Peru: land of the Incas
Trip Start
Nov 17, 2009
1
7
Trip End
Ongoing
Vilcabamba, Loja, Ecuador
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A quick suggestion of change of plans by Shay and that night we're on (yet another) night bus to Ica. Straight of the bus we 're hassled into Huacachina. Sandboarding is muchly fun ripping around on the dune buggy and flying down the dunes on our boards as we give up trying to stand and race down on our stomachs. A brief moment of panic when our helpful guide forgets to tell us when and how to stop and we see Shay fly in the air and disappear over the edge of the second dune. Luckily although bumped and bruised she is ok and on we go.
A quick stop in Nazca we see the faint outline of the infamous lines and another change of plans and we split ways and Frankie and I head to huanchaco, up past Lima to the coast. The town is quiet and as luck has it we catch some rain. A couple of days of Westerness with KFC and 3D Avatar and I'm off solo again to Huaraz. Huaraz is beautiful! Within the mountain some hikes are in order. A day hike to Laguna 69 is amazing! Our ending point is a bright blue lake with streams of water down the rockiness above and snow capped mountains above that. Que linda! A less strenuous hike the next day leads up through some nearby villages to some small ruins.
Onwards again to Cajamarca for Carnaval. Being some of the few gringoes around we are continually waterbombed/bucketed/pistolled. I seem to be prime target despite walking around with white, tall, Swedish boys! The plaza is hugely crowded with Peruvians of a night though they all seem to stand around in groups drumming and drinking. The next day is paint day.. where groups of mainly kids wander around town splashing paint everywhere... over cars, each other, shops.. with flags and drums.. crazy! The highlight is the parade which amazing costumes. Mid way it starts absolutely pouring but the performers keep on and the spectators whip out ponchos and umbrellas.
Chachapoyus is for the pre-incan ruins of Kuelap and the worlds third highest waterfall of Gocta. The ruins are slowly revealed to us as our guide explains how each were used. The hike to Gocta is nice, and the base of the waterfall is amazing with our rain jackets we still get soaked from the spray. A quick stop in Chiclayo and I'm off to Mancora. Touristy party beach town it is... so nice to laze around. There's not too much to do except beach, lay by the pool, eat good food and drink! Have much fun with our gossipy dorm of all girls :)
So here I am in Ecuador in Vilcabamba the most chilled place. Am having a resty and sticking around a bit to try and work on my Espanol and do a little volunteering. Have down some beautiful hikes, wandering along mountain ledges and a bit of a Shaman medicine ritual. All is good and amazing.. have been told great things about the rest of Ecuador and Columbia so looking forward to moving on!
Miss you all.. do update me on home life :)
Oh and seem to have misplaced my camera cord so photos will hopefully be coming soon though.
