We are getting to the end!

We are back in Huanchaco for a day, the last load of laundry picked up by the efficient lady with the scooter, a last stroll in the little beach town, a last ocean stroll. We are on our way to Lima for a last day at Luis' house. We get there early morning, hang out and assemble Joaquin's trampoline. At lunch we have a delicious ceviche at the corner restaurant and take a last stroll in Miraflores. The last night in Lima will stay memorable, let's just remember that the 3:30 am departure was beyond rough. Love all this trip...my traveling addiction will stay on!

Chiclayo

We decide on going up north to Chiclayo to visit some interesting ruins and a rescue center with still spectacle bears! It is a four hour bus ride from Trujillo, it seems a very easy trip. Chiclayo is small but chaotic, we have a very welcoming hotel owner who take care of us like kids! Next day we take a trip to the Reserva Ecologica Chappari located in a dry forest and we have a walk with a very knowledgeable guide. We learn about nature and animals and the spectacle bears are the attraction of the trip. It is a two hour ride to get back to Chiclayo but nature all around is interesting and we don't mind the bumpy road. Next day we visit the site of the tombs of the Lord of Sipran, the findings of the tombs are in the incredible museum with all the treasures found on the site. Even the kids are super interested into this museum!

Trujillo and the ruins

Well restored colonial town with an amazing main square and some beautiful colorful colonial buildings. Most amazing of all the Casona where we have a finally perfect coffee and superb hospitality. On the surrounding of Trujillo, we visit some impressive ruins at Chan Chan. We learn about the Chimu` and we realize how we should stop thinking of Peru` in terms of Inca! Next day we visit another incredible site of Huaca del Sol y de la Luna, built in the Moche period. Mario takes us around and in the process we learn about Peruvians!

Huanchaco

The south Pacific has a scary charm. Rough and gray at this time of the year but tons of fun for the surfers. We stay at Luis "delicious" house by the beach and we really appreciate to be in a house again! We literally take the day off, Matthias sleeps all afternoon and through the night!

The Atacama Desert

Ready for the departure to the desert, few miles outside Lima and you can smell it, the desert offers all its variety of colors landscapes and I start get in the "desert" mood. We stop at the big dunes of Huacacina for a slide. The site is a beautiful oasis even if it is not very well maintained but still lots of fun! . We get to our location kind of late, the place is exactly what we were looking for and the people at the lodging are very charming and hospitable. Next day we wake up late and we discover the beauty around us, and I can't get enough of this place where I would have want to stay longer so by the time we explore the surrondings it is already midday. We visit the Inca wells and take stop at the miradores to see the Nazca Lines. At sunset we enjoy a beautiful sunset by a pyramid, the drive there is a little though and Luis is getting worried that it is getting dark and the place apparently can be dangerous (go figure it must be a Peruvian thing!!!). Oh well we speed a little and we are on time for the pachamanca, typical dish cooked underground! The ceremonial is as interesting as the food, I am the madrina of the pachamanca which is real the only thing that matters! Next day we are on or way back, with a stop at a hacienda turned into a hotel for lunch. We are back in Lima at a decent time beating Lima's traffic.

The long trip

Leaving the Amazon on a one hour boat ride, getting to Iquitos, waiting forever at the airport and having to change planes, getting to Lima and one hour later getting to the bus to Trujillo and arriving next morning. Forgot to mention that Matthias threw up like 4 times fortunately without disaster. Needless to say we needed a day off.

The River

The greatest of all rivers, the overpowering nature, the tranquility of a serene flow of water, it is low water level at this time of the year, three months ago it was record high and the islands were flooded. We enjoy all the activities related to the area, pirana fishing, nature walk, tarantula hunting...but most of all I just enjoy looking at it and could never really get tired. On our 2 hours boat ride to go to the canopy walk the river had changed colors so many times. It is warm here but very pleasant, can't get enough of this trip. The kids enjoy most of all our visit to the rescue center, those little monkeys were really adorable.