Chivay to Cuzco - the 4000m-highlands

Back up to Patopampa at 4910m, this time by day and with some time to observe 8 volcanoes including the active and smoking Sabancaya. It's cold but a lady in traditional dress is there to sell me nice gloves - the highest purchase I've ever made. It might be the lack of oxygen but everything looks magical in the following hours through the Pampa de Toccra. Lots of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas (their wild cousin), plus some flamingoes and the yareta, a moss-like plant which grows 1mm per year and lives for several milennia. After a break above the huge Laguna de Langui the bus arrives in Cuzco - super hectic and touristy but after a(nother) amazing lama steak at local chef Marcelo Batata I'm starting to like the city.Read more