Inca Road: Mountain Gods & Golden Fleece

Northern Peru is famous for its shaman ceremonies - three-day marathons to exorcize spirits and bring travelers luck on their journeys. After getting the shaman's blessing, Karin treks deep into the Chachapoyas, a remote region whose inhabitants fought fiercely against the Inca and almost won. It's also an area littered with mummies and ancient burial grounds, which Karin explores until she becomes lost in the high Andes and stumbles across a farmer and his precocious son. She catches a ride down to an ancient Inca coastal ruin, then follows the trail to a village famous for making reed boats to fish in Peru's rugged surf. She settles in and builds one under the guidance of the local master fishermen, then takes it out for its maiden voyage. After months in remote regions, Lima comes as quite a shock. Karin is invited to join in the Lord of Miracles festival and spends three days and nights preparing flower paths and following the million worshipers who have come to see the famous mural. With relief she heads back into the hinterlands - past coastal penguins - to a village far outside of Puno, to participate in an extraordinary event - a vicuna roundup. Part 2 of 3