Tambopata lodge to Cuzco


Breakfast is not till 7:30am this morning, but it’s hard to ignore the dawn chorus! We got up at 6am and re-packed and went into the lodge for coffee and coca tea.
It’s been cloudy the last couple of days, so a very comfortable temperature. (about 25C). The air is humid so it makes your skin feel very soft!
We leave a bit after 8am for the boat ride back. Less time this way as we’re going down stream. On the way we stop at a salt lick to see lots of macaws, so beautiful!
Then on the bus on the bumpy road back to Puerto Maldonada. We go in convoy, not that’s it’s been dangerous, just that tourists were being hassled in the past.
Again we stop at the office to re-pack our bags and get changed. We also pick up a packed lunch for 30 sole of spiced rice and chicken with olives, plantain chips and chocolate nuts. When we see all the lineups at the airport, we realize it was a very good thing to have that! Finally, through all the lineups and in to the air conditioned departure lounge. Once the other flight to Lima departs, we can get a seat.
Full flight for the short ride. Quite a bit of turbulence over the mountains. Nice sunny day in Cuzco, about 20 C at 3pm. We check in to our hotel, then head out for a walk with Andreas. Our hotel is just a few blocks from the main square, and we can go by pedestrian streets. Lots of people in the main square which is really lovely. A big fountain at the center, and cathedral and other old colonial style buildings built on top of Inca structures.
Marin and I are the only ones from our group doing the Lares Trek, so we head to the G Adventures office to get our briefing and rent our equipment (sleeping bag, mattress pad and poles)
Then we all head up to the Planetarium at the top of one of the hills over looking Cuzco.
From here we can see the many of the stars in both the north and the south hemisphere. They have telescopes for us to see Jupiter and Saturn among others.
By the time we head back to the hotel many of us are feeling the altitude. We go to the hotel restaurant for some chicken soup, just not hungry. Then I have to repack, as we are going to the Sacred Valley tomorrow, and from there I go on the trek, then to Machu Picchu. So I won't see my suitcase for 4 nights! Luckily Andreas was able to arrange a quick laundry service for us.




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