The Inca Trail so far has been an incredible and wonderful experience (see other blog posts below).  On day 4, we woke up very early this morning!! After a quick breakfast and a quick stop at the washrooms, we were off on our last leg of the trek to Machu Picchu! During the hike up to the Intipunku archaeological site (also known as the Gateway of the Sun – Inti means “sun” in Quechua, the original Inca language) we were able to take a break and watch the sun rise over the mountains. The pinks, oranges and yellows were like nothing I’d seen before. Once we reached Intipunku, the weather was perfect to get tons of great photos of Machu Picchu from above. But our journey didn’t stop here: once we were done taking photos we began the last 30 minutes of the hike to Machu Picchu. The group decided we would like to see the Inca Bridge since we had opted out of climbing Huayna Picchu. The bridge was about a 10 minute walk through jungle-like landscapes on the very edge of the mountain. The bridge was built by the Incas and then later, one section destroyed to deter the conquistadors from following them. 

Today – the third day of the 4 day Inca Trail to the lost ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru – was supposed to be an easier day than yesterday. We started out early again this morning. Today we got to see a few more Inca archaeological sites than the last two days. In the morning we saw the Runkurakay site which is just below the Runkurakay pass. It is thought that this site was used as a resting point for the Inca messengers. Puma explained to us how the Inca messengers, called chasquis, would run through the Andes Mountains, forming a type of relay to send messages from one community to another. The chasquis would chew coca leaves to help give them the energy to run up the huge peaks. Puma taught us how to properly chew coca leaves too but most of us couldn’t keep them in our mouths more than a few minutes. As we continued our hike, we were able to pass through a couple Inca tunnels which were really neat to see! After climbing the pass we came to the second main archaeological site, Phuyupatamarca which has a series of intricate ceremonial baths.

Day 2 of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu started out with an early morning breakfast. Again, the food was delicious – fresh fruit, omelettes, toast, hot chocolate and porridge! After breakfast our guide introduced us to all the porters and we introduced ourselves to all of them and then got a great group photo. The porters are the men who carry all our food, tents and other provisions. As you hike the trail, you see them whiz past you to set up the next camp before your arrival. On the second day you have the option to hire an extra porter to carry your backpack since it is the toughest day. I definitely took advantage of this option!

On the  first morning we left Cusco around 5am to start our 4 day trek through the Inca  trail to Machu Picchu with Dos Manos travel agency. After driving a few hours  through the beautiful landscape of the Sacred Valley we arrived at the entrance  of the Inca trail in Ollantaytambo. The Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu  is one of the world’s most famous treks. The 45km hike can be done in 3 or 4  days with a shorter 2 day option available for those looking for an easier  trek. Hiram Bingham rediscovered Machu Picchu and the Inca trail between 1911  and 1915. Unlike other Inca roads used to transport goods and communicate  between cities, the Inca trail to Machu Picchu was more of a religious  pilgrimage that honoured Pachamama (mother earth) and the mountains. Over the  first 3 days we passed through 84 different eco-systems and saw some of the  most remarkable views! On day 4 we arrived at Machu Picchu and spend the day  walking around the ancient city with our guide.

While I am far from well traveled in the land of the Argentines, my time in Mendoza and Salta brought new depth to my experience in and understanding of South America.

When it comes to Mendoza, I can tell you, everything you have heard is true. Yes, Mendoza is the wine capital of the world. (O.K. so maybe it´s not the wine capital of the world but we can at least classify it as the Malbec capital, Porque No?). Yes, it´s gorgeous. And yes, you probably will spend the majority of your time a bit intoxicated. If you are looking for a changes of scene from the busy city scape, Mendoza is thus, an ideal place.Whether you´re headed north or South, to Chile, Bolivia, or Peru, Mendoza is a wonderful place to; stop by for a couple of days or even a week.

Given its immense reputation, the size of Mendoza is in fact quite small. There are about two or three streets for going out and one main plaza with a fair on the weekends. But never fear, there is much to do in the territory of wine. Indeed, though the city of Mendoza has its limitations, the surrounding vineyards of the Campo provided endless means of enjoyment and relaxation.

It is generally agreed that one of the major highlights in Mendoza is the wine biking tour. Every day of the week, morning, afternoon, or evening, you can sign up or just show up for a tour. Let me shed some light on the basics.1. You rent a bike 2. Ride around to the different wineries and oliveries 3. Give your palate a run for its money as you taste the various local goods. With a pay as you go system, you get to decided how hedonistic you want to be. For some the bike ride back is a blurry memory of obscurity, while others it fares better. Whether or not, you enjoy what it feels like to be drunk. This tour provides is a highly accessible means of exploring the diverse and tasty wines of this region.

