Social Activity: Trip to the mountain!

Team Peru is always ready for adventure, and this time, we decided to take it to new heights – literally. For this trip, we decided to go to Marcapomacocha; a small village located about 5 hours away from Lima, high up in the mountains at an altitude of 4,415m above sea-level.

After getting our provisions (that consisted mainly of motion sickness pills and candy), we set out from the city at 5am. Sleepy, but excited, we wondered what we would find there, and hoped no one would get altitude sickness. Most of us slept on the ride there, but some were scared due to the fast curves.

We stopped at about 9am for breakfast, and ate some delicious bread with butter, eggs, and “mate de coca”; an infusion made from coca leaves that helps prevent altitude sickness. We took some time to relax and enjoy the peacefulness that could already be felt in the air.

Once our batteries were recharged, we set out once more to our destination. We could see many streams and a lot of wildlife; and suddenly, we saw alpacas! The whole team was excited to see this typical Peruvian animal. There were babies and adults; and we were able to take some pictures before they all ran away.

Don’t run away, alpacas!

We continued on higher up the mountain; and some of us started to feel the effects of the altitude. Soon, we arrived at our next stop, an overlook to Rajuntay snowy mountain. The mountain can only be accessed by foot, so we were unable to do so, but we were still able to see it in all its splendor; a beautiful, white mountain. Most of us have never seen snow before, so we were very thrilled.

Rajuntay snowy mountain

After looking at Rajuntay, we drove a while longer to reach our next stop; Marcacocha waterfall. To reach the waterfall, we had to walk through some steep hills, “risking our lives”, as some of the team members put it. Still, that didn’t stop us, and down we went. The waterfall was pretty, but the weather was getting chilly. Luckily, the tour guides lent us some ponchos, and we were able to have the full Peruvian experience. Anwar and Luzardo ended up looking like locals.

Chilly!

Soon, we started to get hungry, and just in time for our next destination; Marcapomachocha town, where we had a delicious lunch consisting of fried trout, fish or chicken. Granted, it’s not the ideal food to eat in the altitude, but it was delicious.

After lunch, we saw the main attraction; Marcapomacocha lagoon. This is one of the most important lagoons in Peru, providing most of Lima’s water. Its crystalline water makes it a great sight for tourists.

Hello from Marcapomacocha!

With our stomachs full and our bodies rested; it was time to head back to Lima. We still had a couple of stops left on the way, however, so the trip was far from over. As we descended the mountain, the effects of the altitude started to wear off, and we were able to enjoy the views much better.

After a few more hours of traveling, we finally stopped at “Mellicera” waterfall; the twin’s waterfall. Its name comes from the belief that if you drink its water, you will be blessed with twin babies. This belief is strengthened by the fact that in nearby areas, many families have twins. Damilka drank some of its water in hopes to see this legend come true, so hopefully in a few years, she might have twins!

After a few more hours of traveling, we finally stopped at “Mellicera” waterfall; the twin’s waterfall. Its name comes from the belief that if you drink its water, you will be blessed with twin babies. This belief is strengthened by the fact that in nearby areas, many families have twins. Damilka drank some of its water in hopes to see this legend come true, so hopefully in a few years, she might have twins!

A happy team!

Finally, we reached our last stop; Canta village. There, we were able to buy local products such as cheese; milk candy; quinoa sweets, among others. Everyone went home with fuller hands and emptier pockets; and with great memories to keep forever. It was an exciting trip with wonderful views; however, Peruvian team reached an agreement: “Next time, let’s do something that doesn’t involve risking our lives!”.

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