Wonders of South America

December 2014 - January 2015
A 41-day adventure by Billy Oaks
  • 22footprints
  • 3countries
  • 41days
  • 86photos
  • 0videos
  • 7.7kkilometers
  • 5.3kkilometers
  • Arriving in Lima

    December 6, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    What a long day today 13 hours from Brisbane to LA and then another 9 hours to Lima. We certainly tried not to sleep that much to get used to the difference in time. it sort of worked but it took a toll on our bodies , anyway we are finally in Lima and being greeted by my mum and brothers was really comforting..Read more

  • Day 2

    Huaca Pucllana and Larcomar

    December 8, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    In the morning we went to the "Huaca Pucllana" just around the block from our unit. At 12 soles per adult and 1 sol per kids the price is ridicously cheap for what you get, an hours guided tour including walking on top of the main pyramid, definitely not to be missed.

    In the afternoon we went to Miraflores looking for souvenirs and enjoying excellent ocean vistas from Larcomar. This relatively small shopping centre is located on a cliff, facing the Pacific Ocean, the views are simply amazing. There are some good eateries and other retails.

    Jet lag over, we will spend some time with friends and relatives in the next few days before heading to Cusco and Macchu Pichu next week......until then
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  • Day 11

    Arriving in Cusco....bloody soroche

    December 17, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Early start today, 5:30am pick up from our unit in Miraflores to Lima Airport. Cold morning this time of the year in Lima but at least traffic was ok.

    Our plane was on time, Star Peru didn't let us down and 9am we arrived in the old capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco !!!

    It helped taking the soroche pills 30 minutes before getting on the plane, however by 2pm I was starting to feel the soroche. My wife wanted to do some souvenir shopping so we went to the local markets. By 5 pm I was starting to feel bad so we went back to the hotel and had some Coca Tea and biscuits.........

    Tomorrow we will rest in the morning and then start exploring the city.....Can't wait
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  • Day 12

    Cusco city tour

    December 18, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today we got up early and went to visit Cusco's main square with its Spanish Churches and The fountain featuring an Inca. Then we went up "Calle del Triunfo" to see The famous 12 angle stone In The Hatun Rumiyoc street, luckily a local bloke showed us around for 5 soles so he took us to see two stones formations on the wall one depicting a Puma and the other one a snake, these walls were part of the main lnka Palace

    Time to visit the modern Part of Cusco, for just 5 soles a taxi took us to "Real Plaza" , a modern shopping centre on "Avenida de la Cultura", apparently This area is becoming Increasingly popular amongst locals . My wife couldn't resist to do some shopping and later on we ended up having lunch at the food court.

    We went back to the hotel and at 1:30pm we were picked up for the city tour ; after going around town collecting People the first stop was the impressive Koricancha, our tour guide Julio was really knowledgeable and did his best to show us around. We learnt about Inca's mythology and also their achievements in astronomy. The walls were also built with huge stones wider at the base so it coped with earthquakes , something not uncommon in this part of the world,

    Leaving Koricancha we headed to The Sacsaywaman fortress although later on we learnt it was more a sort of religious complex, we spent some time here taking photos and exploring this rather large structure, at the exit gate we had some photo opportunity with local ladies and their llamas.

    Next stop was Qenko, another religious complex much, much smaller than Sacsayhuaman but used as a ceremony temple where Inka kings were mummified .

    From Qenko we went to Pukapukara, at this point of time we could feel the 3,800 masl so we avoid the walking and have photos at the entrance.

    the last ruin visited today was Tambomachay, a construction used to collect water from the mountains , it was required to walk some 400m to get to the ruins so Yova and Ximena stayed in the bus.I got some photo with a pack of llamas & then went back to the bus gasping for air.

    the last stop of the tour was an alpaca wool factory, we didn't bother to get out of the bus.

    Back in Cusco and the rain starts. it took us at least 10 minutes to get a cab as it seemed to us that every Cusqueño was rushing to go home.

    End of our first day touring around tomorrow we are heading to the Sacred Valley
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  • Day 13

    At the Sacred Valley of the Incas

    December 19, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today we visited The sacred Valley of the Incas. The tour operator picked us up at 8:40am and after going around hundreds of hotels collecting enthusiastic bodies we were finally leaving Cusco at around 9am

    We climbed up the same undulating road that took us to Tambomachay yesterday and after passing the highest point on the road our first stop was a small village called Corao, the bus took us to a handicraft market where travellers were able to use the restrooms, not without first snapping a shot with a small herd of Llamas.

