23/6/09 The next day, 23rd June, we were driven to Ica, which has a big sandy desert next to it with the biggest sand dunes I've seen in my life (though they don't have any vegetation at all on)! For the first bit we were driven around them in two sand buggies, and it was so exciting it was like being on a rollercoaster - our buggy had 350 horsepower, and we zoomed around like nobody's business. Then we got out at the first place we were to do sandboarding; it wa...

22/6/09 We arrived at the hotel by 5am, but luckily, nearly all of our rooms were available to be moved into, so we slept until past 10. At 11 we left for the airport, to fly in a light aeroplane over the Nazca Lines! The planes were so tiny they had only 6 seats each including the pilot's, so we had to go in two planes. Dave was pleased at getting seated next to the pilot! The lines are great - a monkey, triangles, condor, hummingbird, astronaut, a pair of hand...

18/6/09 We caught a local flight from Cusco to Arequipa, which is nicknamed the 'White City' from the white volcanic stone bricks the buildings in the main square (Plaza de Armas) and nearby are made from. The effect is stunning - I had thought Cusco's centre was beautiful, but this was even more so! The minibus was waiting to pick us up and take us to the airport at 11.40am, but some people were late getting back from town. **** was desperate for us to be off, ...

24/6/09 In the morning we paid a visit to the Ballestas Islands, the 'poor man's Galapagos', and saw lots of pelicans, cormorants, a red headed vulture and other birds, and sealions and dolphins quite close up as well. I was so pleased to have seen the pelicans in particular! I've always wanted to see those in the wild. After this it was our last bus journey of our entire trip, to Lima. Our hotel was in the area of Miraflores, quite a safe and nice area where lot...

14/6/09 The next morning we set off on the Inca trail at last! After a group photo by the official starting point the road was very pleasant, and the track alternated between some sets of steps upwards but also plenty of flat ground. After an hour or so we had our first real climb, and although all the steps were knackering the view was well worth it! The sun was out and it was very hot. Another couple of hours later we stopped for lunch; the porters had all pass...