I didn't sleep too well because of stomach pains so we skipped the 2km hike uphill to Machu Pichu (meaning old mountain) & took the bus up for $7, getting there @ 6am.We got our tickets to climb Wayna Pichu (young mountain) at 10am (they only allow 400 total) & then took our 2 hour included tour.It was really good & he gave us a lot of info.It was really foggy though and looked totally cool & mystical.It is still in such good shape because the Spa...

It was another 3am day in order to take a plane and get to Cuzco by 7:30am.We then took a bus up to a point where we then biked almost 22 miles down to the town of Santa Maria.Our guide, Johann, was only 18 years old but very experienced. The bikes were brand new & rode well but my right hand hurt from holding the back break almost constantly during our downhill ride.Along the way we saw some amazing scenery, crossed over some little streams which proceeded t...

This was a jam packed day starting at 3am! We joined a couple from Columbia on the 4am bus to Paracas.When we got there we took a speed boat ride out to las Islas Ballestas (called the poor man's Galapagos) during which we got to see the candelabra lines in the sand along the way.(There are several theories as to its origin - pirates making a sailors sign, or Jose Martin's Mason sign, but the most likely is from the Nasca people since if you follow a straight lin...

My cousin Alie & I stayed in the ritzier Miraflores section of Lima the first 2 days.Day 1 we took a Mirabus tour that took us past Pachacamac - the ruins of an indigenous play area.We then got to see some buildings in downtown Lima as well as go into the monastery of San Francisco and into the catacombs below.It was pretty freaky to see all the bones, especially the skulls!Afterwards we went through San Isidrio which connects the center to Miraflores.There w...

I took a tour that takes you along 7 lakes & a bifurcated waterfall to get to Bariloche.We stopped at one place where I saw lots of sheep & got to try my first torta frita (fried dough).It was very good especially in the cold!We walked a little around a cute town called Villa de la Angostura & I bought some of their famous chocolate.When I got to Bariloche it was raining so I didn't do much else except buy more chocolate & a warmer jacket! Luck...