South America Day 7: Puno to Cusco

December 2011

We caught the 7:15 am Tour Peru bus to Cusco, stopping along the way to enjoy the view - and the altitude!

We arrived in Cusco at around 3:30 pm. We checked into our hotel and had a quick lunch at Jack's Cafe before walking through the Christmas markets in the main square.

After packing for the Amazon the next day we met our group for a Christmas dinner at Aguaymant, which included turkey with all the trimmings (loved the Cusco style stuffing).

As we walked back to the hotel that night, the square was full of fireworks being let off by the locals.

Stay
Corihuasi

Eat
Jack's Cafe
Aguaymant

Do
See the sights in the main square

South America Day 6: Puno

December 2011

Woke up early to the sound of donkeys, chickens and ducks. We had a breakfast of fried bread, eggs and tea with our family before settling into the days activities. This included peeling potatoes with a knife, feeding the pigs and piglets, and taking the pigs for a walk to graze down by the water. We went for a walk to the top of a hill, where you got a great view of the Lake and Taquile Island. When we got back to our home stay family we enjoyed a lunch of quinoa and pumpkin soup, rice and potatoes with vegetables and tea. It was then time to catch the boat back to Puno.

We got back to the hotel around 2 pm, DH went for a walk around town and had a rest, whereas I went to visit Sillustani and the Pre-Inca and Inca ruins.

That night we had dinner at the Inca cafe. DH had the tomato soup and ravioli, whereas I has the salad and trout.

Stay
Italia

Eat
Inca Cafe

Do
Visit the Sillustani ruins

South America Day 5: Puno

December 2011

Up early because I couldn't sleep, followed by breakfast in the hotel. We caught bikes down to the wharf and boarded a ferry for a 30 min ride across the lake to the floating islands. Here we visited local families to learn about their lives on the island. We did a 15 min read boat ride, in the pouring (freezing cold) rain before getting back on the ferry for a 2.5 hour trip to the Island of Taquile.

Once at the Island we walked 30 min uphill to the restaurant, the Island receives many visitors and the restaurants cycle through them and all serve the same meal, which we had the quino and pumpkin soup,trout with rice and peppermint tea with a great view over the lake.

After lunch we took the 500+ stairs back down the hill to the other side of the island to catch the ferry to where we were having our home stay.

The guys played soccer (at 3,800 m!) and we then got dressed up with in the local dress to learn the dances that they do. After dancing we went with our families to our rooms, which were simple but clean. We then had dinner of quinoa soup, quinoa and stir fry vegetables and tea. We were in bed by 8 pm!

Stay
Home stay

Eat
On Taquile Island

Do
Visit the Uros floating islands
Have lunch on Taquile Island

South America Day 4: La Paz to Puno

December 2011

On the road again. New day, new country. We boarded our mini-bus and drove towards the airport, heading out of town and towards Lake Titicaca (about a 3.5 hr drive). We caught a boat across the lake and just as we got off on the other side it started to hail for about 30 minutes! We drove for another 20 minutes to Copacabana where we had hamburgers for lunch at a local hotel. We boarded the BusPeru bus to the boarder (another 20 minutes) and crossed from Bolivia to Peru.

We re boarded our bus and spent another 2 hours to Puno. We checked into our hotel and went to have a look around the main square and cathedral.

That night we had dinner in a very touristy restaurant (that had great food and local dancing), where I had alpaca for the first time (very nice) and DH had the chicken in yellow chili sauce.

Stay
Italia

Eat
Balcones de Puno

Do
Walk through Jr Lima
See the Cathedral on Plaza De Armas

South America Day 3: La Paz

December 2011

Had a late breakfast at the hotel (included) before being picked up for our city tour. We drove through the heavy morning traffic to Plaza Murillo - with the Presidential palace, Cathedral and Congress buildings.

We made a quick swing to the Museo de Metales Preciosos Pre-Colombinos, to learn a bit about the Tiwanaku and check out the collection of gold items.

We drove up to Killi Killi for a 360 degree view of La Paz.

We drove down through the city to check out the Moon Valley, it would have been great to have more time to spend exploring this area.

Once back in the city we drove past the San Pedro prison and walked through the Witches market.

We got back to the hotel and walked towards the San Fransisco church, stopping at a snack shack for empanadas and salsa.

We checkout some of the other markets and walked the streets before meeting our tour group for the rest of our time in Bolivia and Peru.

That night we had a great steak dinner at the Steakhouse.

Stay
Hotel Las Brisas

Eat
Try the empanadas from one of the small street stalls
The Steakhouse

Do
Killi Killi Lookout
Moon Valley
San Fransisco Church
Plaza Murillo
Witches Market

South America Day 2: Santiago to La Paz

December 2011

Up early for our flight from Santiago to Lima to La Paz.

Living in Australia there's not much in terms of altitude, so when we landed at 4,200 m, we could definitely feel the change in air and our breathing. We caught a cab to our hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon adjusting to the altitude (the advice is take it easy, limit or have no alcohol and eat light for the first 24 hours). We did duck out for a quick dinner at one of the many local Frita el Pollo's.

Stay
Hotel Las Brisas

Eat
Frita el Pollo

Do
Nothing - adjust to the altitude

South America Day 1: Sydney to Santiago

December 2011

Our first stop was La Paz, Bolivia, but to get there we had to fly through Auckland and Santiago.

We arrived mid-afternoon and checked into the airport hotel (we had an early flight the next day). We then caught the blue airport bus into town (much cheaper than the cab). We got off the bus at it's last stop near the Los Heros station and walked to the Funicular at San Cristobal Hill. It was a nice flat walk and good to stretch our legs after the long flight. We caught the funicular to the top of the hill for a great view of the city.

We stopped for a quick, late lunch at the bottom of the hill for one pork loin and one steak sandwich, before catching the metro back to Los Heros to catch the bus back to the airport.

Stay
Holiday Inn, Santiago Airport

Eat
Venezia Bella Vista

Do
Funicular, San Cristobal Hill

Five down, two to go (or South America 2011/2012)

December 2011 and January 2012

It's hard to believe what we saw in our 6 week (or 42 day) trip in South America. It's a big continent, you can't see or do everything, but we saw a fair chunk.

It also crossed off one more continent (Africa and Antarctica still remain). Watch in the following weeks (months?) for trip details, but in summary:

Santiago, Chile
La Paz, Bolivia
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru
Cuzco, Peru
Peruvian Amazon, Peru
Cuzco, Peru
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Inca Trail, Peru
Machu Picchu, Peru
Cuzco, Peru
Arequipa, Peru
Colca Canyon, Peru
Arequipa, Peru
Nazca, Peru
Paracas, Peru
Lima, Peru
Quito, Ecuador
Galapagos, Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
Iguassu Falls, Brazil and Argentina
Santiago, Chile
Rapa Nui (or Easter Island), Chile
Papeete, Tahiti
Moorea, Tahiti
Papeete, Tahiti