Peru -- Places

Confident in our Spanish we planned our trip to Peru in 2005. Knowing we would spend time at over 13,000 feet and wanted no part of altitude drugs, we planned to acclimate by going to Arequipa at about a mile, then by van over a 10,000 ft. pass to Colca Canyon at about 8000 ft. for an overnight. From Colca Canyon back to Arequipa then fly to Cusco and on by train to Machu Picchu. Labor unrest and bus travel disruptions caused us to return to Cusco and miss staying in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Next, the tourist train across the Alta Plano from Cusco to Puno with side-trips to the islands in Lake Titicaca. Another plane ride back to Lima for a few more days at museums and archeological sites.