This past week we’ve been moving quickly towards Cusco. We had an exiting exit from La Paz, a beautiful ride along Lake Titicaca, and have entered our 7th country: Peru!
Country number 7: Peru!
After taking a day to let our legs recover from our hike, we got up very early to leave La Paz before traffic picked up. Unfortunately, Daisy got a flat tire 3 blocks down the street! We changed the tube on the sidewalk while avoiding a couple puddles that were probably urine, based on the smell. It seems that people just pee all over the place in this city.
Flat tire in downtown La Paz
Crazy traffic in El Alto. We dodged cars, trucks, buses, and minibuses, and all the people trying to get rides or walk across the street!
After escaping the traffic, we found ourselves back in the flat altiplano. Soon enough, we were riding along the famous Lake Titicaca. We took a short ferry (actually a small wooden raft) with a couple cars and then climbed our way up and over the hill to get to Copacabana. The road wound along the ridge and we could see the lake on both sides. It was beautiful!
Back on flat roads in the altiplano
These guys pushed our ferry (aka raft) off the dock before turning on a small motor. We shared the boat with 2 cars, although it looked like 3 or 4 could fit.
The road wound up the hills and we got great views of Lake Titicaca.
Our bikes get a break
The next day we entered Peru, and we felt the difference immediately. The people are very friendly! A lot of people smile and wave to us as we ride by. Also, there are a lot more bicycles, cargo tricycles, and motorcycle taxis. In general, people seem to be a bit happier and a lot less reserved. When we stopped for our picnic lunch the first day, a woman with 4 cows sat down nearby and chatted with us.
The wheat was cut and set to dry
One of many motorcycle-trucks
A fishing village along Lake Titicaca.
Cut reeds drying in the sun. Along the road there were ladies tying them together to make mats.
Our first city in Peru: Puno.
Many of the small towns have municipal sports stadiums. Most of them have livestock inside!
Cargo tricycle traffic in Juliaca
Meeting Erik and Garbi, a friendly Spanish couple that have been heading south since Mexico.
Alpacas along the road
Snowy mountains as we head up our first Peruvian pass, very gradually. Peru is known for having low grades and many switchbacks.
“Summit Lake” — or at least that is what we called it.
Our first summit sign in ages.
We got a little rain near the top
We are excited to arrive in Cusco in just a couple days. We will meet up with my parents and visit for a week – we haven’t seen them since San Francisco! We will also do the 4-day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. I think after that we’ll be happy to retire our hiking boots until after the bicycle trip is over.
They are serious about their guinea pigs!
That Lake Titicaca is incredible with the mountains in the distance.
Oooh Lake Titicaca! Did you see a Telmatobius culeus (a Lake Titicaca Frog)? pretty amazing creatures. They maximize their surface area with lots of skin folds and with mostly cutaneous breathing, they can stay under water for ever. Really cool frog that is endangered. I always wanted to see one. And you were there!
Beautiful photos as always! Can’t wait to hear about your next hiking adventure. Such altitudes!
Millie
Millie, Wow, what a cool frog! We didn’t see one though, just some more common little frogs jumping along the road. We are down in Cusco now, at about 10,000′. Believe it or not, the air feels thick and rich here!
Hola!!. Veo que han llegado a Perú. Recuerdo el Machupichu, el Titicaca… Era todo muy bonito. Lo que veo es que hace frío, no sabía que les empezaba el invierno ahora. Recuerdo que nosotros fuimos en agosto y hacía frío. Nosotros no hicimos el camino del Inca,pero fuimos a Cuzco y Aguas Calientes. Espero pasen unos días felices con tus padres. Les estaremos esperando cuando acaben su aventura americana.Piensa que Colón pasó por las Canarias antes de ir a América, nosotros también somos parte de tu viaje. Besos.