Page 21 - AMA Summer 2023

Choquequirao Valley
Of course, the remainder of the trek saw us retrace our steps back along the 2-day outbound route – all without incident.
Trek two was a much shorter 2-day venture up to Humantay Lakes, but came with its own unique challenges. Having now spent a week living at an elevation of around 3200m we would now build to 4200m and the cusp of where we may start to see altitude sickness developing. The risk was well worth the reward and none of the team developed any symptoms. The team couldn’t visit Peru and the home of the ancient Incas without visiting one of the seven wonders of the world. The final single day trek in the Andes would be to
the more touristy site of Machu Picchu. Despite having been spoiled with a whole mountain range to ourselves in Cho- quequirao, the group fought through the crowds to make the most of this amazing experience and again to appreciate the ingenuity and architectural prowess of the Incas. The visit to Machu Picchu was the last full day in the Andes, but the group couldn’t leave before trying some local delicacies; Alpaca and Guinea Pig. On the final morning we participated in a cookery class, learning to make Ceviche and an Alpaca stir fry.
The final leg was to return to the UK, via a 2-day layover in Lima. This allowed the team to experience modern Peruvian culture with its mix of tradition and rest-of- world influence. A final walking tour around Lima’s historic sites and our preparation for the return to the UK drew the expedition to a close. All-in-all, the group had a fantastic time achieving the expedition’s aims and delivering a highly successful experience that will be talked about in the regiment for years to come. A huge thank you must go out to Gopal Saru for putting the time and effort into pulling it all together.
HUMANTAY LAKE
Nestled between the summits of the Salkantay Peak and the Humantay Mountain, Humantay Lake, with its glacial fed waters of emerald green and blue makes for an excellent day trip or part of a longer excursion for the more adventurous. Situated a few hours from Cusco, close to the village of Soraypampa, this lagoon is truly one of Peru’s hidden gems.
Source: www.peruhop.com
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