Itinerary - Where in the World Is Kim Today?

Sunday Dec 2 - Leave Toronto for Lima, Peru

Taking only one backpack and a small carry-on pack for the plane, I start my "Escape from the Cubicle Tour" with an 11 hour journey; 9 hours flying time and 2 hours waiting for a transfer in Atlanta. I will arrive in Lima at midnight (same time as Toronto - no time change) and make my way to my hotel.


Monday Dec 3 - Wander Around Lima
I have no planned activities and will see where the day takes me… maybe a city tour, maybe sampling Lima's famous ceviche (raw fish "cooked" in vinegar). I should meet some of the other travelers on my first GAP tour tonight.

Kim's Guidebook Fact: Known as the City of Kings, Peru’s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro.

Dec 4-6 - Puno / Lake Titicaca
I will fly to Juliaca then take a short bus ride to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The next morning I head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. En route to Taquile Island I will visit the floating reed islands of the Uros people. And then… it gets interesting - I will be the guest of a local family for an overnight homestay which will hopefully provide an opportunity to learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and to participate in local traditions (I think they just dress us up funny for their own entertainment - like if we dressed up tourists in Mountie outfits..).

Located at 3830 m above sea level, Puno is the highest altitude of any place we sleep on the tour. As a result the weather can be extreme with very cold nights and a strong sun during the day. This will be where I find out if the altitude will make or brake me, and if my pre-trip running was worth anything! This will also be my first chance to get some local shopping in!

Kim's Guidebook Fact: Titicaca is the largest lake in the world above 2000m. The Totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake are used for making everything from the Uros islands themselves to the model boats that the islanders sell. The islands are made up of layers upon layers of reeds; as the layers closest to the water start to rot, they are replaced with fresh reeds on top. The men of this community do all the knitting, as this is strictly a male domain, while the women do the spinning.


Friday Dec 7 - Cuzco
The trip from Puno to Cuzco will take the better part of the day. Should arrive in Cuzco and relax for the remainder of the evening. Will still be at very high altitudes and preparing for my Inca hike, so here's hoping I can keep my Western-party-girl tendencies in check, as this is a party city filled with tourists!!

Kim's Guidebook Fact - Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure.


Saturday Dec 8 - Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley
The group will travel with a local guide through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. An important source of food for the Inca, the Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cuzco with much of its produce. Ollantaytambo will be my first taste of what lies ahead on the Inca Trail.

Kim's Guidebook Fact - The ruined fortress in Ollantaytambo is known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest.

Dec 9-12 - Hike the Inca Trail and Visit Machu Picchu
Provided I have made it through the effects of the altitude, I will begin the 4-day trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! It is a 40-km (25 mile) hike, with 3 high passes to be crossed, one of which reaches an elevation of 4200m (13776 ft). I will camp directly on the trail for 3 nights in a row, and the temperatures at night will likely be below zero! On the final day of the hike we will get up around 4am to climb the steps to the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu.

Kim's Guidebook Fact - Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.


Thurs Dec 13th - Back in Cuzco
If I'm not too insanely tired, I will NOW be partaking in the par-tay in Cuzco. I will have the whole day and night to explore the city!

Dec 14-16 - Travel into the Amazon Jungle!
I will fly from Cuzco, high in the Andes, to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Amazon jungle. Meeting up with my next group, we will travel by motorized canoe to our lodge in the Tambopata Rainforest Area, which has no hot water or electricity! I will use these 3 days to explore the jungle with local guides and possibly eat some of the local cuisine - including piranha! I will also inevitably be eaten alive by malaria-carrying mosquitoes. And yes, Cote, I will scratch every bite!

Kim's Guidebook Fact - About half of Peru is located within the Amazon Basin, however, due to its isolation the region's principal city of Puerto Maldonadohas to be serviced by air from Lima and Cuzco. Mars - The area is renowned for its diverse plant and animal populations including over 1,200 butterfly species! Haha! Despite the fact they are almost NEVER seen, I am holding out hope that I will see a Jaguar… and then likely try to pet it and get mauled in the process.


Mon Dec 17th - Fly to Lima, Then Fly to Quito
I will leave my second group of travelers and make my own way to Lima, and then to Quito which is the capital of Ecuador. This city is know for is dance clubs, so maybe I'll get some lessons from the locals! The city is also known for it's pick-pockets, so if I'm going to be a crime victim, this would be the time! (don't worry, I'll be careful!)

Kim's Guidebook Fact - The Inca reached this city before the Spaniards, but leveled it to the ground rather than give it up to the Spanish. The present capital was founded by the Spanish on December 6th, 1534.

Tues Dec 18th - Fly into Baltra - my first island stop in the Galapagos
I'm not exactly sure how, but I will meet with some GAP group members and take a very early flight to Baltra, in the Galapagos islands. Upon arrival we will meet up with our naturalist guide and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station before boarding our boat, the G.A.P Adventurer III.

Kim's Guidebook Fact - The Galapagos Islands are located about 1000 km (620 miles) off the Pacific coast of South America. The archipelago is comprised of 13 major islands and scores of islets that served as a living laboratory for Charles Darwin, the renowned evolution theorist. Long before Darwin arrived in the Galapagos, seafarers knew these isolated islands as home to some of the strangest and most wonderful wildlife imaginable, including birds that could swim but no longer fly, aquatic iguanas, dragon-like lizards left over from prehistoric times, and the giant Galapagos tortoises for which the islands were named.

Wed Dec 19th - North Seymour Island
On this island, I will hike the main trail and I should be able to see Iguanas, many bird species, and a colony of sea lions!

Thurs Dec 20th - Bartolomé Island
We'll arrive early and hike another main trail. I'm hoping to see some rare Galapagos penguins, only 800 pairs exist, so I will have to get lucky! After the hike, I am going to try to get to the opposite side of the island and chill out on the semi-tropical beach…. Where sharks are known to swim in the shallow waters!

Fri Dec 21st - Black Turtle Cove (on Santa Cruz Island)/Fly back to Quito
Lots more animal life expected - pelicans, lava herons, golden mustard rays, white-tipped sharks, and marine turtles.

Sat Dec 22nd - Day in Quito/Journey Home
I will be on my own for one last day in Quito, and then make my way to the airport to begin my trip back to Toronto. The flights here are notoriously ill-scheduled, so let's hope I can make it home by Christmas! If all goes as planned, I will leave Quito at around 10:30pm, fly all night, and be back in T.O. on the 23rd - all ready for Christmas! Note - everyone is getting Alpaca sweaters for Christmas!