The journey to Machu Picchu
It was three days before Christmas and the day before we were bound to set off on the Inca trail leading us to Machu Picchu on Christmas day morning. Our guides arrived to our hostel for a briefing to go through what we could expect day by day to ensure that we were prepared for our 4 day trek, reaching a maximum altitude of 4200m. But no briefing could prepare me for how amazing yet challenging these 4 days would be.
Day 1: The warm up aka easy day
At around 6am we set off, my jogging shoes on, backpacked filled with snacks and raincoat at an easy reach. After 2 hours we stopped briefly before continuing to km 82, our entry point to the Inca trail.
We were a group of 35pax so it took some time to go through the check point but once we did the trek had officially begun and the views were spectacular.
Day 1 was a 12km hike and an altitude increase of 350m, leaving our first camp site at an altitude of 2950m. Despite this being the easy day we were all a bit sore as our bodies were adjusting to the height, the backpack and the hiking itself.
Day 2: The challenge aka Dead Woman's Pass
We woke up around 5am by one of the porter's serving us hot coca tea in our tents. Shortly after breakfast was served and it was time for us to embark on the most challenging part of the trail. Reaching the peak of the trail; Dead Woman's Pass at an altitude of 4200m. We set off just after 6am and had 10km ahead of us, broken down between two meeting points.
At around 8am we had reached the first meeting point, and had climbed to an altitude of 3300m and we were still feeling energetic and ready to take on the next part which was 2 hours of stairs. After 2 hours we reached meeting point 2 at 3800m just as the clouds were gathering and the first drops of rain started to drip on the tent the hot coca tea was served. We tried to wait out the worst of the rain and when it was only a few drops left we set off for the final 400m ascent to the top, 1,8km away from our snack break.
The last part of this section was incredible hard, we could see the top from quite a way down and as we turned the corner we were sure we had reached the top but everytime we were greeted with even more steps and steep ascents. At this point it was not just about being physically fit and prepared for the hike,but you also had to be able to handle the altitude, listen to your body, to stop and breath, to regulate your pulse and catch your breath before continuing to push yourself further and further to the top. But you also had to be mentally strong tobe able to motivate yourself, to be able to stare at the top for hours and hours as you slowly made your way to the top. This was a challenge.
I decided to film the last part of the ascent to the top. Looking back at it, it looks as if I took it nice and slow but at the time it didn't just feellike it but also looked like I was racing up the mountain to my fellow hikers. Perhaps that will give a perapective of how the altitude had effected us, not just our bodies but also our minds.
But when we reached the top and the clouds had parted for us, there were no tiredness in pur bodies, only adrenaline, smiles and an enormous joyand pride that we had made it!
We continued downhill for another 1,5 hour and reached our camp site at 3600m at 15:00, were the porters had a nice lovely meal waiting for us. A 9 hour trek of 10km was done and we were sleeping like babies all afternoon and night.
Day 3: The unforgettable day
Today would be the day which is referred to as the most beautiful part of the trail. The one with most Inca constructions and in fact 6 ruins were scattered alog this section of the trail. This was also the longest day, with us trekking 17km, crossig pass 2 and 3, at altitudes of 3900m and 3700m. We reached the first ruin of the day after just 45 minutes, when the morning fog was still surronding us.
After reaching the second pass we had a lovely downhill walk past 2 more Inca ruins before we stopped for lunch.
There our lovely porters had prepared yet another lovely 3 hours meal for us to enjoy. Now, the porters, both the ones from our company and the ones from other made the trek just that little bit more fun. They would stay at the camp and break sites after we had left to pack everything away and then rush past us with their big backpacks filled with tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking equipment. Despite their heavy luggage they almost always had time to say a quick hello and check that we were doing ok along the way. Some even had enough energy to stop and make a joke or even asking if they could be in on a photo. They are the heros on the Inca trail!
After lunch we continued through a beautiful rainforest leading us to the third pass, which had views over Machu Picchu, which unfortunately was covered by the fog. From the third pass it was time to take on 3000 steps going downhill to reach our final camp site on the Inca Trail at 2700m. This was slow, and required focus to not take a wrong step, leading you down the steep mountain side next to you.
Day 4: Reaching Machu Picchu aka the unique day
The last and final day on the trail was also the earliest, with us getting up at 3:30am, and getting in line for the entrance to the sun gate just after 4am. At 5:30am we step off as he fourth group through the gates and through the rain and clouds we hiked as fast as we could to the sun gate, having survived the stairs that the local guide referred to as the "gringo killer", which was more like a wall then stairs, we reached the sun gate at 06:40am. As the valley was still covered in the morning rain and fog we continued our way down to the main entrance of Machu Picchu, happily put our backpacks in storage as we re-entered the ancient site for a guided tour.
Our guide took us around the short route and showed us the most important parts of Machu Picchu as the clouds slowly started to lift.
At 10am it was time for us to enter the additional mountain site of Huanya Picchu. A mountain located just at the edge of Machu Picchu, with only 200 people being aloud entrance to the mountain per day.
We climbed even steeper and longer "gringo killers" before reaching the top at 2700m after 45 minutes.
Once at the top we sat on top of rocks waiting for the clouds to lift further and after about an hour, there it was, Machu Picchu from above. All the way down there were platforms that overlooked the site, which was truly spectacular.
Once we got back down to Machu Picchu from Huanya Picchu we walked around the site and as the clouds were now almost all gone and the sun was out we made our way to the watch tower, also known as the postcard platform, once again taking in the stunning views over this magical site.
