Unexpected encounters...

To give us a slight rest from hiking, our fantastic guides made sure we had other Peruvian experiences to enjoy along the way.   

On one occasion, we stopped to meet a 116-year old man in the neighbourhood.  He lives with his family, smiles all the time and seemed remarkably mobile considering his age.  His family also took us out onto their passion-fruit farm to teach us more about the harvesting process and let us taste the fruits of their labour. 

We also learned about the coca leaf traditions and the growth of the illegal cocaine trade, a trade that is annihilating the environment as well as harming so many lives. Although eating coca leaves is very common in Peru, Pepe and Manolo discouraged us from trying them until after the hike because our stomachs would not be ready to digest this foreign leaf.  Coca leaves are used frequently for cultural events,  and often three leaves are put out as an offering for Pachamama, the earth mother.  

In the jungle, we got to visit a coffee plantation and even do some roasting and tasting of the beans.
And at the last hotel, we also got to visit the hotel's tea plantation and both pick and grind our own tea bag!

We visited a couple of different homes that raised guinea pigs, a local delicacy.  Many of our group fed the guinea pigs bamboo shoots but Geoff secretly coached them on the best escape plan.

At one of the lodges, the team even made us lunch using an earth oven, a traditional cooking method used in Peru that cooks the food with the use of hot stones.  The process took just under an hour and created some of the most delicious baked vegetables.

 

Our wonderful guide, Pepe

These activities paired with Manolo and Pepe's wise insights into all things Peruvian (and beyond!), we certainly feel like we enjoyed a cultural experience as much as a hiking one.

Pelosa, the chipper dog who followed us our whole trip!