Day 1

So the bags are packed I’ve managed to whittle down my suitcase full of things to have just my basics to fit in my bag. Today we left Cuzco and headed along the winding roads to the 82 kilometre mark. Upon arrival our guides, cook and local porters where there already awaiting us. When the bus stops you get out and they clap you on arrival. This becomes a tradition for whenever you arrive anywhere they clap. Although at first this seemed a bit ridiculous all I had done to get there was wake up at 5am and get in a bus. Stomach a coffee and then continue on my way but hey this tradition becomes rewarding once the real hard work begins.

The first day is relatively flat as they call it rolling Peruvian hills, the rolling hills actually mean a gentle hill which gets progressively steeper.

Depending on where you stop for the night will depend how high you climb on day one, it’s worth remember the more you do on day 1 the less you have to do on day 2. On the way we say the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapaya. When you arrive into camp the tents are made the dinner is almost cooked and tonight we sat down and spoke to our porters. I spoke to them in Spanish and they nodded their heads and laughed at my somewhat horrible Argentine accent but even if you speak Spanish you can speak in English and someone will translate. In fact most of our porters spoke Quechua the traditional Peruvian dialect so didn’t understand me anyway! Today we walked for about 7 hours but with lengthy lunch stops where I used to lie with my legs in the air or do some simple stretching to lose of my muscle after the walk before. 

Day 2

There is no hiding today day 2 is hard and there’s no hiding what comes next when you wake on the clearest morning and you can see the trail ahead and the steep climb to come. You must ascend a long steep path and there aren’t any flat moments. It takes around 5 hours and then your at the highest point of the trail. Known as Dead Woman’s Pass now I’ll tell you when you get to the top there are a lot of people who have also made the hike that day who clap you on arrival. A familiar custom by now that once your in the trail you have your trail friends who you will pass all along the way even if they are not with your group they will support you. Everyone’s doing the same thing no matter what your age or fitness the Inca Trail is simple like this and well it’s fabulous when you get to the top and see an 70 year old made it their faster but trust me your feel better when you pass them going down hill as your knees haven’t failed you yet. 

Day 3

The sun rises on day 3 and we climbed through the Pacaymayo valley. The route today takes you alongside a path set into the mountains the view ms across the snow capped mountains of Cordillera Vilcabamba and then the descent to the ruins of Sayamarca and to the town above the clouds. The next bit is a two hour descent to the final camonsight before Machu Picchu and Windy Wayna the archaeological site. 

Day 4 – Arrival to Machu Picchu

Waking up before the sun we pack our bags, say goodbye to our porters and we head on our way to the last check point. The last check point doesn’t open until sunrise so everyone who is on the trail waits here in an orderly fashion for the gates to open, to be called through and for your passport to be stamped. You then hike to the Sun Gate where for the first time you will see the ancient town unfold in front of your eyes for the first time. Although the hike to go isn’t long you have the added effect of everyone waiting and the final few hours is almost the most crowded of them all. We arrived at the sun gate and they’re shroud in cloud is Machu Picchu. The weather through out had been great but today there was this mystical cloud in from and so Machu Picchu seemed even more magnificent as it teased us in the breaks of cloud.