We left Nazca early morning and headed in the mountains. Sandy dessert changed into green grass mountain meadows, lush green tops. The road climbed up to more than 4,000 meters and while the scenery changed it always offered a different shade of green.
We saw a lot of different animals feeding next to the road: vicunas (wild mini-camels), lamas, alpacas and flamingos.
The mountain road was good (it was paved in 2015) and well maintained by Survival, the road maintenance and toll collection company. At the toll stations, they also had clean toilets with toilet paper and just charged 3.90 Sol for the stretch of the road.
First stretch of the road - Heidi
It's getting greener.
We saw a lot of different animals feeding next to the road: vicunas (wild mini-camels), lamas, alpacas and flamingos.
Animals crossing
Vikunyas
Lamas and Alpacas
Vikunyas in action
The mountain road was good (it was paved in 2015) and well maintained by Survival, the road maintenance and toll collection company. At the toll stations, they also had clean toilets with toilet paper and just charged 3.90 Sol for the stretch of the road.
Toll Station
We took a lot of pictures and stopped half way for a simple lunch of fish and chicken. The road was quite lonely, a lot of trucks, a bus from time to time and around the villages and town some local traffic. Yet nobody seemed as crazy as we going from Lima to Cusco by car.
The altitude got to us and we felt headaches, dry mouth and started to be unable to take straight decisions. At the third toll station of the day, a caring security man advised not go further after night fall. We complied and soon reached our booked hotel in Abancay. It started raining while we headed out for dinner. We ate at a kind of pizza place that was not very convincing.
Puquio - our lunch town
The altitude got to us and we felt headaches, dry mouth and started to be unable to take straight decisions. At the third toll station of the day, a caring security man advised not go further after night fall. We complied and soon reached our booked hotel in Abancay. It started raining while we headed out for dinner. We ate at a kind of pizza place that was not very convincing.
I slept not very well that night and the next morning I also realized by MacBook charger was broken. We headed out and drove again up the mountains with wonderful views on canyons.
We reached Cuzco around noon - there the streets were not as good as in the mountains. Our hotel offered us a small garage down the street to store the car for a week.
In the afternoon, we explored the streets around the city centered, took out the money for the final payment for our tour, bought rain coats and ate alpaca.
In the evening, we met with our tour guide to discuss the final arrangements. Later, we met the AIESEC alumni who joined the study tour. We packed smaller bags for our tour and went to bed.
Mountain road
coming closer to Cusco
nearly there
Hotel Rumi Punku
In the afternoon, we explored the streets around the city centered, took out the money for the final payment for our tour, bought rain coats and ate alpaca.
Alpaca two ways
In the evening, we met with our tour guide to discuss the final arrangements. Later, we met the AIESEC alumni who joined the study tour. We packed smaller bags for our tour and went to bed.
Cusco at night
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