The Long Road To Cuzco
The Road Chose Me Volume 2 OUT NOW!!
The Road Chose Me Volume 2: Three years and 54,000 miles around Africa
I see on my basic maps a route passing through the middle of the mountains and set out, aiming in the far distance for Cuzco. Along the way I pass through Huánuco, The extremely high & cold Cerro de Pasco, Huancayo, Ayacucho, Abancay and finally arrive in Cuzco many days later after some very long days on horrendous gravel roads.
Highlights along the way include:
- Driving through a heavy snowstorm near Cerro de Pasco. For the first time I see Peruvians drive with anything resembling restraint or diligence.
- Watching an enormous thunderstorm roll right in front my campsite, with a beautiful sunset as the backdrop.
Sunset in the mountains
- Wandering into a shopping centre in Huancayo that is bigger, brighter and all-round ‘more’ than anything I’ve seen before. These guys have copied the North American model to the letter, complete with suits walking around taking copious notes about everything and anything. My appearance is apparently significant, as they all go crazy writing and following me around to see where I go.
- Randomly meeting a friendly local in Ayacucho, hanging out with him all day and having a great night with all his friends. Staying at the ‘Discoteca’ until 3.30 necessitates an extra day in Ayacucho.
Just another Peruvian highway...
- Seeing Peruvian road construction in full-scale action – I know this doesn’t sound like much, but it really is a sight to see. Around 100km at a time is worked on, and each corner I round I see at least a hundred workers digging, drilling and jack-hammering, not to mention the hundreds of pieces of heavy machinery of all kinds. In a few hours I see tens of thousands of Peruvians working hard to surface these crazy mountain roads. And the best part of all? The entire area is lit, so work continues 24 hours a day.
- Discovering my camp stove gets hot enough to cook popcorn. I see a lot of popcorn in my future.
I arrive in Cuzco right on sunset and find my way to the amazing Quinta Lala campground, essentially dedicated to overland travelers. Checkout their Previous Visitors page to get an idea of the kind of vehicles people are driving around down here. With wifi, a laundry, kitchen, dry area for camping and plenty of green grass only 15 mins walk from the center of town it’s going to be hard to leave.
Cuzco
Jeep in the main square of Cuzco
-Dan
Nice!!! Cuzco! 10 years ago, I was there with my friends from college! One thing that I really enjoyed, besides the whole Macchu Picchu experience, was going to the local market, San Pedro, and drink an excellent natural juice with algarrobina and another peruvian herbs. Algarrobina as a drink is very nice also, a classic in the peruvian cuisine. But, I must say that I didn’t like peruvian bread, too sweet for me, and for chileans in general
If you go out at night, you’ll see that every pub or disco gives a free drink to all foreing travelers… that’s how me and my friends had a legendary night without spending a single dollar (i hope still works)…
Talking about the towns near by Cuzco, I really loved Pisac, very small and beautiful.
And well, going on the train to Aguas Calientes and then, to Macchu Picchu, that was a life time experience… you have to listen Los Jaivas, the album “Alturas de Macchu Picchu” and of course, you have to read Pablo Neruda’s “Alturas de Macchu Picchu” (a-há google search: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/canto-xii-from-the-heights-of-macchu-picchu/)
By the way, this friday I’m going to Coyhaique, in the chilean patagonia, because of work. In a few months, I’m sure you will be there also, the landscape is amazing, and the people, very very friendly. After Coyhaique I’m going to Buenos Aires to a concert, so, the next seven days will be very intense! Good luck with Cuzco and Macchu Picchu, have fun!
Hey Lore,
Yep, Cuzco is an amazing place. I think I’ve seen more tourists here than I have for a very, very long time.
The central market was really cool, but I didn’t catch the bus to Macchu Picchu – my next post shows how I got there a lot, lot cheaper
I’ve been told so many amazing things about Southern Chile, I’m really curious to see how it stacks up to Alaska, which is still extremely high on my list of all time favorite places.