Peru

Cusco (22 - 26 June)
Made it here for the Inti Raymi (winter solstice) festival, was full of tourists but a really nice town, in the morning we would go to the market which was only 90 cent for three smoothies, good start to the day! Stayed in Point hostel as Loki was full, for a party hostel it was pretty lame, spend most of our time in Loki at night time as it had a good happy hour plus i knew some friends from La Paz there, Nightlife in cusco is pretty decent, Mama africas and down town are the main clubs. Even though its pretty high up this inca capital, really nice and warm during the day.

Got a gorgeous roast dinner one day in McCoys even had real stuffing and cheese and cauliflower, really good restaurants here.

From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa

From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa

From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa

Arequipa (27 - 30 June)
South of perus is this really stylish city, again stayed in Point hostel but this tie was managed alot better, better music and bar and good hammocks to chill out on. the real reason we went down there as to chill out before the inca trail but seeing as it was the weekend that was not going to happen!!

Nightlife is really good here, and the girls are smoking aswell! Went to a club called Deja Vu and another night went to a bar near the swedish one on Calle San Francisco which sold whiskey buckets, well close enough!

For the first time in south america found a good doner kebab shop, and my god were they amazing for 1.50EUR each!!

Cusco (1st July - 3rd)
Just rested up here in Point hostel for two days before the inca trail, nuff said no alcohol for me.....

Inca Jungle Trek (July 3 - 7)
By the eway this fun trek only cost 160 US dollars, compared to the classic inca trail that can cost from 500 - 1000 dollars!

Started off from the hostel at half seven in the morning to get a bus to Abra Malaga to start our descent on the mountain bikes. Myself and niall wer always flying down waiting for the rest and before we got to Santa Maria at a stop point, waiting around my poor ankles got bitten alive by sand flies! Really good cycle though, at one stage went stragiht through a rgiht angle turn and had to take the next dirt turn luckily to keep on course! By the way Santa Maria was washed away by Rio Urubamba and the to be redeveloped up stream.

Styaed in a hostel that night and up at six in the morning to start our long trek through the jungle. Part of the trek was the inca trail, fabalous terrain and landscape, even had lunch in the jungle! Seen many spiders, bananas, avocado and lemon and lime trees. Funniest thing to see was an old lady with a monkey selling Powerade on the trek, shows how commerical its getting (In BOD we trust!) Got to the hot springs in the evening time for an hour of relaxation, then a one hour trek to the town of Santa Teresa, had a funny night there, went to a local club and used a carrot as a pipe, nuff said....

Then the third day a little worst for wear, a pretty monotonous walk along the railway line to Aguas Calientes. Then we arrived in Aguas Calientes very touristy town at the bottom of Maccha Piccu had one hour for lunch and then straight up Happy Mountain (not sure of the name!) deep ascent up steps and even ladders to the top but well worth the view.

Went to bed pretty early in Aguas Calientes as up the last day at four. Pretty dark morning our ascent up to Maccha Piccu but adrenalin was kicking in. Got up in lots of time to take pictures as buses were only just arriving. Queued up for Wayna Pichu, usually takes an hour but we made it up in 20 mins and were the first five to arrive at the top, the view of Maccha Piccu is amazing. Had a tour of Maccha Piccu in the afternoon and at this stage there was many tourists, the tour itself was pretty interestig but alot of theories exist as to why it was deserted.

Overall was a really good hard trek, thoroughly enjoyed the climbs and the views of Maccha Piccu.

From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu

From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu

From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu

Cusco (July 8- 11)
Came back after the trek to got on the lash in Cusco. Stayed in Loki hostel which was really good fun, decent bar and good chill out area. Spent most my time going out in Extrema bar first for cocktail happy hour on Plaza de Armas, then afterwards either Up town or Mama Africas. Bumped into some girls from La paz i knew working there and had a great time!

Huachina (July 12 - 13)
This is a small place on the coastline near Ika famous for its sand dunes. Stayed there for a night in hostel Casa de Arena and did sandboarding and dune buggies. Was really good fun, our drivers were pretty crazy over the dunes, great adrenalin rush!

Lima (July 14 - 25)
Where to begin! Stayed in Barrancos in Point hostel for a few ngihts and just went clubbing. Met some cool people there including a crazy ozzy dude and nights out organised by the hostel were great, even gave you free glow sticks one night!! Lima is really good for its electronica music. Then moved to Miraflores and stayed in Loki hostel for the weekend as they were celebrating independence weekend there with a parade. Just partied around Larcomar and Barrancos, did seven nights in a row, shattered!!

Tequila Rock on a sunday night and Gothika were the best clubs i think. Happened to get in one surf aswell, swallowed alot of sea water tho! Seen the new batman movie aswell, awesome!!

To conclude lima is brilliant for partying and the girls here are the hottest i seen in south america! Favourite beer was Cristal and the supermarkets here Metro are really good, even give you free alocohol sometimes...

Mancora (July 26 - 30)
Up the coastline before Ecuador is this smalll surfing town on the coastliine. Weather was really nice here and there was alot of hot peruvians there aswell for independence weekend. Didnt do any surf though as the waves were too small. Travelled with two english girls lauren and amy and had a great time with them, bar street is nothing to write home about. Had an interesting incident with the cops tho and a good session in Loki that wasnt even open then!