Peru: People and Places
Our month-long trip to Peru in October fulfilled our dream of seeing Machu Picchu, a World Heritage site, and we were delighted to discover that Peru has much more to offer than "just" Machu Picchu.
We flew to Lima and spent a few days in Miraflores until it was time to join the Road Scholar group, our traveling companions for about two weeks. I was a bit apprehensive about a group tour because we are used to traveling independently. Our concerns were allayed as soon as we began to meet the members of our group, a delightful assortment of retired folks from all over the USA. We enjoyed the "group" experience so much that we plan to undertake another Road Scholar adventure, possibly to China and/or Africa in the next year or so.
So on to the highlights of Peru...
After the orientation in Lima, we flew to Chiclayo in northern Peru the following day. Our visit to the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum was an amazing experience. Our group was warmly welcomed at a local school. We were entertained by the children who made me realize how fortunate school children in the US are, despite budget cuts and diminishing resources. Our public schools have so much to offer in comparison.
From Chiclayo, we traveled by bus to Trujillo. On the way, we stopped at the Sipan museum and archeological site. We had lunch of typical cuisine at a hacienda in Paijan where we saw a demonstration of beautiful Peruvian Paso horses with their flawless gait. The Trujillo leg included a visit to the temple of the Sun and the Moon and a tour of the huaca (temple) at Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and another World Heritage site.
Then it was time to fly back to Lima for a tour of the Larco Museum , a definitely worthwhile stop with its many interesting exhibits, including one of erotic sculptures and ceramics from ancient Peruvian cultural groups. In preparation for Machu Picchu, we attended a lecture on pre-Columbian Inca culture given by a Peruvian archeologist.
Of course, the most anticipated segment was the visit to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu which was next. The group flew from Lima to Cusco, a beautiful city nestled in the Andes at about 11,000 feet. Fortunately, we stayed two nights in Yucay, in the Sacred Valley. The elevation was "only" 9,000 feet so that helped us acclimate to the higher Cusco elevation.
On the third day in the Sacred Valley, it was time to visit Machu Picchu. From Yucay we drove to Ollantaytambo to board the train to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. At Aguas Calientes, we boarded a shuttle bus to the ruins. The road to the sanctuary is narrow with many serpentine switchbacks, and it is about a 45-minute drive.
Machu Picchu is one of those places that when you visit in person, you realize photos cannot adequately convey the beauty and splendor of this awe-inspiring sanctuary. It is simply worth while to see it for yourself. It was breathtaking... because of its altitude and majesty.
After our stay in Aguas Calientes, the group was off to Cusco where we spent about three days. We said good bye to the Road Scholars who left for Lima and we continued on to Lake Titcaca, the highest navigable alpine lake in the world at 12,500 feet above sea level. To get to our destination, we took the Andean Explorer train across the Peruvian altiplano to Puno, a large city on the lake. This journey took about 9 hours and provided incredible vistas of the high plains and mountains.
The side trip to Puno and Lake Titcaca was amazing. We took a boat to the floating reed islands of Uros (population 1,500) and then continued to Taquile Island. Alex was able to bird-watch to his heart's content and captured at least 100 species on camera during the entire trip. Watch for a future post on the birds of Peru.
After our adventure here, it was time to return to Lima for about four days. We spent our time taking in the sights, talking to the locals, sampling the delicious Peruvian cuisine, exploring the zoo, and just having fun. Alex spent one day birding at a marsh south of Lima, Pantanos de Villa. We left this beautiful country with thoughts of returning in the near future.
~ Lisa
Posted by Sage Travelers at November 22, 2010 
Categories: South America, Live and Learn, World Heritage Site
Categories: South America, Live and Learn, World Heritage Site
I loved reading all about your wonderful trip and can't wait to read about your other adventures.
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