A common ritual for many young Argentines on the back of completing their secondary school examinations, is a trip to the south of Argentina with nothing more than a carpa (or tent), mochila (back-pack) and a group of buenos amigos! This pilgrimage to the camping sites of Patagonia is, of course, not exclusive to young people from Argentina and they are joined by a smaller crowd of overseas travellers with similar aspirations. That said, some people visiting Argentina arrive without a tent (perhaps favouring the reasonably-priced hostel accommodation), and leave wishing they’d packed their camping equipment in order to get that little bit closer to Argentina’s natural wilderness. If you have got space for your camping gear this is a great way to explore the south of Argentina in particular, which is generally more expensive than other regions in the country (in terms of accommodation, eating out and day-to-day expenses).

The lack of “quality” beaches is regularly identified by locals and tourists as one of the few absences in Argentina’s otherwise rich and diverse physical geography. While many porteños migrate to the coastal zones of Buenos Aires Province (Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Miramar etc.) during the exceptionally warm summer months of January and February, the majority concede that beaches in the coastal zones of Uruguay and Brazil are far superior. However, if you look hard enough there are a number of spectacular beaches and coves to be found inland, alongside the lakes of northern Patagonia. These don’t necessarily subscribe to the traditional beach resort model but do offer unique locations to lap up the sun and take a dip in the crystal clear waters which flow from the surrounding mountains of the Andes.

When I first came to South America I was consumed with thoughts of Argentina and Buenos Aires. Dubbed the Paris of the south, this city had captured my imagination in more ways than one. From the nightlife to the love of steak, I knew BA was a place that I wanted to live. Upon arrival I thus planned to stay in this city for at least six months before beginning any travels. And as expected, within days I had fallen in love with the Buenos Aires.

Thus when my housemate decided to take a trip up to Peru a month into our stay I was caught a little bit off guard. My initial reaction: why would anyone want to leave a place this great so soon? With time, however, the thought of accompanying her became more and more appealing: I knew, that if I wanted to I could always come back to Buenos Aires. It´s not as if I was moving out of BsAs but rather, I thought of it, as taking a very long vacation. A month after my friend first breached the subject, we were on the road headed to Pisco, Peru.

You might be thinking, why Pisco? (For those of you who are unfamiliar with South American geography: Pisco is a tiny city on the South West Coast of Peru; let´s just say it didn´t exactly make the cut for top ten places to visit in Peru, it claims two pages in SA’s Lonely Planet’s guide). Given our intents to volunteer, however, the lack of tourist attractions in Pisco was not exactly an issue . Indeed, our time was kept busy with the construction of houses for local families. Not only did this experience add some real substance to my travels in SA, but it was incredibly fun as well. If you have the time to do some volunteer work during your stay I highly recommend it.

Prolonged periods of serious rain have led to severe flooding and landslides in the province of Cusco. Although much of the press has been focused on Machu Picchu, other low lying areas as the Sacred Valley area have also been affected. The city of Cusco is operating as normal – virtually no damage was suffered within the city. All flights to Cusco are operating and most road links too. Key damages in the surrounding areas include all road and rail links with Aguas Calientes, which left 2,000 tourists stranded in the town. All tourists have now been evacuated safely, but Machu Picchu remains accessible only by helicopter. Therefore all train excursions and treks to Machu Picchu are closed until further notice. The Inca Trail will not be open until 1st March at the earliest, and all other tours and treks will open once a transport link between Cusco and Aguas Calientes is established. Please not that all other tours – independent of Machu Picchu – are running as usual.

Latin America has always been a budget conscious travelers dream visit and vacation. With the low prices and system of bargaining it has become a place of luxury and relaxation. For example meals are half of what they are in North America and in Europe. Yes it is possible to go to a McDonald’s here and only spend $5. Most Hotels and Hostels are more glamorous than initial expectations would have you believe.

They may not be five star accommodations such as a jacuzzi or swimming pools but they are clean, comfortable and the service is warm hearted. Frankly when you are traveling you want something that is at least as comfortable as your own house regardless of how long you are traveling and I would say you get that in Latin America. It feels good to splurge some here! Weither its on meals or spa and massage treatments, its worth it. You can receive a hour long massage here in Peru for only $7 US dollars. As an American I can say with 100% of confidence that there is no place in the United States where you can receive those same services for that price. Even your significant other would ask for more money if they werent already doing it for free! As a traveler even if you are concerned about your level of spending regardless of the currency, here your saving money because brands and services arent inflated here and the most money you spend you have actually spent because it was for the plane ticket.