kept us laughing until it was time to put our well practiced maneuvering to use. The class 3 rapids united us in excitement and our teamwork allowed us to navigate them successfully.
Today we begin a new chapter of our journey to the Amazon! We’ve packed our headlamps and insect repellent and are ready for anything the jungle throws at us! With our cameras in hand we can hardly wait to see what this unique landscape has in store for us. With limited modern conveniences we hope to fully immerse ourselves into the jungle environment and continue to build upon the solid bonds among the Tribu de Gringos! It’s hard to believe we are approaching our last week here in Peru but we are determined to make every moment count in this wonderful part of the world.
Ciao for now! The Peru Crew