The 30-minute drive to the park proved we had made a great decision to visit the park regardless of the weather. The skies broke-up to partly cloudy which actually added to the dramatic views. Much of the park is around 11,000 feet with many mountains above 13,000 feet.
Upon paying our entrance fee of $20/both, and receiving the best and only map of any parks we’ve visited in South America, our driver took us further into the park to one of the few visitor centers. Here, he dropped us off and would pick us up at the entrance in about 2-hours. Two-hours!? He’s kidding, right?
Kathleen and I set out following the pink route as the route was marked with little dabs of paint on trees, rocks, and short posts. Instantly, we realized this was a place we needed to visit again.
The park protects over 200 lakes carved out of the rock by glacial processes some millennia ago. The mountains and valleys were initially the result of glacial forces. Since then, time and erosion further sculpted the landscape into what looked like Arctic tundra in combination with the Rocky Mountains. Actually, the landscape reminded Kathleen and I of Adak Island, Alaska.
Kathleen and I thought the park would be a wonderful place to backpack and camp. The nights would be chilly, however, today, the sun was warm and a gentle breeze felt invigorating.
After hearing “Tweeeet – hoot – hoot” among some shrubs, we managed to see a Tawny Ant-pitta. Kathleen maneuvered around and got a few photos of the little bugger who was singing his heart out to any of his kind who’d dare challenge his territory.
Kathleen and I continued on our trek and found one great view after another. This was what we came to see and do on our South America trip.The pink route meandered among hummocks and lakes and beneath forests of trees looking like stands of giant Manzanita. We dawdled along enjoying the scenery..
The last half mile of our hike was along the highway back to the park entrance. Our driver, according to Kathleen, was a little worried that we had taken a little over 3-hours rather than the 2 allotted. She told him we could have been out so much longer.Our drive back was uneventful. In town we noticed many businesses were closed up and streets were being blocked off for the New Year’s festivities.
After dropping some items off in our room, we went back out to find a place to eat. Right out front of our hostal a parade began. Small wonder as our street was none other than Calle Simon Bolívar. Y’all know Simon, don’t ya? The guy who crafted and carried-out South Americas independence from Spain. That’s all of South America. The guy could probably get a free meal and drink in any restaurant for that effort.
The parade, . . . we started out discussing the parade, was an eclectic arrangement of prominent Christmas characters including the wise man, Jesus (Hay-zoos), Romans, angels, the animals that figure heavily in the nativity scenes, and, oddly, Halloween critters and characters. All this with bountiful settings of fruits, vegetables, and packaged goods. I’m not kidding on that last. Candies, snacks, cans of edible what-have-ya laid out on a truck bed or hanging from the sides of decorated cars.
The parade lasted for nearly on an hour, at which time we decided to once again, visit Raymipampa Café on the plaza as they were pretty much the only place open. We had another good set of meals and then had ice-cream in the dolce shop next door before calling and end to the day.
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