Puno and The Inca Trail to Machu Pichu, Peru

Our afternoon tour in Puno was interesting. We went to visit the floating islands of the Uros. Traditionally, they build themselves Islands out of reeds on which a few families will live. Every ten years or so, the islands have to be replaced so that they do not break apart. And if neighbours have issues with each other, they can just cut the island in two and float away. Traditionally, the ain industry of the Uros was not touris (surprise surprise). While they still live on the islands, they have become so tourist in parts that it is hard to imagine how they once lived. Along with the very interesting reed islands they live on, they have constructed jiant reed animals, boats, and monuments, walk around in traditional clothing, and sing to tourists as they pass. While it was all very friendly and cute, I personally found the level of tourism disconcerting. I don´t regret visiting the islands, and enjoyed myself, but have mixed feelings about the experience.

The next day we caught the bus to Cuzco, which is a beautiful and relaxing (though expensive city). We spent the first evening and day there walking around and buying stuff for our four day trek of the Inca trail, so didn´t see many of the sites until aftter the trek was over.

On November 18th, we started our Inca trail adventure. The Inca trail is a hiking route that principally follows old Inca roads up and down mountain passes and past Inca ruin sites before reaching Machu Pichu, the most impressive Incan site in South America. The first day was relatively relaxed. We saw some cacti and nice views and an incan site before reaching camp.

The second day was when the pain started. It was pretty much a day long, high altitude climb to go through a 4200 ish meter mountain pass. Plus, it was raining. Along the way, we passed through a lovely forested area. We were near the last in the group to reach the summit, but it worked out for the best. Because of the bad weather, most of the group just got to the top and kept walking. However, the rain stopped and the clouds parted jsut as we reached the top, so we got a great view of the road we had just travelled, as well as the road to come. It was then about an hour hike down to the campsite, which was not very tiring, but was hard on the knees.

The third day was the longest, and also the prettiest. It was raining in the morning, but cleared up pretty quickly. We passed a couple of Incan sites and a waterfall and passed through Incan tunnels while walking along a 90% original incan road. We climbed back up to a second mountain pass, but it was not nearl as hard as the first day. Plus, the views along the way were spectacular and the weather was great. We descended to the third campsite, situated next to Incan terraces and an old temple. Just as we entered camp, we saw a pair of toucans up close! Maybe one day you can tou.

That night, there was a terrific thunderstorm, which was powerful enough that our guides commented on how strong and unusual it was. we were cozy and dry in our tents, but unfortunately, the same can´t be said for at least one of our porters. Porters were situated at each end of the campsite to guard the tents from other unsavoury groups (it was a crowded campsite). I didn´t hear it, but Evelyn said she could hear the poor porter singing to himself and whimpering as the rain and thunder beat down on him.

The last day consisted of a short but magnificent walk the rest of the way to Machu Pichu. While it was cloudy to start, the clouds rose just as we were resting at the sun gate, the furthest point from which you can see Machu Pichu on the trail. They stayed away long enough for us to get soe great panoramic photos closer to the site, but it started to rain again literally as we were entering the site itself. It didn´t stop the whole time we were at Machu Pichu, but I still enjoyed the tour of the large and well preserved Incan village. By then end of it though, everyone was pretty drenched, and headed back to the town of Aguas Calientes pretty early. We spent the afternoon relaxing in ome hot springs (the rain had cleared), and the took the train back to Cuzco, where we collapsed exhausted after a rewarding four day experience.