These 4 days was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I don't know if I can ever fully describe how completely immersed you get in the trail and what lays ahead of you, right there and then. Nothing else matters than the steps, the mountain, the altitude, the nature, the wildlife and the ancient sites that are surronding you. It is a one of a kind, unique experience and I would do it again without a doubt (but maybe not for a few more years though).
Day 1: The warm up aka easy day
At around 6am we set off, my jogging shoes on, backpacked filled with snacks and raincoat at an easy reach. After 2 hours we stopped briefly before continuing to km 82, our entry point to the Inca trail.
We were a group of 35pax so it took some time to go through the check point but once we did the trek had officially begun and the views were spectacular.
Day 1 was a 12km hike and an altitude increase of 350m, leaving our first camp site at an altitude of 2950m. Despite this being the easy day we were all a bit sore as our bodies were adjusting to the height, the backpack and the hiking itself.
Day 2: The challenge aka Dead Woman's Pass
We woke up around 5am by one of the porter's serving us hot coca tea in our tents. Shortly after breakfast was served and it was time for us to embark on the most challenging part of the trail. Reaching the peak of the trail; Dead Woman's Pass at an altitude of 4200m. We set off just after 6am and had 10km ahead of us, broken down between two meeting points.
At around 8am we had reached the first meeting point, and had climbed to an altitude of 3300m and we were still feeling energetic and ready to take on the next part which was 2 hours of stairs. After 2 hours we reached meeting point 2 at 3800m just as the clouds were gathering and the first drops of rain started to drip on the tent the hot coca tea was served. We tried to wait out the worst of the rain and when it was only a few drops left we set off for the final 400m ascent to the top, 1,8km away from our snack break.
The last part of this section was incredible hard, we could see the top from quite a way down and as we turned the corner we were sure we had reached the top but everytime we were greeted with even more steps and steep ascents. At this point it was not just about being physically fit and prepared for the hike,but you also had to be able to handle the altitude, listen to your body, to stop and breath, to regulate your pulse and catch your breath before continuing to push yourself further and further to the top. But you also had to be mentally strong tobe able to motivate yourself, to be able to stare at the top for hours and hours as you slowly made your way to the top. This was a challenge.
I decided to film the last part of the ascent to the top. Looking back at it, it looks as if I took it nice and slow but at the time it didn't just feellike it but also looked like I was racing up the mountain to my fellow hikers. Perhaps that will give a perapective of how the altitude had effected us, not just our bodies but also our minds.
But when we reached the top and the clouds had parted for us, there were no tiredness in pur bodies, only adrenaline, smiles and an enormous joyand pride that we had made it!
Day 3: The unforgettable day
Today would be the day which is referred to as the most beautiful part of the trail. The one with most Inca constructions and in fact 6 ruins were scattered alog this section of the trail. This was also the longest day, with us trekking 17km, crossig pass 2 and 3, at altitudes of 3900m and 3700m. We reached the first ruin of the day after just 45 minutes, when the morning fog was still surronding us.
After reaching the second pass we had a lovely downhill walk past 2 more Inca ruins before we stopped for lunch.
There our lovely porters had prepared yet another lovely 3 hours meal for us to enjoy. Now, the porters, both the ones from our company and the ones from other made the trek just that little bit more fun. They would stay at the camp and break sites after we had left to pack everything away and then rush past us with their big backpacks filled with tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking equipment. Despite their heavy luggage they almost always had time to say a quick hello and check that we were doing ok along the way. Some even had enough energy to stop and make a joke or even asking if they could be in on a photo. They are the heros on the Inca trail!
After lunch we continued through a beautiful rainforest leading us to the third pass, which had views over Machu Picchu, which unfortunately was covered by the fog. From the third pass it was time to take on 3000 steps going downhill to reach our final camp site on the Inca Trail at 2700m. This was slow, and required focus to not take a wrong step, leading you down the steep mountain side next to you.
Day 4: Reaching Machu Picchu aka the unique day
The last and final day on the trail was also the earliest, with us getting up at 3:30am, and getting in line for the entrance to the sun gate just after 4am. At 5:30am we step off as he fourth group through the gates and through the rain and clouds we hiked as fast as we could to the sun gate, having survived the stairs that the local guide referred to as the "gringo killer", which was more like a wall then stairs, we reached the sun gate at 06:40am. As the valley was still covered in the morning rain and fog we continued our way down to the main entrance of Machu Picchu, happily put our backpacks in storage as we re-entered the ancient site for a guided tour.
Our guide took us around the short route and showed us the most important parts of Machu Picchu as the clouds slowly started to lift.
At 10am it was time for us to enter the additional mountain site of Huanya Picchu. A mountain located just at the edge of Machu Picchu, with only 200 people being aloud entrance to the mountain per day.
We climbed even steeper and longer "gringo killers" before reaching the top at 2700m after 45 minutes.
Once at the top we sat on top of rocks waiting for the clouds to lift further and after about an hour, there it was, Machu Picchu from above. All the way down there were platforms that overlooked the site, which was truly spectacular.
These 4 days was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I don't know if I can ever fully describe how completely immersed you get in the trail and what lays ahead of you, right there and then. Nothing else matters than the steps, the mountain, the altitude, the nature, the wildlife and the ancient sites that are surronding you. It is a one of a kind, unique experience and I would do it again without a doubt (but maybe not for a few more years though).
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