That's it! I'm through with trekking in Peru....

Just too old for this kind of punishment! The tour operator failed to tell me that the tour to Gocta involved a two and a half hour strenuous trek through the jungle up hill and down dale in order to reach the falls and then the same back to the tour bus, of course. Otherwise I might not have gone (he probably figured that but wanted to make a sale). However, I'd have to say they are spectacular falls - you can see both the upper and lower falls from a distance but only the lower falls as you get closer. A total drop of 770 metres, the longest being the lower falls drop of 540 metres - that's a long way! Compare that to our Sutherland falls, which are also spectacular, which has three drops totaling 581 metres the longest being a mere 248 metres! The trek was so strenuous that I actually threw up on the side of the track about half way back to the bus - first time I've ever done that on a trek. I'd felt faint a couple of times and was worried I'd topple off the track and down the steep banks into the ravine below if I did faint. It could've taken days to find me if that had happened, the jungle is so dense. It will be even more dense in Tarapoto. I could have hired a horse for 40 soles for the trek but decided against that option. Several people did hire horses, donkeys, burrows and asses but I discovered that they only took you half way there and you still had to walk some steep inclines and valleys to get to the falls. I was surprised how much faster the horses were and the handlers walking alongside must be incredibly fit to be able to keep up with them, some of which were rather reluctant participants on the steep uphill grades and needed some "encouragement" from the handlers to keep them moving.
I've booked a flight from Tarapoto back to Lima to join my onward flight to Santiago - one a half hour flight for NZD$39.00 (and that includes the agent's booking fee). You'd have to wonder how the airline makes money at that price - maybe they don't pay the pilots? The flight will save me about 40 hours travel on buses and several days of accommodation and meals plus the added bonus of giving me more time in the Tarapoto region - I may even be able to fit in a short river trip on one of the tributaries of the Amazon. The longer trips get boring, so I'm told, because all you see is the river and the jungle clad riverbanks on either side for days on end. No wildlife. I've only booked my first two nights in Tarapoto to allow me the flexibility to do an overnight tour to other places close by if I feel so inclined.
This morning I found the central market which every Peruvian town has where local vendors sell their produce. Much cheaper than the mini market I'd been buying at, but maybe not as hygienic. At least they have butchers there with real meat - chicken, pork, lamb and beef. I've been hanging out for a beef steak for a few days and the butcher cut me off a steak that definitely isn't wagyu as there isn't an ounce of fat on or in it - it looks like lean rump and may be tough but at least it's red meat. A few eggs, fried onions and tomatoes and fried bread (there's no toaster here) and I'll have the makings of a Kiwi breakfast. I'm having a rest day today after yesterday's marathon effort - I tried to get a full body massage last night to ease my aching muscles but without success (seems to be very few places here in Chachapoya that offer massages, unlike Trujillo where they're on every street). Maybe I'll have more success later today.

A pretty butterfly that sat still just long enough for me to get a photo on the way to Gocta Falls.