The 4 day Inca Trail (Machu Picchu) |
| Myself and Vicky booked the 4 day Inca trail around 5 months in advance and it seamed like a long time coming round. So we were eager to get going when we arrived in Cusco in south Peru. Our base for excess baggage and also the home of Peru Treks the tour company we would be going with. After paying the remaining money for the trip and a few Cusco Sours later we soon found ourselves standing outside our hostel at 5:30am waiting to be picked up. Our trip had began. |
| The bus journey to the start of the trail was quite scenic with plenty of rolling hills and the odd snow capped mountain to keep you planning trips in your head. After a brief stop for breakfast and the purchase of a trusty Inca Trail walking stick we were at the beginning of the trail. A simple gateway welcoming you to the trail followed by a rather bouncy bridge over the Urubamba river at 2,600 metres. The sun had began to rise now and the valley started to warm up. We knew we had a 12 kilometer walk in front of us and mostly up hill so we decided to pace ourselves and take plenty of water on board. The head guide made plenty of stops on the track, where he would explain many interesting things about the flowers and wildlife, including where the local people get some of the dyes for those amazing blankets they make. One stop was to look down on our first inca ruins of Patallacta. We were fairly high above them so we could only look at them and listen to the stories from the guide. But it was our first view of the familiar terraced ruins some common with the incas. Quite a site! After a nice lunch break at a small nearby camp/farm we were back onto the trail and heading to our first camp. This was one of the nicest walks we have done with the added attraction of humming birds darting across the path in front of you. Finally we reached the first camp at Wayllabamba at 3,100 metres. A small village with a camp site neatly set in the centre with the added bonus of local entertainment from to of the local kids showing us some acrobatics and funny impressions. These kids have nothing, but they are some of the happiest kids we have ever met so who needs a play station!?!? |  |
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Anyway that night we were introduced to the cook, porters and guides formally and then introduced ourselves back to them. It was a great way to meet them all and created a great atmosphere in the camp. We certainly felt more at ease and even tried out our spanish. Until we were told they speak a local language! Still we tried. That night, after a game of snakes and ladders we all headed off for an early night. The day had taken it's toll and we had an early start in the morning. |
| We woke up at the crack of dawn to a hot cup of tea and quickly packed our bags for the day ahead. Today was the big day. We had to cross the Abra de warmi wanusca or dead woman's pass at a height of 4,215 metres. That meant we had to climb over 1,000 metres straight up in clear hot conditions. After an energy packed breakfast we didn't hang around and were soon climbing the first section of the trail towards our first stop. We soon started to climb steep inca paths which weaved up through the Andean forest. This was hard going simply because it was like walking up a flight of stairs all the way. You could really feel the burn! After a short break for lunch we were off again and the forest soon turned into moorland. You could start to see the cloud level and the path weaved up to a distant summit of the pass. Up, up and up again and when we finally reached the 4,215 metre mark of dead woman's pass i think the whole group were relieved. |  |
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We had climbed to the highest point of the trail and it was now time to take a breather, take in the surroundings, congratulate each other and take that all important photo. Now we were in the clouds, standing around to long meant the cold air was starting to bite in so we quickly added layers and headed down the track the other side of the pass and down to the second camp called Paqaymayu at 3,500 metres. We didn't get down though without getting our first soaking of the trip but the scenery was amazing. The camp that night was in an ideal place with stunning views and the food was excellent and set us up for the next day nicely. We even got to try some local brue! That night we had heavy downpours. |
| We awoke in the morning to the usual cup of tea but the rain was still with us too. Wet weather gear was going to be the order of the day but it was clear at breakfast that spirits were high and we were going to have fun what ever the weather did. So armed with all sorts of wet weather gear and all different coloured ponchos we headed up the trail 200 metres to another slightly smaller pass. The orchids and other flowers litter this part of the track everywhere and we stopped shortly to look at a watch tower the incas had once used. At the top of the pass we had a quick break and started to head down the ruins of Sayaqmarka. This was a inca town perched very precariously on the pinnacle of a rock face and was only accessible by a very steep staircase of inca steps. The drops of the side were fairly big but it was an optional climb. The town was amazing with it's own running water and various buildings. It sent the imaginations wild on how they built it and lived in it. Pouring down with rain but still loving it. After a good soaking we headed down the staircase and carried on down the inca trail in the Andean type woodland/jungle once again. The trail started to get allot more interesting here and including things like caves, flights of steps, twisting mountain trails and weaving trails through the trees with huge drops on the left side. You really started to get a feel for how the incas must have felt when they were on an errand. Eventually the rain stopped and we suddenly stumbled across the most impressive inca ruins so far the Winay Wayna ruins at 2,700 metres. |  |
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More terracing but with lots of buildings included and stunning views. We spent a good hour looking around, climbing steps, taking pictures and generally nosing around. Plus we had an expert guide to answer all of our questions. Further down the trail we arrived at the third camp called the trekkers lodge, where we had our first shower for three days. It felt great to smell of something else apart from yourself! After a beer in the lodge and a very nice meal in the camp we had the traditional tipping ceremony of the porters. This was there last stop, tomorrow we would climb to Machu Picchu with just the guides. A nice way to thank them and they really deserved every penny we gave them. One more beer and it was off to bed for the main day, the ruins of Machu Picchu. |
4:30am and we were up packing our bags and having breakfast. The weather was looking clear and things were looking good for the ruins. We arrived at the gate to the last bit of the trail around 5:30am and our passes were shown. Suddenly we were on our way and the trail took us along familiar staircase, steps, winding paths and the odd small ruin on the way. There was a significant staircase which was really steep and another couple of hundred meters up we arrived through the sun gate. And there finally in front of us was Machu Picchu at 2,400 metres. Wow what a site! After a couple of pictures we headed down a small path into the ruins whilst listening to many stories about the ruins from the guide. As we first took a step onto the ruins you get a real sense of the scale of this place. Lamas and Alpaca's roam wild here too so the classic pictures can be taken but I wouldn't get to close! After dropping our bags off we headed into the heart of the ruins and our guide took us on a 2-3 hour tour of the ruins. They were just unbelievable and in every direction you looked there was something else to find out about. Stories of the incas lives, spanish invaders, modern day theories and all other interesting facts soon blew your mind. The sheer scale of the ruins and size of the stones is enough but the fact that in most cases you couldn't get a piece of paper in between the stones was just amazing. I don't want to give to much away about the facts because it would ruin for anyone reading this who is planning on visiting them but there is just so much to find out. |
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After an amazing tour and a couple of hours to ourselves looking around and taking a million pictures we finished in a town nearby to have a meal together, pay the guides and celebrate finishing the Inca Trail. It had been a great trail and we did it with a great bunch of people which only added to the enjoyment of the trip. And one thing not to be forgotten was it seemed like the ideal place to ask Vicky to marry me. She said yes and we were surprised by the rest of the guys with a bottle of bubbly with the meal. Thanks again guys it was much appreciated. A truely memorable trip. |
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