Basically just lots of hiking in Peru

Due to logistical problems, please scroll to the bottom and work your way up. It will make much more sense.


Mountain views on the Lares.

View from the pass. (Lares).

But with so many alpacas. They're just so furry. We spent a good 15 minutes sitting and laughing about alpaca-llama furriness. See the brown alpaca for material. (We probably found this far too amusing given lack of oxygen (4400m)). (Lares).

Needing to get away from tourist-central Cusco and Machu Picchu, we went on a 3-day trek into the Lares Valley. Our first day was marred by a bout of food-related stomach issues. But the second day provided better health and views sans tourists.

Disclaimer: more sarcasm heading your way.

Ahh, the lovely view of the Incan ruins on Machu Picchu. And the zig-zagging road to accomodate roughly 100 buses per day. And the green-roofed 5 star hotel literally 100 metres from the ruins. We love tourism.

Ruins and Wayna Picchu in the background.

Did you know that roughly 60% of Machu Picchu is "restored"? (see ladders and workers in bottom right). Considering no one has any real idea of what it originally looked like, Machu Picchu is now subject to the interpretation of the Peruvian authorities. We are skeptical.


Ahhh there it is.

The last day we woke up at 4am to climb a ton of stairs to see Machu Picchu. At sunrise. Do you see the sun?

View of Wayna Picchu. (Salkantay).

4th day was exhausting. And wet. (Salkantay).

On the 3rd day we were in pseudo-jungle-cloud-forest-area. (Salkantay).

This is a 5-day hike. There are a lot of pictures. (Salkantay).

More Salkantay.

Over the pass and into another valley. (Salkantay).


At the pass (4600m elevation.. mas o menos.. either way a heck of a shlop up). The air is miiiiighty thin up there.

Hiking up to the pass with Mt. Salkantay in the background. (Salkantay).

View from our first night's camp. (Salkantay).

From Cusco we did a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu- the Salkantay. Here is a view from the second day.

We happened to be in Cusco at the time of Inti Raymi (sun festival). Apparently everyone is Incan around this time.

Typical street in Cusco.

After Arequipa, we went to the tourist overflow that is Cusco. This is the view from our hostel.

While in Arequipa, we visited an old monastery. There were many rooms with windows, some with Julian in them.

View from the last day of our hike in the Colca Canyon.

More Colca Canyon.

First night's accomodation. (Colca Canyon).

This is part of the Colca Canyon near Arequipa. We did a 3-day hike here to check out the world's 2nd deepest canyon and take in some "culture" (served on a silver platter to tourists).