PERU'S RECIPE
Preparation time:
48 days on spot, or 4195 kms travelled
Cooking time:
107 hours and 30 minutes spent in 51 different transports
Ingredients:
1 train
8 bus
2 boats
9 colectivos
4 minibus
1 maxi-buggy
20 taxis
1 mini-buggy
2 tuk-tuks
1 scooter
2 sandboards
Seasonings:
1 hostile arrival in Lima
4 days & 3 nights of autonomous trekking with:
11 kilos each on our backs
1 endless beginning & 1 endless end under a beating sun
4 super hard calves
1 (almost) fire disaster because of our first campfire
15 sandflies stings we can scratch until blood
1 panic attack because of a lack of air at 4750m of altitude
3 frozen nights
6 packs of dehydrated noodles
3 lagoons expeditions accompanied by:
1 altitude sickness
1 climbing session
unbelievable landscapes
2 packages (our Dominiques) arrived from France for 3 weeks here
1 pyjama party
1 bottle of water opened like a geyser in a night bus
3000 photo stops for Dodo
28 piscos
3 days in the desert including:
1 crossing of the Paracas reserve with mini-buggies
4 dunes descents in prone positions & heads first
1 night in an eco tent
7750 steps in the biggest monastery of the world
2 hours in the hot springs of a canyon to relax ourselves
4 alpaga/lama dishes
2 homestays at the Titicaca Lake, involving:
1000 shelled beans
Almost the same number of potatoes eaten
8 traditional costumes tried on
A lot of love and laughs shared
4 extremely early wake-ups at:
2AM to avoid roadblocks
4AM to hike (x2)
5AM to reach the Machu Picchu after a difficult ascent
166 kilometers by scooter
1 degustation of beers
1 of the 7 wonders of the world visited, including:
3 hours of walk on a train track
2 risky tunnel passages
1900 steps climbed up and ran down
2h of exploration under a sunny sky
1 Peruvian cooking class involving:
1h of shopping & discoveries at the San Pedro Mercado
50 shakes of shakers, including 1 too much for Dodo
4 preparations to reproduce at home
1 hasty departure at 10PM after a long day of excursion (4h-20h)
30 doliprans & 150 coca leaves to counter the altitude sickness
Method (overview):
LIMA
Surviving the chaotic atmosphere of a polluted, crowded & inegal city
Getting aware about the cause of homeless children through a humanitarian mission (to be found HERE)
HUARAZ & THE CORDILLERA BLANCA
Carrying out the Santa Cruz trek (4 days/3 nights) in complete autonomy
Hiking to some of the country's most beautiful lagunas (Lagunas 69, Churup & Churupita)
PARACAS & HUACACHINA
Piloting mini-buggys to discover the Paracas national reserve
Chilling at the Huacachina oasis
Getting down the Ica desert's dunes with a maxi-buggy & sandboards
AREQUIPA
Visiting the colonial city and finding back colourful landmarks
Exploring the biggest monestary in the world (Monasterio Santa Catalina)
Feasting ourselves at the mercado of San Camilo
CAÑON DEL COLCA
Accessing to the most beautiful miradors to look for condors
Bathing in the hot springs of Yanque
LAKE TITICACA
Sleeping at homestays on the islands of Amantani &Lacchón
Enriching ourselves from the Quechuan and Aymaran cultures
Reaching the lake's most beautiful point of views
CUZCO & SURROUNDINGS
Scrolling the paved streets of the ancient inca capital
Buying way too many souvenirs
Taking a cooking class
Doing a one-day excursion to visit the Humantay lagoon
Contemplating the rainbow mountain of Palccoyo, a less touristy alternative but as beautiful as Vinicunca
SACRED VALLEY
Renting a scooter for a 3-day road-trip
Getting amazed at the craftsmanship and the textile know-how of the women of the village of Chinchero
Visiting the archeological site of Ollantaytambo
Getting lost in the little streets of the same town
Admiring the endless Maras' salines
Observing the inca terasses of Moray
Trying the artisanal beers of a local microbrewery
Participating at a ceramic class at Seminario in Urubamba
MACHU PICCHU & SURROUNDINGS
Relaxing in the thermal baths of Santa Teresa
Marveling at one of 7 wonders of the world, apotheosis of our trip through the country
The bill (for 2): 2003€
Positive feedback:
The diversity of landscapes (deserts, mountains, jungles, canyons, lakes, lagoons, colonial cities...)
The warmth of Peruvians
The very good value for money
The ease to travel
The sites that are unique in the world
Negative feedback:
A country victim of its success, very touristy and full of French people!
The corruption and bad resources management of the government
The scams in the region of Cusco
The inconsistency of the sanitary conditions
The lack of heaters in hotels (very cold during the night)
To go further and see the full details of this recipe, it's HERE !
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