Friday around 07:30 a.m. our trip, the Inka Jungle Tour, started. It was the most reasonably priced tour we found for Machu Picchu. Alone the entrance fee is about $60.- Not included are the transfer and a guide. For our 4-Day-Trip, which we extended by one additional night, we paid $187.- per head. Included were a bike tour, rafting, the Inka Trail, a visit to the hot springs, Zip-Linig and Machu Picchu including a guide. We were picked up from our hostel. Then we drove around Cusco for another hour picking up the others. After that it took another hour to pick up the bikes and off we were with 1h delay... Who gives...
After 3h transit we were at the starting point of the bike tour, close to Abra Malaga at about 4300m.
The safety equipment seemed a little excessive to me... To make up for it the bikes were really crappy. I had a downhill bike with a very low saddle and no, I couldn't make it any higher. Also I was unable to change gears and it was stuck in the highest gear. Who cares, it was supposed to go down hill for about 2500m :D
After about 30min we'd reached the first stop and I found out that some of use really needed the safety gear... Already in the first 180 degree turn one of the group decided to take the straight line. Lukily for him/her there was a rock wall instead of an abyss.
Shortly before we reached our goal of Alfamayo the road went flat and we had head wind. This meant that I had to peddle standing up, my poor thighs. But then again, my butt hurt so this was actually an advantage. From Alfamayo we took to bus to our hostals in Santa Maria.
After a skimpy lunch there was a minor mutiny. Then we found out that instead of 15 persons per group we were supposed to be 24 which lead to another mutiny :)
Around 05:00 p.m. we then went white water rafting on Rio Urubamba, nice :)
Saturday, 26. May 2018
On Saturday we did the Inka Trail. We hiked from Santa Maria to the hot springs close to Santa Teresa. Right at the start we saw an old part of Santa Maria which had been destroyed by a flood some years ago. The river bed is about 10m below street level and the river is quite wide at this point.
On the Inka Trail we also saw a plant which is rather small in our parts, Christmas Roses!!! They grow up to 4m tall and don't only blossom during Christmas :)
On the way we stopped at the Monkey House. Of course there weren't only monkeys there...
But also coatis and any number of local products for sampling. Chocolate beans, coffee, chocolate, fruits and of course Inka Tequila with a snake in the bottle...
Also some parrots were there, however they couldn't fly any more...
Then on we went through the Andes exactly as I'd imagined them.
Over bridges which probably have been used already by the Inkas at least judging by their state...
We also had a little bit of adventure on the way :D
At the end we came to the hot springs and just like at home they had any number of rules to observe. Especially the "no swimming" rule was funny as not every one of us was able to stand on the bottom of the pools :D
After the hot springs we took the bus for the last kilometers to Santa Teresa.
Sunday, 27. May 2018
Sunday started with Zip-Lining, that was fun.
Afterwards we had lunch. Then we walked along the rails to Aguas Calientes. There all the visitors to Machu Picchu spend the night.
Monday, 28. May 2018
On Monday everybody had to get up at 04:00 a.m. to go to Machu Picchu. For all but the five people who booked an additional night and didn't want to get up at the nick of dawn and storm the mountain with a crowd of people :)
So we slept in and then were on our way around 09:00 a.m. hiking up to Machu Picchu. And after 30 years I was finally up there, wow, what a great feeling. Actually I only went to South America for Machu Picchu. So now the obligatory part is over the rest of my trip is free. From now on it'll only be beaches and palm trees :D
From left to right are Petra, Severin, I and Tobi.
And in this group we would have been if we'd have started out together with all the others in the morning... Stupid...
We came along this valley...
Tuesday, 29. May 2018
Tuesday we went back to Cusco via Hidroelectrica. That's where all the busses leave for Cusco. There are only two ways to Machu Picchu. Either by train which is expensive as heck or by a 6h bus ride...
I'll spare you the details of the chaos on the way back. We arrived in Cusco shortly before 10:00 p.m. Then we went to the supermarket and then the party started because Tobi and Petra would leave for Lima on the 31st. With a little luck we'll see each other again in Colombia. At 06:00 a.m. I finally went to bed :)
That was the end of a great trip.
Obituary
Unfortunately there's not only good news...
In the rush to get out of the bus I forgot my cap :| Even multiple calls to the bus company didn't yield any result.
So with a heavy heart I say goodbye to my beloved cap.
We had a great time together :'(
