Workshop Experiences

Senior Girl Scout Troop 243 Visits Wayqecha - Continued

The Wayqecha staff was waiting to greet us, and as Girl Scouts used to carrying our own luggage, we felt pretty pampered to have it transferred from the van to our cabins by Lucho (and the other gentleman whose name I never caught).  We were instantly at home -- just like a very upscale Girl Scout camp! 
We had a short hike on the orchid trail with Karina and orchid expert/fantastic chef, Panchito, before it got dark. Then we were treated to the first of many delicious and substantial meals prepared by Panchito. (We ate well the whole trip, but everyone agreed his meals were the best -  authentic Peruvian home cooking!). The generator was on from 6-9pm, giving everyone a chance to get a shower and charge batteries, and avail ourselves of the Wi-Fi to use the iphone we had with us to send  a message to family back home! (Wi-Fi in the cloud forest, amazing!)
The next day we spent several hours walking down the road, through tunnels and up to waterfalls, all the time marveling at the butterflies, orchids and birds. The van folllowed and returned us to the station for lunch. This plan suited our group as my daughter is physically handicapped and the trails are steep and narrow at times -- she and I could do them, but to do it all day would be exhausting. There are plenty of actual trails to follow for groups not similarly constrained.
We saved ourselves for the trail to the cloud forest elevated walkway in the afternoon. Laura, research fellow, met us at the trail head and guided us down to the walkway, sharing insights to the importance of the biological ecosystems found in the cloud forest, the threats from global warming and the birds she and a colleague found in their nets that day.
And then the walkway - we spent an amazing two hours traversing the several stretches of walkway, looking down, looking up, looking out -- watching the clouds roll in and around us.
We had a lovely dinner, and then clear skies allowed us to star gaze in the southern hemisphere ( Southern Cross as clear as can be).
The return trip to Cusco the next day was just as riveting as the trip up to Wayqecha.  Panchito had prepared the potato casserole we all loved the first night and packed it for our lunch.
After the quiet, beauty and peace of the Cloud Forest, returning to Cusco in the midst of the Inti Raymi festival was a bit of a jangle!
We enjoyed everywhere and everything we went and did in Peru, but nine girls ( age 14-18) and three adults agreed the venture to Wayqecha was a highlight and worth every minute and kilometer! 
We let the Lima Guias we met with on our last night in Peru know what a treasure is to be found at Waqecha and we did and will recommend Peru Footprints to anyone contemplating an eco-tourism adventure in Peru.
Thank you, MaryAnn and Monica for all your assistance.
Sincerely,
Paige Barnett
Advisor, GSUSA Senior/Ambassador Troop 243