My trip to PERU!

[Independent Gal]

So, my big holiday in Peru is fast approaching, and I just got my Rough Guide in the mail from Amazon (haha! how appropriate! now I''ll take it HOME to the Amazon)

My plan is to leave Lima the day after I arrive and travel to Trujillo which is on the coast in the north. It''s supposed to have perfect warm dry weather, and there''s a desert at the edge, and lots of little fishing villages where you can sit by the crashing surf and eat awesome food.

From there I''ll visit....

 

[Independent Gal]

...the ruins of Chan Chan, capital of the Chimu empire, as well as some other interesting and important sites.

 

[Independent Gal]

... my plan is to then go up into the Andes to Cajamarca, the town near where Pizarro captured Atahualpa. There are supposed to be some awesome hotsprings there (which is why Atahualpa was in town), and it''s a convenient jumping off point to head into the AMAZON JUNGLE!

 

[Independent Gal]

I''ll then head to Iquitos by plane (I have to check this), a city in the Amazon you can only reach by boat or plane. It''s mixture of cool colonial architecture (Eiffel, of tower fame, built some things there) and float-with-the-rising-water huts like this...

 

[Independent Gal]

Plan is to then hire an expedition guide and head into the deeeep jungle for 5 days or so. The list of diseases I can apparently contract there is impressive, but I''ve got my jabs, my malarone, and my bug-proof jacket (that zips around your face), so I''ll hope for the best!

Sloths! monkeys! Birds of many colours! Here I come!

 

[Independent Gal]

I''ll probably spend the last two days on one of the supposedly amazing beaches in the north, before flying back to Lima to head home.

 

[Independent Gal]

Of course, plans may change as I go along, but it's nice to start out with an idea of what to do.

This is the trip with my birthday-airmiles (that my dad gives me each year) and my aim was to keep costs, once I get there, at roughly what I would spend just going about my business if I was at home. Except for the amazon expedition (which may cost a few hundred) this will apparently be pretty easy to do. Hurray!

That being the upside of traveling in less developed countries, I was reminded of the downside while reading the guide too. Things like "A great little guesthouse, with hot water most mornings!"

Ah, yes. Cold showers. How many fond travel memories I have of those.

 

[sera]

WOW! Sounds like an A M A Z I N G trip!!! I would love to see the Amazon- the only thing that scares me about that is the vast array of bugs!

The fun of developing countries- you wake up with bites from things you just don't wanna know about. ew. But how awesome to see such beautiful and interesting places and meet wonderful people. Please post your pics when you return and keep yourself safe.

 

[Matata]

IG....How amazing. We leave Friday...2 days in Lima then to Iquitos to catch our boat for a 10-day ride down the river w/explorations into the jungle. If you see a boat like this passing by while you''re exploring jump up & down and wave so I''ll know it''s you

We''ll be spending a few days at Pacaya-Samiria Reserve so if you happen to visit there start hollering for Matata and maybe w/luck we''ll get to meet & share a meal. I hope you have a fabulous trip!

 

[iheartscience]

Your trip sounds awesome! Good luck, be safe and please tell us how you like it when you get back! I''m thinking about going there for my next trip, too.

 

[Independent Gal]

Matata That''s so awesome! I''m jealous that you''ll be traveling in such style up (down?) the Amazon! It sounds like you''ll be back before I leave, so I hope you''ll check in and let me (and us) know how at went!

YAY! So excited!

 

[TravelingGal]

Can I just DIE of jealousy now?

You must post a trip report when you come back. Yes, I know there are other travel forums out there for that kind of stuff, but please humor this preggo, homebound, pathetic woman...please?

 

[monarch64]

Have a wonderful trip to Peru, IG! I can''t wait to see and hear about it when you get back!

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 10/29/2007 7:46:59 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Can I just DIE of jealousy now?

HI:

I am pretty much in the jealousy camp too--make sure you post lots of pics!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/29/2007 9:41:25 PM
Author: canuk-gal

Date: 10/29/2007 7:46:59 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Can I just DIE of jealousy now?

HI:

I am pretty much in the jealousy camp too--make sure you post lots of pics!

cheers--Sharon

me three! The beach looks lovely and all the amazing sites!

 

[sagewren]

Wow!

Definitely looking forward to your travel tales. Have a safe journey!