CGGS - Peru - Update # 3

A mid trek update from the CGGS team Dear Parents and Friends,
 
The past two days have been such a wonderful adventure! We have been so busy exploring this amazing country it has felt like a week since we last posted to you.
 
From the village we arrived at Las Cullpas to amazing rooms, hot showers and very comfy beds. We all collapsed into bed very early for a well deserved rest.
 
When we awoke we were all very excited to trek to and explore the Inca ruins around Las Cullpas. We started off by boarding a bus to travel to Moray, an incredible Inca ruin where we were amazed at the level of sophistication the Incas had for such early times. We all thoroughly enjoyed pretending we were the children off the Qantas add singing We Still Call Australia Home and placing ourselves around the ruin and taking some lovely photographs. We began to walk down into the Sacred Valley and to the Salt Mines at Las Salineras-Maras. Once again we were all amazed at how the Incas were so technologically advanced and were able to use the land to their full advantage.
 
After a long day of hiking down hill and learning about the history of Peru we all hopped into our comfy beds awaiting the morning when we would start our trek.
On the morning of the trek we were all a bit apprehensive as to what the next few days would entail. We hiked for about 9km through two stunning Valleys and up to an altitude of 4650m, a rise of 1100 metres. Throughout the trek the scenery was breathtaking and the food was delish!
 
That night we all snuggled up tightly in our sleeping bags with gloves, beanies and many layers of clothes on and braced ourselves for a cold night ahead. When we awoke we found ourselves surround by the Andean Mountains covered in snow and ice!!
 
Although it was challenging at times we were all very positive and managed to make it to the first camp sight in once piece. Everyone did such a wonderful job and were very supportive. Without the wonderful attitude from all the girls this trek would have been so much more challenging.
 
We hope the next few days will be as succesful and as enjoyable as the first day of the trek.
Hope all is well,
Lots of love,
The CGGS Peru team.