May 29 – Despite it being the dry season in Cusco, we woke to a rainy morning for our train to the town of Machu Picchu. The three hour train ride was pleasantly uneventful, as Amaury and I had explored Cusco a little too late for a 5am wakeup. We joined the hoard of tourists on the bus headed up the steep switchbacks to the ancient city. It did not stop raining, so the ladies selling ponchos (there were dozens) made a killing. The history and architecture of Machu Picchu is amazing. I will not go into that, as you’re probably not here for a history lesson.
Peruvian Women making clothing high in the Andes.
After our tour, we hiked to the Sun Gate (Machu Picchu’s entrance from the Inca Trail), followed by a hike to the Inca Bridge. We returned to our hotel in the town, eager to dry off and prepare for the next day.
We returned to Machu Picchu the next day in order to climb Huayna Picchu, the mountain that sits behind the famed city in most the pictures you see. It is an incredible hike, because of it’s views and it’s steepness, and the fact that despite the rugged terrain, there are ruins complete with terraces at the top. After our hike, we returned to town to eat (Indio Feliz is great if you find yourself there) and wait for our train back to Cusco.
Ausangate towers at over 20,000 feet.
The next day, we departed Cusco for a three day hike in the area around Ausangate Mountain. For our hike we used Andean Lodges, a cushy guide service that I’d recommend for people who aren’t looking to “rough it” but want to see some amazing mountains. Ausangate, one of the largest mountains in Peru, made me realize that Colorado really isn’t that high. We spent one night at just under 16,000 feet. My head hurt a lot. And we were nowhere close to the top, as Ausangate’s summit stands at 20,945 feet.
After three amazing days, we returned to Cusco once again before heading to the Sacred Valley for a couple of days. Cusco and the surrounding area have a neat action sports community. We enjoyed whitewater rafting and mountain biking in stunning settings.
After a couple of fun days in the Sacred Valley, I dropped my family at the Cusco airport for their return to the states. I’m spending one last night in Cusco before taking a bus to Copacabana, Bolivia to continue my South American journey.
A glacier coming off Ausangate.
Overall, Peru left an awesome impression on me. The country is stunning. The Andes are amazingly beautiful, and the perfect setting for a variety of action sports. The history is really cool. The people were, for the most part, very kind and outgoing. The food was surprisingly great. My only complaint is the amount of trash everywhere. For a culture that considers most things natural to be sacred, this was disappointing. I guess it could just be a developing country thing. If you plan on visiting Peru, be ready people to try and sell you touristy items at every turn. Some of the stuff is actually cool, but it’s a little tiring. Also, be ready to feel nervous in the car, as the roads are crazy. English is spoken in most places, and you can find internet everywhere. It’s easy to feel at home in Peru. I wish I had more time here. I didn’t get to explore Lima, or even find myself off the beaten path, as southern Peru is pretty touristy. However, I know I’ll be back. On to Bolivia!
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