"Peru, home of the Incas and more." a Peru Travel Page by lyntraveller

After having been in South America for 5 weeks I arrived in Lima to start an 18 day trip with GAP. I had 3 days alone before the trip and was lucky an American couple were doing the same so I tagged along with them. We hired a driver and he took us all over. After meeting the group our first day we flew to Puno and the next day went by boat across Lake Titicaca to Taquile Island where we had lunch and then to Amantani Island where we spent the night with a local family. Unlike the rest of Peru they don't eat their guinea pigs, they use them for diagnosing illness. We spent some time on one of the uros floating reed islands, and this was a strange experience for more than one reason. Walking on the foot deep spongy reeds takes some getting used to, and seeing people inside a reed hut with a satellite dish on the roof watching TV. We spent time at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but we were all just waiting to start the Inca Trail. The first day was sunny, and it was non stop rain after that with hail on the two high passes. I felt my fingers would drop off with cold, sometimes it was very slippery and we may spend half a day going up very steep steps and half a day going down very steep steps. There were no showers and we slopped around in the mud at the camp sites, we froze. The altitude made breathing difficult so your muscles didn't work as well. Most of the time it was cloudy so we didn't get to see much of the scenery. When we finally arrived at Machu Picchu we were exhausted and had to find the energy to wander around this fascinating, amazing site. Would I do it again? no way. Was it worth it? you bet.

From Machu Picchu we went by bus to Aguas Calientes for a well deserved meal, and then the 4 hour train journey to Cusco. Needless to say we were all stiff for 4 days or more, and even the kerb was difficult! Cusco is very interesting, but sad to see Catholic churches on top of Inca sites that they demolished. Going to the Museum we hired a guide, and found out a lot about the tragedy of the Spanish attempting to vanquish these people. I left the group and flew to Puerto Maldonado for 5 days in the Tambopata area. I stayed at Posadas Amozanas for 2 nights and the only way to get there is by canoe. Then further up the river to the Tambopata Research centre, where we learned about the work that is going on to save the magnificent macaws. What an amazing experience, going in the dark to the clay lick and waiting for sunrise and then the sound of these beautiful birds approaching and circling before descending to eat the clay.