The Inka Trail Days 3 & 4

Day 3 is the longest day of the trek, in terms of kilometers, although it takes you downhill and over mountain ridges, giving spectacular views of the Andes. (Although, it was rather cloudy when we were hiking and probably could have been a lot more spectacular than it was.)


[Me, Jed, and Sarai at camp in the morning, with a beautiful view of the valley.]

Going downhill on the mountains, we also got into more jungle terrain, and although it seemed more like a rain forest since it was rather damp the whole day. I started my trek at the very beginning of the rainy season, and although it was really beautiful and wonderful, I definitely would like to do it again in the dry season when maybe it would be even more spectacular.


[All of us at the first ruin]

We got to see two ruin sites on Day 3, one that was right before lunch time, where the whole group got together so that Maria could give us a proper tour of the ruin and give us some history as well.


[Maria giving us a history lesson]


[Beautiful flowers growing on the ruins]


[Playing in the ruins...]

Later in the day, we had the option to either take the shortcut or take a longer path that would lead us to more ruins. Since we were already so far ahead of everyone else (we had basically been running down, passing everyone, including porters), we decided that we should go to the ruin. That was a great decision. Since the ruin is off the beaten path, there is definitely a different atmosphere and feeling to the whole place. As we got there, I almost felt like Hyram Bingham himself, discovering the ruins for the first time. It also seemed so much more open and free to explore and do what you like, rather than be told what to do. Although Machu Picchu was impressive and amazing, I still think this ruin was my favorite of the four days, simply because it was so calm and almost better taken care of, making the third day my favorite of the whole trek.


[Making it to the ruin]


[Jed and Seth running down the stairs to give perspective of how massive it really was.]

Since the 3rd night was the last night that we would see our cook and our porters, we had a special ceremony where the guides got to say a few words to us and we all got to say a few words to the porters. Although everyone went around and used the Spanish they knew to say thank-you, Sarai and I had longer speeches. In the end, I was chosen to thank them and give Juan Carlos, the cook, the tip that we had collected for all the porters. I simply expressed my amazement in the work that they do, which I knew we all felt. Sarai also bought them each a beer from the cantina that was by the campsite as a thank you, which we think they appreciated a lot.


[The last night, everyone in the dining tent]

Day 4 of the trek is Machu Picchu day. We got up very very early (3:30 I believe), to pack up our stuff and eat breakfast. We were out of camp by about 4:45, only to get to the final control station, only to have to wait until 5:30 when it opened. Luckily though, we were first in line, which we knew meant we would get to the Sun Gate first.


[Sarai and I at the Sun Gate]

I was the fifth person to get to the Sun Gate, of which I am very proud, and also very happy, since it meant that we got to take lots of pictures in peace and quiet before everyone else arrived. The Sun Gate is a distance away from Machu Picchu, but it gives an excellent view of the Machu Picchu Mountain and the road that goes up and down from Machu Picchu.


[Machu Picchu and the road]

It was so exciting to finally get to the Sun Gate, since we had a beautiful view of Machu Picchu, and our goal was literally finally in our sight. We hurried down the trail and made it to Machu Picchu, with a beautiful view of the city, and the sun shining down on us.


[Me and Machu Picchu!!]

As we waited for everyone else in our group to arrive, we took lots of pictures and just took in the amazing city that was at our feet.


[Playing in the ruins again...]


[All the girls at the top]


[Me with Maria and Isai at the top!]

After we got our guided tour from Maria around Machu Picchu, we had the chance to climb up Winaypicchu, which means Young Peak and sits right behind the city of Macchu Picchu. Although we had been hiking for four days, we knew that we had to get to the top so that when people saw our photos and asked, "Yeah, but did you hike up there?" we could say YES! Being the hiking overachievers that we were, we raced up and down to the top, which, including the pictures that we took at the top and looking around for a bit, only took us an hour, when the climb itself is supposed to take an hour.


[Me at the top of the top!]

When we got down, we decided that it was about time to head into Aguas Calientes, the town that lies at the bottom of Machu Picchu to meet with Maria and Isai to get our tickets back to Cusco. We had a good lunch of Pizza in Aguas Calientes, reflected on our last four days, and walked around the town for a bit before getting on the train back to Cusco.


[Final meal together in Aguas Calientes]

I loved these four days, the hiking was amazing, the group that we went with was amazing, our guides were amazing, and I honestly don't think my experience could have been better. In the beginning, I was debating whether or not to do the hike, since it was kind of expensive ($350 dollars just for the four days) for a student budget, but now I think that all the money was worth it and I recommend it to basically anyone who is going to Machu Picchu. As Alli Fischer said, it makes getting to Machu Picchu so much more worth it in the end, and you really do feel like you have accomplished something great to get to an amazing place.