Peru flag

Inca Trail & the Amazon Rainforest

Day 8 - Rainforest to Cuzco

19th August 2015

Cuzco flag

From heat & humidity to altitude...



Return to Peru 2015 front page
 
Return to Summer Menu

Our sweaty time in the jungle had come to end, I was a little disappointed by the quantity of wildlife that we saw - even the small stuff, like frogs & spiders. It would also have been nice to have some more capybara action, but I'm just greedy on the wildlife front and I should take a dedicated wildlife trip out here. The prospect of a powerful shower and some clean dry clothes in Cuzco was pretty appealing though.

The Tambopata river bathed in the golden morning light...

River



A Lineated Woodpecker high in a tree near the jetty...

Lineated woodpecker



Down to the steep steps to the boat...

River 2



Going with the flow it was a quicker return journey...

River 3



Sun over the bow...

Sun over the bow



Reflections in a calm stretch of the river...

River 5



Semi-submerged canoes...

River 6



Outside the reserve, the impact of the construction of a new man-made structure on the riverbank vegetation...

River 7



Big cats in Puerto Maldonado...

Jaguar Puma


 
Massive meanders on the river - which was why we took a minibus for a chunk of the journey to the camp, even though Puerto Maldonado is on the same river...
 
River 8



Not sure what the river is being used for here, but it doesn't look too healthy...
 
River 9


 
I never get tired of taking pictures of mountains from planes - sorry!
 
Mountains




Three sheepish looking chaps having completed their shopping at the 'Willy Market'...

Market



Condiment set at El Meson de Don Tomas restaurant, the scene of quite a lot of Alpaca consumption...
 
Condiments
Church of La Compania in the main square, the Plaza de Armas...

Plaza de Armas 1
Cuzco Cathedral...

Plaza de Armas 2
Colonial architecture, the Spanish built on top of existing Inca buildings that they had levelled...

Plaza de Armas 3
Panorama of the Plaza de Armas...

Plaza de Armas 3
A 12-sided stone in what must have been an important Inca building...

Stone
Statue of Pachacutec in the centre of the square...

Plaza de Armas 5
Pachacutec and the Cathedral...

Plaza de Armas 6
Statue of Christ near Saqsayhuaman above the city...

Statue
Plaza de Armas in the early evening...

Plaza de Armas 7
Cathedral...

Plaza de Armas 8
The Cathedral and La Compania Church...

Plaza de Armas 9
Ornate lamp post with the Puma motif...

Plaza de Armas 11
Impressive cathedral door...

Door



 
Before we arrived in Peru, I thought it would be a struggle to convince Miche that she should try coca tea - it turned out that she couldn't get enough of it...
 
Coca tea

Next - Day 9 - Cuzco


Return to Summer Menu
 
Day 1 - London to Amsterdam Day 2 - Amsterdam to Lima Day 3 - Lima - City & Fountains
Day 4 - Lima - Changing of the guard Day 5 - Lima to the Rainforest Day 6 - Rainforest - Macaws & Caiman
Day 7 - Rainforest - Canoe & walk Day 8 - Rainforest to Cuzco Day 9 - Cuzco
Day 10 - Inca Trail - day 1 Day 11 - Inca Trail - day 2 Day 12 - Inca Trail - day 3
Day 13 - Inca Trail - day 4 Day 14 - Machu Picchu Day 15 - Cuzco to Puno
Day 16 - Lake Titicaca Homestay Day 17 - Return to Lima Day 18 - Lima to Home