The Inca Trail

At the top of ´Dead Woman´s Pass, the highest point of the Classic trail

Sunset on Day 2

The alternative view of Machu Picchu on Day 3

View from Wina Picchu

On the day that the Boks hammered the English at Twickenham, we headed from Cusco to kilometre 82 to start the famous ´Classic´ Inca trail, four days in total and three nights camping en route in the surrounding mountains.

For the majority of the people in our group the Inca trail was the major attraction that drew them to South America. For us, it was and it wasn´t, but what I can say is that it exceeded our expectations by some distance. I think I was expecting an incredibly touristy, over crowded, paved walk to a site that maybe wasn´t as impressive in real life as it was in photos. I was partially right, it is quite crowded but not uncomfortably crowded, except for maybe Machu Picchu itself. There were plenty of ocassions when I was on my own, immersed in my own thoughts, admiring the scenery with no one around me for some distance, and to me that is the essence of hiking.

One thing that I´m sure everyone will say after completing the Inca trail is that the Porters are LEGENDS. All we had to carry was our day packs on our backs. Thats it. The Porters on avg carry 20kg of luggage each (ranging from tents, pots, pans, matresses, our duffel bags) on their backs whilst quickly jogging ahead of the group to set up various tents and have the next meal ready and prepared upon our arrival. Incredible. And the food was amazing.

The biggest highlight of our trip along the Inca trail was on day three, when our guide took us on a massive éxpeditional´ detour of the trail itself to view some ruins that have only recently been unearthed. Then to the top of a mountain pass that overlooked Machu Picchu itself. The views were spectacular and it was great to see such an incredible site from an equally unique perspective.

We arrived through the sun gate early on the 4th day to one of the most amazing views I´ve ever seen. Thanks to a massive storm the night before the weather was perfect, brilliant blue skies and not a breathe of wind. It was surreal and thoroughly rewarding after having hiked for three days to see it. I can´t imagine what it would be like just to get a train there and not do the trail but it certainly wouldn´t be the same.

Brad, I hiked up Wina Picchu, as you recommended. I have never done anything so scary in my whole life! Wina Picchu (Huayna Picchu) is the ´Sugar-loaf´ shaped mountain that stands tall behind the ruins and really is the symbol of Machu Picchu itself. What perhaps didn´t help, was that on the way up it appeared that someone had fallen off the mountain, as there was a rescue in operation, a rope hanging over the edge amongst some very worried looking people. That and the fact that we had to rush up there because we had to get our bus and train back to Cusco in a few hours time, conspired to make me a shiverring wreck by the time I reached the top, and even then I didn´t go to the very top. Nevertheless it was a great experience and the views were more than worth it.