EC-Rider Travels

We packed a small bag and headed off to Ollanta to take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. Another spectacular journey through the Sacred Valley on a very comfortable train, just for tourists, with huge windows and a glass roof so you could see the mountains, as we went rather slowly by. Along the way…

The Sacred Valley is not, as I imagined, an eerie burial ground of Inca kings, but simply named after the river which runs through it. It is incredibly beautiful, surrounded by the dramatic Urubamba range of the Andean mountains. Today we visited the Ollantaytambo Fortress. On the way Miguel explained a little about the life…

We all got up pretty bleary eyed this morning, as in order for the train to catch up on the time it had lost, it did not stop at midnight as planned for us to sleep. Although our cabins were more then comfortable, with lovely beds and the most beautiful linen, the track is not…

OMG! I had no idea this was part of this trip. We seem to be on a train like the Orient Express and I believe owned by the same group. The Belmond Andean Explorer which is taking us from Puno to Cusco over night. I am currently sitting in my own little cabin feeling a…

Today has been a truly extraordinary day and I loved every minute. We left early morning with our new guide Roy, sooo sweet, but not as handsome as Marcelo and were driven to the harbour where we joined a boat to go out to see the floating islands. Again something I had heard much about…

Much of today was travelling, admittedly only 167k but a slow ol drive over the Andes, winding our way up behind many large, slow lorries. Before we left Arequipa we headed down to the town to see …… another parade. This was apparently just a little one but went the whole way round the main…

A chilly, early start and a sad departure from this very nice hotel and its exceptional staff. There was ice on the bushes as we left and headed towards the Colca Canyon which was another spectacular drive. The canyon is 120,000,000 years old and 3,600m deep – apparently twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.…

Arequipa, the colonial-era capital of Peru, was founded in 1540 and is surrounded by three volcanos Chachani, Pichu Pichu and El Misti which is still active. We spent the day with our excellent guide, Marcelo, who first took us to a spot where we could clearly see El Misti (5,825m), and also some of the…

Early start to the airport for a flight to Arequipa about an hour and a half from Lima. Surrounded by three volcanoes in the desert, Arequipa is one of the most vulnerable cities in the world from not only volcanic eruptions but also floods. It is 2,335m high and known as the White City as…

This morning I met Lewis our tour leader and my group of 10 companions for the next two weeks. All from the UK, two Indian couples from Harrow, David and Karen from Newcastle (I think), Karen, poor thing suffers with MS, Peter and Carol from Co Durham (not married, just friends) and hysterical Sue and…