Today team Pampas Pumas left the beautiful Wayra lodge with clear skies and clear views of Humantay Peak. We hiked to a local farmers home and learned about the way of life high in the Andes, and played with perhaps the cutest puppy in Peru. Our trek today led us down out of the alpine and into the cloud forest, where our local guide Jose told us about different medicinal plants. We also saw a hummingbird, of which Peru has over one hundred species.
After a few hours of descent we reached the Collpa Lodge. Situated at the confluence of three rivers, in the cloud forest we were greeted with the standard hot towels and refreshing beverage and a Panchamanca lunch. Pachamanca is a traditional Peruvian dish based on the baking, with the aid of hot stones (the earthen oven is known as a huatia), of lamb, mutton, pork, chicken or guinea pig, marinated in spices. Other Andean produce, such as potato, green lima beans or “habas”, sweet potato, occasionally cassava or yuca, and humitas (sweet treat) as well as ears of corn, tamale and chili, is included in the baking. We had a great feast and are spending the rest of the day relaxing before a Piso Sour making class this evening!
-Anna Zajicek
