Spectacular Peru

Hotel Torre Dorada provided an early breakfast and our guide for the week (Antonio) was there ready to go at 7 am. We left one piece of luggage at the hotel for the 4 of us to use as storage for stuff we did not need on the trek. We drove a nice paved road for an hour or so then stopped at a “farmers market” for a few minutes. Another 30 minutes to an Inka ruin called Tarawasi where we ate a snack.

Also, another stop near the end of the paved road where we visited a weaving and jelly making operation supported by MLP. We also saw the guinea pigs like the ones we will get to know better later in the week.

The fun began when the paved road ended and the mud road began. We probably drove 2 hours on the one lane road. Recent rains made it really difficult almost the entire way. Along the way, we passed a number of backpackers that looked pretty weary. One young man didn’t get out of the road, or far enough off the road soon enough and just like in the movies, we hit a mud puddle and his pants were covered in mud. We also passed a vehicle evacuating a sick or injured trekker.

About half way through this adventure, we stopped before turning a sharp curve and our guide got out and ran ahead to check things out. He returned to the van and told us to all get out and walk around the bend and past the washed out road. Then, with video cameras in hand we heard the engine rev up and here he came, slipping and sliding and then he got stuck. Both guides were behind the van pushing it forward as the driver gunned the engine. The passengers boarded the van once again and the adventure continued.

About 12:30 p.m. we arrived at our covered picnic area and a box lunch awaited us. After lunch, we began our trek, down the same washed out, muddy road that we’d been driving on. The road opened up to spectacular vistas. We were headed towards snow capped mountains, then a few minutes later after the dirt road curved, we were looking at green pastures with picturesque mountains in the background.

Finally, after walking for almost 3 hours (which doesn’t sound too bad if you’re at sea level), we finally arrived at the Salkantay Lodge, which is at 12,700 feet above sea level. We removed out muddy, wet boots (thank goodness they were waterproof) and left them at the front door. We were greeted by two Peruvian ladies, one holding warm wet wash cloths for us to wipe our hands and face, and the other handed us a mug of hot cocoa tea.

After relaxing and showering for dinner, we noticed several young men outside the lodge with scrub brushes, washing our boots. They then brought them inside and put beside a fireplace to dry, ready for tomorrow! The entire lodge was great. After a wonderful dinner of pumpkin soup, baked trout, sweet potatoes, and passion fruit mousse, we returned to our room to find towel art of a huge heart in the middle of our bed, chocolates, and hot water bottles under our duvet. As my sister in law put it, this is glamping (glamorous camping)!