Today was the second day of our Macchu Pichu tour. Slightly different activities to the previous day which is always good. Today was the most intense day of the four however. Due entirely to the fact that we had a 23km hike to do. The area that we are currently in is known as high jungle, roughly 1200m above sea level. The weather was extremely hot but thankfully the lower than usual altitude meant that it wasn't quite the same battle to breathe.
It was an early start. Breakfast at 6.30am with leaving the hostel at 7.30am. Early, but not unrealistic. As flat down transcended into more hill walking we started to truly enter what could be considered jungle. The amount of fruitful plants and trees suddenly exploded. So many banana plantations. Our guide let us rest and explained a few of the different plants that we could see and told us of their value to the locals.
Climbing upwards into the canopy and we stopped at our first house. I've no idea how people live there as there is no access to any roads! This house had a medium-sized monkey tied to a pole for the entertainment of tourists. It was a bit cruel really. I played catch with the monkey, throwing the water bottle to him, he caught it and threw it back. Along with the monkey there were several macaws of bright colours. In was in their kitchen that they kept their stash of guinea pigs. They had little homes under the cupboards for when they were tired of scuttling around the floor.
Yet more climbing as we reached another stop off point. This time we were treated to fruit flavoured ice lollies for a minimal fee. Unfortunately Emma purchased the last passion fruit one! Easily the best and most vivid flavour of all fruit flavoured lollies. Nevertheless my lemon flavoured one did the trick.
The next stop off point was our largest stop off other than for lunch. Here we were taught about coffee beans. How to peel them, how to roast them and then grinding the beans. We were treated to a cup of this rich coffee, most likely the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted and a pot of chocolate - fresh and local of course. These are the farmers that sell their produce to the bigger companies.
After what seemed like eternity, a lot of stops for pictures and several litres of sweat and we finally made it to lunch! Resting in the shade was a bliss we hadn't really been afforded for 6 hours of walking in the hot sunshine. The spaghetti was devoured in record time.
Even more walking occurred (a bit of a theme perhaps) and we made it back down to the river side and a rickety bridge. The bridge didn't seem completed at all. For the first half they had a wire mesh on the sides to stop you falling, this luxury was not gifted in the second half of the bridge. Bearing in mind that this bridge was about 40ft above very fast rapids.
This was not our most interesting river crossing of the day though, for that accolade was saved for shortly after. We had been informed that over the rainy season a bridge had collapsed and the locals had made an invention to get over said very fast rapids. This invention was a hand-pulled cable car for two people. This was actually a lot safer than it seems and everyone made it across with no bother. For a rare time I was not actually wishing anyone to fall in; so far no-one has rubbed me up the wrong way.
Our group consists of 4 Brazilians, 2 Germans, 2 Americans and a large group of Chileans. I've spoken to all of them apart from the Chileans who speak very quickly in Spanish and not much English I believe. Everyone seems alright and there is plenty to talk about over meal times.
Another adventure through a dark tunnel and we had completed our journey! To the hot springs to relax and relieve the double pain of insect bites and just general fatigue. Thankfully this is by far our greatest day of walking. May tomorrow be as fun but easier on the legs.
