A
typical
day
on
the
tour
consisted
of
being
up
at
6:30
AM,
having
breakfast,
and
leaving
the
ship
on
small
boats
called
pangas.
We
took
a
walk
each
morning
to
see
different
animals
each
trip.
Some
mornings
would
show
the
"blue-footed
boobies"
and
frigate
birds;
other
mornings
would
show
sea-lions
and
marine
iguanas.
After
the
tour
was
?nished,
we
would
go
back
to
the
boat
for
lunch
and
an
afternoon
nap
(which
involved
relaxing
in
the
sun).
At
3pm,
we
would
leave
the
boat
again
and
go
snorkelling.
The
?rst
time
a
shark
went
underneath
me,
I
swallowed
a
lot
of
sea
water!
These
"reef-sharks"
were
harmless
if
you
stayed
out
of
their
way;
however
the
shadow
of
a
shark
swimming
underneath
you
is
a
scary
experience.
Other
marine
animals
we
come
across
were
penguins,
manta
rays,
electric
eels,
and
the
most
impressive,
the
sea
lion.
It
makes
you
tremble
when
a
700
pound
sea
lion
swims
directly
at
you
and
turns
away
a
foot
in
front
of
you!
Another
geographical
experience
was
Macchu
Picchu.
This
lost
city
of
the
Inca
Empire
was
rediscovered
in
1911
and
has
been
restored
to
most
of
its
glory.
I
was
fortunate
to
also
hike
the
Inca
Trail.
This
trail
is
the
old
trail
the
Inca's
used
to
hike
to
get
to
the
"Old
Mountain."
The
trail
goes
33
kilometres
through
mountain
passes
to
an
elevation
of
4300
metres.
Our
guided
tour
showed
us
the
"secrets"
of
the
mountain.
The
most
impressive
part
was
the
Inca's
attention
to
detail!
The
structures
and
stones
showed
how
advanced
the
Inca
civilization
was.
Overall,
the
entire
experience
was
amazing.
If
you
do
plan
on
travelling
to
South
America
and
taking
part
in
some
of
these
adventures,
I
would
recommend
a
few
things:
You
get
what
you
pay
for.
If
you
want
the
best
experience
possible,
pay
for
the
best
trip
possible.
What
made
my
adventures
more
enjoyable
was
the
knowledgeable
and
personable
English
speaking
guides
that
took
us
on
our
trips.
Do
your
research
by
asking
other
travellers
about
different
companies.
Also,
don't
be
afraid
to
meet
the
people
that
will
be
taking
you
on
your
journeys.
Know
some
Spanish
and
don't
be
afraid
to
speak.
It's
the
only
way
you
will
get
better.
Take
your
time.
My
trip
was
very
rushed.
I
went
for
5
weeks
and
most
people
do
what
we
did
in
2
months.
t
Don't
wait
to
travel,
just
do
it!
wi
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j
ffllHiB.
Wf
'.
'
.
1WET
-
-
-..jTi-
.
.
Standing
above
Macchu
Picchu
at
sunrise
College
of
New
Caledonia
-
Ion
1C