Małgorzata Łukaszewska

It was my giant dream since around fifteen years. After I read the book “Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield I was planning my future adventure. I was looking for the

Parrot drinking my morning cofffe

right time and right arrangement. I use to say that things happened to us in the right time. I didn’t push, so I kept my plans in my mind and waited. And the time came to me by itself. My best friend Beata told me one day that she is planning to go to Peru with a great company Wild Guanabana owned by Omar Samra that is specialized in adventurous journeys. Before she finished I knew – that was IT! To make long story short – Beata didn’t go with me. I went alone.  After I read the program I decided that I am going to add a lot of extras to the standard program. Going so far you need to make the most of it. I ask Omar to add another two weeks to the two weeks of the “standard program”. So…

I started with 5 days in the Amazonian jungle by Iquitos with shamanic flower bath – ritual done by the shaman woman from the nearby village.

The jungle is amazing…  Huge colorful parrots flying around in the free, swimming in the Momon River – no piranhas!!!

Jungle in Iquitos at Amazon river in Peru

The only thing that made me sad was the sound of chainsaws cutting the jungle’s biggest and most beautiful trees… Everywhere and most of the time… Surrounded with unbelievably beautiful nature, swimming in the river, this sound made me cry…

Next  – Paracas and Peruvians Galapagos! Again, nature made me bow in front of The Creator. Birds, sea lions, penguins, and beautiful pelicans are so cute. And so many of them

Arequipa

From Paracas to Nazca. The Nasca Lines were a bit disappointing, but I am happy that I saw them.

Arequipa was my next stop. 2380m over the sea level. I started to fight with the altitude problem. As Omar advised Soroche tablets helped a lot. The city itself is picturesque and very unique but I was excited about my trip to Colca Canyon to see Great Condors. It is difficult to describe my experience in short. I can write a whole book about it. I was amazed by the scenery all the time. And Condors were exactly as they say. Huge! It was worth to wait more than an hour to see them.

Puno and Titicaca Lake were my next destination.  This time on 3811m. Without tablets headache was spoiling my day so I decided to continue to take them.

Titikaka lake, Peru, Puno

Floating Islands of Uros and Taquile showed another chance to make spectacular photos.

My first two weeks were just about to end. Now, starting from Cusco, I supposed to join the group for the main program of Peru trip. My “group” showed up to be just one person. I met Hisham at the hotel in Cusco and then we went for the city tour. Next day the exciting Inca Jungle Trail started. We  joined a group of ten people and the guide. Me – Polish/Danish and the Spanish girl were the only two women in the group. There was one Danish, one Greek, German, Italian, English, Suisse, two Canadian brothers and Hesham with me from Egypt. Quite a nice mixture… Fortunately, I already adjusted to the altitude.

Visiting Cusco with Hisham

Cusco is on 3400m. Four days of unforgettable adventures starting with bicycle ride down from 4000 m along spectacular road between the white picks of the surrounding mountains. I had to stop several times to take pictures. I made 6000 photos during whole month. Fantastic!

Next day four of our group went for zip line between the mountains. Can you imagine hanging almost two kilometers over the trees flying like a bird from one top of the mountain to the other? Awesome! We went also with Hisham for rafting on the mountain river. You know – I am professional tour guide and I know that, usually, organized trips have to be safe for the tourists. So, when we came to the river I ask the guide if we are going to feel any adrenaline during the ride because I doubt it. He promised that we will…

and we DID!!! It was the only moment that I didn’t take any pictures and it was one of

Zipline on Inca trail to Machu Pichu

the top experiences of the entire trip. It showed up that our guide was the owner of the rafting business so he let us try all kind of crazy stuff like jumping in to the river holding only the rope in the whirling water or diving with the whole boat under the waves. Unforgettable and crazy but it was exactly what I was looking for – FUN AND ADVENTURE!

Inca trek was very challenging for me. I discover some kind of problem with the balance so walking along a very steep, narrow passages and high rocks made me even cry once. But it was worth, the spectacular scenery we had all the time made me understand again and again how beautiful The World is. Any way, we need to overcome our weaknesses. I did that few times during this trek and also later in Cordillera Blanca.

After superb day on Machu Picchu I bid everyone farewell and continue to Huaraz in high mountains of Cordillera Blanca.  Right from the beginning I went on private lesson of rock climbing with Jenny – the key partner for Omar in Peru. I climbed twice up to the top of the high rocky wall but the third time I reached only to the half of it. My hands, specially fingers could not hold the rocks any longer. But I think that I did a great job. This was fantastic preparation for the next adventures. Next one was climbing up to the Churup lake on the level of 4450 m with fantastic guide Jason. Rock climbing lessons were very helpful.  Next day I start 4 days trekking to the Qulicayhuanca Valley followed by 5100m Huappi Passage and back along Quebrada Valley. I had, for myself only, assistance of: my guide Gladys, my cook, donkey driver and three donkeys. Donkeys followed us only to the passage. The rest of the trek we had to carry our equipment by ourselves. Another challenge but I am so happy that I’ve done this. I could not stop taking photos of the breathtaking surroundings.

It was, till now, my greatest adventure of my life. And I have to add that Jenny who arranged the entire itinerary for my thirty days Peru-adventure couldn’t do more perfectly. Everywhere at the airports or by the bus stations there was always somebody waiting for me with my name. Every detail of the trip was carefully taken care of. I was traveling on the first class sleeping busses where the comfort and the standard are better than in the business class of the airplane.

Last day in Lima I was blown away with the culinary tour around Lima guided by Greg. When Greg is describing food you can feel the taste of the dish he is talking about. It was a beautiful closer of the entire trip to Peru. I still remember the taste of seviche with avocado…

I can’t wait when I go on next adventure. This time will be Kilimanjaro. As you presume I will, definitely, go with Wild Guanabana and Omar Samra. There is no other choice for me! Thank you for this time.

P.S.

By the way – I am 50 ;)