The Train to Machu Picchu
There are so many highlights, wonderful experiences and memories that I have from my visit. I developed a love of the Andes Mountain range during a visit to Chile, and this continued on my travels in Peru.
Arequipa is a beautiful city with the Andes Mountain range as a backdrop. Santa Catalina Monastery is a cloistered city within a city. Spanish in its style it has narrow cobbled streets, courtyards with flowers, fountains and trees and arches painted in terracotta and blue. Absolutely beautiful! At the Arequipa Museum we saw the Ice Maiden Juanita, an Inca Mummy of a girl aged 12-14 years who died around 1440. She is now preserved in a glass freezer and is displayed in museums worldwide. So we felt very fortunate that she was home when we were there!
On our way to Colca Canyon we stopped for lunch at the small town of Maca. The local people dressed in their Sunday best were celebrating a festival. We stayed to watch the parade and enjoy the colourful spectacle. Condors Cross in the valley is the place to see condors flying across the canyon. Spring is the time to get good sightings. The lodge is in a wonderful setting and the natural hot-springs have the best view.
We crossed the highest point on our tour on the road from Colca to Puno. The natural remedy for altitude sickness is to drink coca tea, to take a slow approach and to take long deep breaths as the air is very thin. It is an unusual feeling.
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and home to the Uros Indians who live on the floating islands made of reeds. It was interesting to see their way of life and visit the school, also built on reeds. My favourite part of the day was the visit to Taquile Island where we met a local family who entertained us, provided lunch and allowed us to buy some of their handicrafts.
The journey from Juliaca to Cuzco was fantastic and the best way to travel is by train on the Andean Explorer. 10 hours on what is understandably rated as the second best train journey in the world. The scenery changed dramatically from the snow-capped mountains to valleys and plains where you can see alpaca and llama. The glass walled Observation car, the pisco sour drinks and the local musicians made it a most enjoyable day.
The historic city of Cuzco was our next stop. There are many Inca ruins nearby – we went to Sacsayhuman. In the Sacred Valley we visited the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo and the colourful Indian market at Pisac. Jewellery and blankets amongst the bargains there. Dinner at the Monasterio Hotel, Cuzco was a wonderful formal affair. The hotel is owned by the Orient Express group.
When you think of Peru you think of Machu Picchu. We had travelled the length of the country and had waited for what most of us felt was our reason to come on the trip. The journey on the Vistadomes train with its panoramic windows and glass ceiling allows you to take in a 180 degree view of the scenery as you climb. Marvel at the scenery and even spot the more adventurous tourists walking the Inca Trail, a four day hike.
The pretty town of Aguas Calientes is where you take the coach journey up through the jungle to the site. Having got our passport stamped we proceeded to walk to the first view point. And WOW! My first sighting of the Lost City of the Incas gave me goose-bumps. I had seen so many photos of the ruins, but for it to sit there in front of me was overwhelming. On a picture it is very flat. However, there you are completely surrounded by the lush green peaks and the city sits in the middle of it. A great finale to what was a wonderful trip.
So, what is normally a 17 day tour was squeezed into 10 days! And they were the most amazing 10 days! I can’t wait to return, and I know I will……I still have to share my wonderful experiences in Peru with my husband. Next time I will definitely go for longer!