Adventure in Peru: Dangerous and Uncomfortable

This past weekend we were so fortunate to find space on a tour group to see one of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. The selling points were "adventure, easy hiking, beautiful scenary that combines the jungle with majestic mountains" so we were sold for the four day tour. The unfortunates are to follow...

We felt so lucky to be assigned the tour company's best guide, but unfortunately, he was 16. We started off on a bus that transported us four hours. Fortunately, we all bought tickets that included individual seats on the bus, but unfortunately, the bus company sells more tickets than they have seats, and a woman sat on Mary's armrest for 3 of those hours. The bus ride was beautiful, weaving high through the mountains, but the unfortunate part was that the bus was on a cliff a large portion of the time. When we arrived, the scenary was beautiful and we were safe, but we also had to use the bathroom and there were none. Fortunately, other passengers had the same issues, but unfortunately they just went to the bathroom on the side of the road right next to the bus (including women!!!!).

Luck was on our side and we had brand new bikes to ride on our 4-5 hour trek through the mountains with views of waterfalls, rainforest plants and animals, and little local towns. The unfortunate part was that we were riding on narrow gravel roads (note to readers: gravel is about 10 times the size in Peru as it is in the US) which meant that we were shaking for 4-5 hours while trying to dodge cars at the same time. Cars do not slow down in Peru and therefore, in our case, it is the biker's responsibility to avoid the car. In Sarah's attempt to do so, she went into the ditch and fortunately missed the car, but unfortunately fell over when trying to get back on the bike. Fortunately, we made it safe and were able to rest but unfortunately, our bums and backs were sore and our hands swollen.

The next day started with lots of options which was quite lucky, but unfortunately for us, our guide scared us out of a lot of them. We decided to forego the trek that involved hiking on a 1 foot wide path that was on a cliff 800 meters high. Fortunately for us, they had just made a new road using dynamite within the past year that we were able to walk instead. Unfortunately, the road was only one lane wide and cars flew around blind corners, but we were grateful, they used their horn to warn of of their presence. Again, there was light at the end of the tunnel and after hiking for 6 hours we ended up at natural and isolated hotsprings edged into the side of a mountain and next to the fast-paced river. Unfortunately, when we got out of the hotsprings to get food (our repellent had washed off ) and we were biten to death by mosquitos. Unfortunately, Sarah had more than 60 bites on each leg. Luckily for Mary, she didn't have quite so many, but unluckily, the bites she did get to be the size of tennis balls. Unfortunately, Tracy was bit too, but fortunately, Ann avoided most bites (the 3 bites that Ann did get she said itched really bad for the record)! Fortunately, we survived the day and were looking forward to rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, the first establishment we were supposed to stay at was more like a shed, but fortunately for us, the tour group worked to find us another one. Unfortunately, a nice hotel doesn't exist in the town we were in and the next one wasn't that much better. Luckily for us, they took us to a nice restuarant where we got our food really fast because our guide cooked it, but unfortunately for us a man was washing his hair in a sink a short distance from the tables.

The next day, we were so grateful that it was a short hike (3-4 hours) on a flat and defined path but unfortunately, it was on active train tracks. Fortunately, we arrived in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, and they had good food (spaghetti and egg and vegetable omelettes were the choices for 4 days), internet access, good shopping, a nice hotel, and a pharmacy to get medicine for our itchies. Unfortunately, it took us two days to get to this town and we only stayed there one day (note to future Peru travelers).

Fortunately, we went to Machu Picchu the last day there, but AND this is a minor unfortunate, we had to get up at 4:45. It was all worth is though. Machu Picchu had a majestic fog resting though it with the surrounding mountain peaks sneaking through. The sun crept up from behind the mountains offering a glow and beautiful colors in the sky. Fortunately, we had a tour guide that was awesome, but unfortunately we only had him for two hours and could have spent the day with him. Fortunately, the group summitted a mountain next to Machu Picchi called Wayna Picchu which Tracy loved, but unfortunately, it created a bit of anxiety in Ann, Mary, and Sarah. Fortunately, we got to spend the whole day at Machu Picchu and we traveled back to Cusco safely by train, but unfortunately we didn't spend the entire 4 days at Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes.