Although Cusco is lovely itself and the nature around is exquisite and you can take many tours from there to different gorgeous locations, most people still come here for mainly one reason - Macchu Picchu!
We were very excited for it as well but didn't want to do only that, so booked an adventurous 4-day jungle trek through Loki travel company.
56 km of downhill mountain biking, 11 km of 3/3,5 level river rafting, zip lining and the dodgiest suspension bridge, 30+ km walking/trekking in the mountains, a touch of ancient Inka trail, a cable car, hot springs and in the end of course Macchu Picchu itself. All the activities were adventurous and enjoyable, but rafting was by far the most fun. The locals you go with have great sense of humor and the water is very refreshing, what makes it especially great is that the river is quite full of rapids so you have to be alert all the time.
Biking was quite memorable as well, we started at the top of the highest point of our trip: 4350 m above sea level, it was cold as hell, snow on mountaintops, and raining cats and dogs. We got full body armor to look like teenage mutant ninja turtles or something other pretty badass. And then, off you go, all the way downhill on a road full of blind curves and crazy cars. On the second half of the road we also had to cross rivers. Quite literally, not on bridges but just drive through them full speed. We were soaking anyways so that was fine. As it had rained in the mountains the previous night, the rivers were larger and more forceful than usual, the most important thing was not to stop peddling as then the water could bring us and the bike with it. To reach the 1800 m above sea level and feel the warm breeze was heavenly and almost an unbelievable feeling. Only two people fell thanks to cars, but all were alive and happy in the end. That's what I call a death road, we didn't have to do the Bolivian one any more.
Traveling in South-America one just has to learn to let go. It is no use going after euro standards and safety measures as they just do not exist. Most vans, taxis and buses don't have (working) seatbelts, or boats life jackets, the roads on the edges of the highest cliffs don't have anything to stop the cars from going over, speed limits are optional, as are zebra crossings and traffic lights, buses like to drive on the opposite side of the road, especially in blind curves in the mountains as you can go faster that way, they just honk the horn to announce themselves, if nobody honks back it's cool. Also, this here is called a cable car!! It goes over a mountain river somewhere in the inca trail. It should have two people sitting on it at a time, but who has time to wait.. 4 is totally acceptable as well.
I'd really recommend the jungle trek to anyone who wants more than just walking through the ancient trails. Our guide was a bit strange sometimes and way toooo talkative, but a fun and caring person in general. Accommodation was nice, stayed two nights in lodges in the jungle and once in a hostel, food was amazing everywhere, mostly local and very diverse! Also, got extremely lucky with our group. Enjoyed the company that much that a day after returning from the trek we all met up for drinks and dinner and stayed out until 5am.
Part of the ancient Inca trail
Coca leaves!! Help against altitude or fatique, give energy.
Happy llamas
Beautiful thermal pools of Santa Teresa. So much better than in Baños, Ecuador.
Macchu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains (2430 m above sea level), above the Urubamba River valley. It's built in the 15th century and later abandoned and discovered again in 1911. Officially by an American historian Hiram Bingham but according to Peruvians by a local family. Macchu Picchu is voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world. And it is breathtaking
Aguas Calientes. A lovely little town to stay before going to Macchu. As the bridge to enter the area to start climbing the mountain opens at 5am, it is wise to wake up a bit before 4am and walk the half an hour down to the bridge to beat the crowds.
Because the stairs to Macchu Picchu weren't enough, we climbed the Macchu Picchu mountain as well. It was a lovely 2,5 hour walk up with lots of breaks and motivational talks amongst ourselves and with other trekkers.
People thought we're crazy as after 4 days of trekking, and the day after climbing around 15 000 steps of stairs at Macchu Picchu, we wanted to do Rainbow Mountain. To go to Macchu Picchu we had to wake up at 3.45 am, later the same day we got back to Cusco by 11pm, to go to Rainbow Mountain we had to set an alarm for 2.45 am. The Vinicunca peak of Rainbow Mountains is 5200 m above sea level and the hardest trek I have ever done, but the view is so worth it. Snowy peaks and glaciers all around and colourful valleys in the middle. You can get a horse instead of walking, but what nobody tells you is that all the uphill part you still have to walk beside the horse, and the last three hundred meters or so which is when you're at the 5000 meters high up and dying you anyways have to do yourself as it is too steep for the horse. So it really doesn't make much difference if you decide to ride or not, tho it is lovely to enjoy the most magnificent view whilst riding a horse between the never ending valleys and faraway snowy peaks. To book the trek I'd advise to just book on the street, ask around and get the cheapest price as in the end whatever you pay, you get the same. Our van was quite horrible but one of the most amusing rides I have been on. The rudest driving style combined with going over road holes and speed bumps like they don't exist. No seatbelts either, so imagine at 4am being in peaceful deep sleep, almost flying against the roof in every 15 minutes.
Just to mention, this amazing meal with a bowl of delicious soup costs less than 2 dollars at San Pedro market in Cusco, also the lovely ladies there sell fresh fruit juices so cheap and even offer you an extra glass. PS: it's also one of the cheapest places to buy peruvian souvenirs that because of the amazing patterns and colours you want to buy much more than you need.
I have loved everything about Peru with all my heart and will definitely return one day!
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