CONTINENTAL JOURNEY IGLESIAWASICHAY, AT THE JESUIT CHURCH AT MARCAPATA (BETWEEN CUSCO AND PUERTO MALDONADO). ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE NEW THATCH FOR THE CHURCH ROOF EVERY FOUR YEARS; BUT THE TRADITION DATES BACK TO PRE-HISPANIC TIMES. IT LASTS 7 DAYS AND PEOPLE FROM TEN COMMUNITIES TAKE PART Iñigo Maneiro Iñigo Maneiro Andahuaylillas, Huaroy Can<strong>in</strong>cunca, which are worth stopp<strong>in</strong>g to see. Urcos, together with the last church mentioned, marks the end of the fourth stage of the Southern Inter-Ocean Highway. The turn-off to Madre de Dios and Brazil is just beyond it. We start the climb to Abra Cuyuni, which provides impressive views of the mounta<strong>in</strong>s and River Vilcanota. Cross<strong>in</strong>g the pass at 4,185 metres above sea level, br<strong>in</strong>gs us to the Ocongate valley, from which we can see Mount Ausangate, the highest peak <strong>in</strong> Cusco. The Cuyuni roadhouse belong<strong>in</strong>g to the concessionaire responsible for ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the highway, is an excellent place to stop for a coffee or coca-leaf tea, or to try the local cheese. The road takes us the length of the valley, with its small communities of farmers and herders. If necessary, Ocongate is a good place to stay at the Ausangate roadhouse, before the next stop <strong>in</strong> Qu<strong>in</strong>cemil. The route then climbs to Abra Pirhuayani, at 4,735 metres above sea level the highest po<strong>in</strong>t on the whole journey. There follows a long descent <strong>in</strong>to the Amazon jungle through an <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ity of different types of scenery. We pass Marcapata with its adobe church, Inambari where the road from Puno jo<strong>in</strong>s this one, and Qu<strong>in</strong>cemil, the mid-po<strong>in</strong>t of this stretch of the Inter-Ocean Highway, before stopp<strong>in</strong>g for the night at La Casona. Qu<strong>in</strong>cemil is surrounded by cloud forest, rich <strong>in</strong> orchids and birds. Our journey cont<strong>in</strong>ues as far as Puerto Maldonado. We cont<strong>in</strong>ue to descend and the jungle becomes more exuberant, until we reach the capital of the Department of Madre de Dios. There are many lodges to choose from close to the rivers, where we can experience different aspects of biodiversity. We cross the longest bridge <strong>in</strong> <strong>Peru</strong> and cont<strong>in</strong>ue to Iñapari, pass<strong>in</strong>g small villages of farmers who also survive from hunt<strong>in</strong>g, fish<strong>in</strong>g and gather<strong>in</strong>g. We are <strong>in</strong> the heart of the jungle full of enormous chestnut trees, which can only be found <strong>in</strong> this part of the world, on the frontier between <strong>Peru</strong>, Brazil and Bolivia. Left: The highest po<strong>in</strong>t on the journey; from here the trail descends towards the high jungle. Opposite page: Qu<strong>in</strong>cemil, <strong>in</strong> the district of Camanti, is one of the ra<strong>in</strong>iest places on the planet and, thanks to that, one of the most biodiverse.
IÑANPARI AIRPORT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7 PUERTO MALDONADO PLANCHON to lima ANDAHUAYLAS AMPAY NATIONAL SANCTUARY SAYWITE MOLLEPATA ABANCAY CUSCO ANTA OROPESA ANDAHUAYLILLAS URCOS OCONGATE MARCAPATA QUINCEMIL INAMBARI TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE ICA ANDAMARCA PUQUIO CHALHUANCA to puno NASCA PAMPA GALERAS BARBARA DE ACHILLE NATIONAL RESERVE SAN JUAN DE MARCONA PORT to arequipa pacific ocean Iñigo Maneiro Iñigo Maneiro For more <strong>in</strong>formation www.survial.com.pe www.nazcacusco.com www.iirsasur.com.pe /49