    Continuing the descend to the Sacred Valley the next (short) stop was at a lookout in Taray where we had some really good shots of the valley and the Urubamba river down below.

    Once in Pisac, we went across town and via a winding road we ascended to the ruins of an agricultural complex, more impressive than the old buildings were the terraces built on the side of the hill. These were used to create micro climates to be able to grow different types of crops. Being a civil engineering I cannot stop admiring this defeat of engineering.

    We spent close to an hour in Pisac before heading North to the town of Urubamba where a revitalising lunch awaited us. The road from Pisac to Urubamba was seeded with colourful towns where "chicha" (a corn based alcoholic beverage) was on the menu along with roasted Guinea Pig.....yummy

    Our buffet lunch was tailored for "gringos", salads, chicken, pasta etc, etc. we missed an opportunity to try some local dishes.

    After lunch another 30 minutes on the road we arrived in Ollantaytambo village, getting into town was slow as there is only one lane 2-way access road. After going through the main square and a bridge the bus dropped us at the impressive Ollantaytambo fortress.

    This ruin posed a real challenge as it is required to climb around 250 steps to get to the top where there are some ceremonial altars. I struggled big time but eventually made it to the top, across the valley our tour guide showed us two faces that may have been carved on a hill (the angry and the Inca faces). We also visited a temple dedicated to water.

    Leaving the ruin we spent some time in the handicraft market.

    Our last stop of the day was Chincheros, unfortunately the rain started half way between Ollantaytambo and Chincheros so we couldn't visit the ruins, instead we stopped at a local workshop where we were shown how colourful textiles are prepared.

    The trip from Chincheros back to Cusco went for around an hour due to heavy traffic and the intense rain.

    Tomorrow we are going to Macchu Pichu, that got to be the highlight of our trip
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  • Day 14

    Machu picchu

    December 20, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Day 4 in Cuzco , time to visit the worldwide famous Macchu Pichu.

    Our day started with an early breakfast and at 7: 15 am our dear friend Omar came to pick us up. 30 minutes later we were m Pony station waiting for our train to M.P.

    The train left on time and the overall trip to M. P. was 3h 30 m. the service On the Vistadome was pretty good, including some yummy refreshments and information about towns we were crossing along the way.

    The only stop on the way was at Ollantaytambo, 2 hours from our departure time. From there it took us another 90 min to arrive to Aguas Calientes.

    The area around this train station was a huge souvenir market, we avoided it this time and rushed through to get to the bus stop as it looked like it was going to rain and we wanted to at least have the classic M.P. photo taken.

    After asking for some directions we arrived to the bus stop and 100 soles later we were along the winding road climbing up to the majestic ruins. The time, close to Noon.

    Our train tickets included buffet lunch at the Macchu Pichu hotel adjacent to the ruins, we were hungry but considering the weather we opted for ruins and photos rather than lunch, the restaurant was open till 3pm anyhow, excitement was taking over us.

    We followed the tips in my Loneny Planet guide and headed straight for the Lookout to get tge classic photo we see in magazines, TV, etc. The access was challenging but it paid off as the views from the look out were superb.

    After hundreds of photos, laughs and llama hugging we started to explore the ruins, again my book guide came in pretty handy.

    We first visited the Temples sector including the 3-window temple and the Intihuatana, then we went to the Main Plaza and down to the housing sector. We were at the Condor altar when oopss I started to have cramps in my leg. I did some last effort to reach the Circular Tower but that was the end of me. Unable to walk properly I left the girls to keep exploring while I started the torturous way back to the Main Entrance.

    45 minutes later and punished by pain I arrived, so did the girls later on. After getting a M.P. stamp in our passports we went to the Sanctuary Lodge restaurant for lunch. The buffet was great and gave me time to recover.

    After lunch we took the bus down to Aguas Calientes and spent the last half an hour in the handicraft market, my leg was OK but I didn't want push myself so I just took it easy.

    At 5:20pm we were already in the "Vistadome" starting our journey back to Cusco.

