Last week I completed Machu Picchu and before I write anything about my trip I need to write about perhaps the most important people of the trip the guides. My guides and porters from Peak Adventures were incredible and helped me to complete the adventure. 

The trek is hard but the support from the guides (Shandy) and your porters (peak travel for us Jesus and Francisco led the team) is exceptional. Arrival into lunch and the tent is set, water to wash your hands and face, drinks and again in the evening when you make it to camp. You arrive to your tent set, mattress ready and hot drinks to warm you up or help you relax.

The trek is hard and the second day particularly long but worth while, once you make it to the dead woman’s peaks you can do it! The knowledge the intrepid guides have in both English and Spanish is super helpful!! The food consists of a three course meals twice  a day and a cooked breakfast of pancakes or eggs means you are never hungry!!! Some of the happiest staff members on the trail happy to take it at your pace and not pushy, other guides were hassling there trekkers to walk faster but the intrepid staff were relaxed and allowed us to all work at our own pace – giving clear instructions on locations to wait for the group.

So now let’s talk about the Inca Trail… Since I sat down in my IT class when I was 13 and was told to make a bucket list learning how to use PowerPoint the first thing on my list was to hike the Inca trail and when the opportunity of a week of came up I decided to see if it was a possibility. I managed to book myself into one of the first Intrepid trips of the season and even get a pass to Machu Picchu at little over two weeks notice. Now anyone that knows anything about the hike will say this is impossible but some how fate was in my hands and no sooner had I booked I was heading to Peru to start the trip. 

The Inca Trail gives you the opportunity to see the backbone of a the civilisation which ruled the Andes for so Longbarn and also marvel at the incredible architecture and views along the way. For large parts of the journey we were shroud in clouds then as we reached peak points the clouds would vanish and the challenging mountain passes, snow covered Andes would appear like magic to our eyes. 

Perhaps it is the most touristy thing you can do in South America but perhaps it is also the only way to visit such an iconic sight. The sense of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment when you reach the sun gate on that last morning make the arrival at Machu Picchu not only beautiful but thought provoking of the many people who have done it before you. The tourists are who have followed the trail to find themselves or the Inca people making a pilgrimage.