The Land of Incas has Intrigued Many Around the World and So Were We.
With a bit of skepticism and oodles of spirit of adventure our group of 4 ladies, set aside on this adventure trip about 2 weeks to visit Peru. Arjan of ‘Getupandgo adventures’tailored custom package tour a hectic schedule for us and amply guided us on various aspects of our customized package tour itinerary.
Our first port of call was Lima…. A very vibrant young city. The Spanish influence on the architecture of old buildings is impressive.
The town of Cusco is picturesque surrounded by mountains all around. Several cups of locally brewed ‘coca tea’ (was complimentary at hotel Eco Inn) kept altitude sickness at bay.
Machu Pichhu..it’s locale, the terrain, it’s discovery by Hiram Bingham after about 100 years of it being abandoned evokes a sense of awe and mystique. The stone walls erected with help of rudimentary tools, sans cement and mortar intrigues every visitor. As there is not much chronicled about this era of the Incas…it only heightens the mystery that surrounds the Inca civilization. Loads of water and sun block can prove to be handy while walking around the Lost city.
We took a train journey to Machu Picchu however there is a hiking tour option also…
A three hour upstream boat ride on the Tambopata river brought us to Tambopata national reserve. An eco friendly resort.. with no doors to the room/bathroom….it’s just curtains…..shocks you at the first instance. The bedroom is open on one side to the jungle but well sheltered from rain and sunshine. Limited access to power which is available only at the lounge.. just about enough to charge the camera .
All candles/lamps/bulbs are turned off by 9.30pm. Every rustle/creaking noise/ human snores could make you jump out of your skin on the first night…it gets better after that! The 2 hrs jungle hiking tour with Wellingdons on, through the slush identifying the flora and fauna of the jungle is time well spent in experiencing something close to an Amazonian forest.
Nazca lines was next on our itinerary, which brought us to the sleepy town of Paracas . To witness this sight entails a short flight in one of the small planes. These planes hover around the various geolyphs and tilt 45 degrees on either side to enable the pax seated on single seats on either side to see. While it is a great sight to behold, the constant tilting of the plane can make the stomach churn and can prove to a nauseating experience at best!
A short ride by speed boat brought us to Ballestas island. It is largely composed of rock formations and is home to sea lions, penguins, blue footed booby bird etc. A word of advice…please carry a hat/cap to cover your head as there are large number of birds flying all around!
Our tour of Peru had us travel by every mode of transport. It was a great experience as the logistics was well organized. The staff we interacted with were extremely polite and friendly. A personal touch was added with Arjan organizing for a b’day cake for one of the members of the group. A memorable holiday and an adventure trip we will always cherish….thank you Arjan and Getupandgo adventures.