    The staff on board put up a fashion show offering alpaca clothing at astronomic rates, which some Chinese dudes were prepared to pay.

    As soon as we arrived in Poroy I realized that the hours on the train had worsened my leg so with the help of the girls I made it to Omar's taxi and then back to Cusco. Omar dropped us a pharmacy were they gave me some powerful painkillers, I decided to rest and see what the the day would bring us tomorrow.........on our way to Puno
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  • Day 15

    From Cusco to Puno

    December 21, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Day 5 of this trip , another early start as we were taking a 7 am bus to Puno. Our dear friend Omar picked us up one last time and dropped us at the bus terminal . At 7 am sharp we were leaving Cusco on the Inkaexpress.

    The first stop along the route was at Andahuaylillas were there is a 16th century church that locals consider as the sixtine chapel of the Americas due to the magnificient paints on the walls and roof. Outside the church there were some handicraft street vendor with some ridicously cheap prices, some half of what we paid in Cusco.

    Next stop was at Chupecupe, an small village where we had the chance to cross an old Inca bridge made of ropes before attending to a music session by the local chore of children.

    Leaving this village our next stop was Raqchi, where we visited an old temple built by the Incas in honour to their god called Wiracocha. More souvenir shopping by my wife.

    The fourth stop was for lunch in a village called Marangani, it was close to Noon so considering the early start it was hard to stop people from leaving the bus in a rush. Buffet lunch was Peruvian style but nice, also a local band was playing some folk music, overall a good experience.

    After lunch and some time for a nap (or shopping if you ask my wife) we travelled 20 minutes to "La Raya", which at 4,300masl was the highest point along the route. Plenty of photo opportunity with alpacas and snowy peaks and for my wife shopping, shopping and more shopping......

    An hour and 20 minutes later we arrived to our last stop before Puno, another small village called Pucara, here we visited the local museum and check the typical souvenir of this area, a little bull called "torito de Pucara", plenty of them on sell.[PHOTO_ID_R=pucara-s-toritos.jpg]

    The last leg of the trip took some hour and 40 minutes and passed the much bigger city of Juliaca before arriving in Puno and some impressive vistas of Lake Titicaca.

    At 5pm we left the bus terminal and headed to our hotel that with its 10 floor and restaurant was a well deserved place to rest after such a long day. Dinner was with grilled trout an coca tea....

    Time to rest now
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  • Day 16

    Uros islands

    December 22, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This morning we visited the floating villages of Uros. The tour operator picked us up at 9:15 although we had been told to be seedy at 8:30am, at the end we had to rush to get to the boat.

    this Uros island are located 20 minutes from mainland and are made of "Totora" reed , from a species of grass that grows in the lake . A local lady resident of the islands gave us an explanation about their way of life, how the islands were built and how important this "Totora'' was for them.

    After this we have 30 minutes to explore the island on our own and buy souvenirs, unfortunately Yovanna started to feel really bad , perhaps she ate too much last night .

    To travel to the next island we had the chance to go on "Mercedez Benz", at least that's the way locals called a "totora" boat carved with snakes. This second island was more like a commercial hub with shops and a restaurant ,at this point in time Yovanna was really struggling so she was given a special tea with plenty of leaves.

    The boat took us back to mainland and we rushed to the hotel where Yovanna had some rest.

    After Some deserved lunch with grilled trout and alpaca steak, we headed North to Sillustani, a by area with lost of burial structures and surrounded by a late Just 25 minutes from Puno. This structures are really big and were built to keep the mummies of some kings from Pre-inca times.

    Back in Puno, Yovanna was still sick (she did not go to Sillustani) So we left her alone and did Some souvenir shopping had dinner and caught up with Facebook.
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  • Day 17

    Last day in Puno

    December 23, 2014 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    No much to say, We went to the lakeside markets, did some last minute souvenir shopping, then got some pictures with the lake (the water was so green due to algae), we pass one last time by "La Hacienda", our favorite restaurant in town and then we were picked up at 10:45 am and were talking to the airport in Juliaca not before crossing this city that has little to offer to tourist.

    Our plane was on time so at 1:30 pm we were crossing the skies on our way back to Lima.

    Time to celebrate Xmas and the arrival of 2015.

    The second leg of this trip will take us to the tango and samba capitals and we will get soaked at the Iguazu falls.........until then
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