Ccochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

Our plan for today was to make the short trip out of Cusco in the direction of the ruins of Pisaq, but to stop at an animal sanctuary called Ccochahuasi.

After fuelling ourselves on an avocado smoothie I made in the morning, we  found room for a vegetable empanada from the excellent Pantástico bakery. Eventually, we alighted on the correct bus terminal (incorrectly marked on the map) for buses to Calca.

A mere half an hour's drive back up the hill we had descended into town brought us to the animal sanctuary, where we were greeted by an Andean deer, a large tortoise and a beaming man who would show us the refuge for rescued animals. The tortoise, he told us, had been discarded by someone who once owned him as a pet. He proceeded to introduce us to the familiar faces of llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. These were not rescued, but belonged to the family that owns the sancturat. Among them was the, until now, unfamiliar shape of the Dougal-like Alpaca suri with a hugely long shaggy coat.

Alpaca suri

Farther into the sanctuary were to be found birds of all kinds, including a pair of macaw parrots in contrasting primary colours, as well as peregrine falcons, and the astonishing sight of condors that swooped down on us, their three-metre wings outstretched, while a small (!) brown baby condor sat implacably to the side.

Baby condor

In amongst the menagerie were sibling (and motherless) Andean cats, a family of pumas (apparently rescued from a disco!), and a selection of mischievous monkeys.

Animal families

The sanctuary is just that, housing rescued and vulnerable animals and releasing them or their offspring back into the wild.

Having caught a lift back into town, we lunched at the Shaman vegan restaurant. K tucked into a bowl of quinoa soup which has become her staple, while I attacked the set menu of, by now familiar but no less tasty, salad, soup (a thick potato potage today), and vegetable stew plus broccoli fritter.

Shamanic meal

After lunch we made the unwelcome but necessary return to the medical clinic to further investigate K's ear infection, which has wholly failed to respond to antibiotics. The ear, nose, and throat expert scheduled us to return tomorrow morning. Hooray.

We walked back home for yet more homemade soup in front of the (once we got it going) raging fire.

Fireside soup