We just returned to Cusco from our three days in the rainforest. We flew out to Puerto Maldonado and from there to a little boat upstream along the Rio Tambopata to the Cayman Lodge in the middle of nowhere. Four hours that already gave us a little impression of things to come. Caymans and other animals along the river banks. The first evening we had a little night walk through the jungle, seeing spiders (from small ones to a hand size tarantula), birds and other creatures of the night. Next day we started out for a longer jungle hike including a bit in a kanu on a lake. Besides thousands of different plants, we saw hundereds of birds, spiders, ants, monkeys and more. Back at the lodge we had great food once more and finished the day on the river after dusk to look for Caymans again. You can see the reflections of the red eyes in the dark. Really amazing the Amazon.

We are back from a breathtaking (in all meanings of the word) four days of hiking through the Peruvian mountains. We are alive, became engaged and are off for the Amazon jungle …

[Update]
Alright some more details on the hike. We started out slowly on the first day from Ollantaytambo to the first camp site with only 400 meters elevation difference. In contrast to that we had to climb 1200 meters on the second day (from 3000 to 4210 m.a.s.l.). The Warmiwanusqua-Pass was the also the highest point on the hike. As usual the way down was the most difficult part for me (especially due to the high steps), Heike troubled a bit more with the way up. The third day was the longest in terms of distance, but was a piece of cake compared to the previous one. During the whole hike we passed by a couple of really amazing Inca ruins at stunning locations. The fauna and flora changed several times from cloud forests, to
bare rocks, snow covered mountains and normal forests. The lase day finally brought us to Machu Picchu. Simply amazing! Walking through the Sun Gate towards the site, while seeing the sun rising over the mountain tops.

We just returned from our first elevation training session. We spent the last two days in and around the Colca Canyon. Going from Arequipa to Chivay (the capital of the Colca district) we had to go via a 4910m high pass. Even though we prepared by driking coca tea and chewing coca leaves we still had headaces and some of us (not me) even had to … well nevermind. The landscape was amazing though. After a short nap we managed to have a little walk and went to the hot springs of Chivay (roughly 40 degrees). The night was short and thanks to the heaters very warm.
Today we started at six (with just a little headace left) to be on time for the condor parade. We drove along the valley and into the canyon. Apparently the highest in the world when measuring from the bottom to the peaks of the surrounding mountains. After various amazing views on the pre-Inca and Inca terasses we arrived at the Condor´s Cross. And it was amazing. The condors just started out using the rising winds created by the first sun beams. From wing tip to wing tip they have up to four meters. We probably shot a hundred pictures and had another short walk.
On the way back to Arequipa we tried some more of the Peruvian cuisine.
Passig the pass again, this whole trip was a first training and impression of things to come … the Inca Trail.

We started out with the Chauchilla cemetery showing open graves of the Nasca civilisation. With mummies mainly preserved by the super dry climate around here. Very interesting visit with a guided tour telling us about this culture and there traditions etc …
After that we went for some more Nasca Lines, adding another flight to our list of ten scheduled ones. Only by plane the whole size and all the figures can be fully enjoyed.
As usual I didn´t like the flighing in small planes too much :(

We started out from Pisco to Panacas, taking a speedboat from there to get to the Panacas Peninsula and the Ballesta Islands. On the peninsula we got a first impression of the drawings of pre-Inka civilisations and on the Ballesta Islands, also called the small Galapagos Island we got to see a variety of different animals. From sea lions, over penguins and cormorans, to vultures we saw lot … and this is only a selection. After that we drove down the Panamericana (highway) towards Ica and Huacachina. The latter one being an oasis in the middle of the highest sand dunes in the world. And what do you do on the highest sand dunes in the world? Right … take a buggy up and a sand board down ;)
Going further on the Panamericana we reaches the Nasca Lines, massive drawings/scrapings made on the ground, some reaching a size of a couple hundred meters. Which makes them the largest in the world. Scientists still struggle for the exact purpose of the drawing … reaching from alien stories, over astronomical calendars to worship of gods. The latter one being the most likely one though.
All this is in the middle of the driest deserts in the world, with only about five minutes of rain per year.