Camino Inca | Inca Trail

We survived the Inca Trail! It was probably the most challenging, but most rewarding and spectacular thing we have done yet. We were blessed with excellent weather...shocking for the rainy season, but we barely needed rain gear at all. We would wake up each morning to coca tea and a warm breakfast prepared by the 10 porters traveling with us. They carried about 50lbs on their backs and still managed to pack up the tents and gear, pass us on the trail, and have lunch set up and prepared before we reached the break spot. Same for dinner, and the cook prepared some really lovely food. The trail itself, combined with the altitude was a real challenge...3 major mountain passes and lots of stone steps made for some sore knees in the end, but the views were so spectacular it was well worth it. It's truly remarkable to sleep on a remote mountain top with not a soul in sight except a few llamas, especially knowing your two little feet were all that got you up there. Our guide organized our trek so we started before anyone else and never saw another group until the last day---it made all the difference in the world to have the trail and the campsites to ourselves, but we did have to push harder on the trail to stay ahead. (our guide: Eric at Enigma--- highly, highly recommend him!)  

When we arrived to Machu Picchu on the third day, it was a sight to behold, but for us it was mostly the remoteness of the location and the journey getting there that made it so beautiful and interesting. Now that we've done the trek, I feel like it's pretty essential to a Machu Picchu visit. The site itself is pretty remarkable of its own merit, but I would very strongly encourage anyone to do the trail. 

Jon took most of these amazing photos, and also carried our sleeping bags the whole 26 miles. I am very grateful!

Start of the Inca Trail with our group. a great crew! Km 82

The Urubamba River: headwater of the Amazon River

with our porters and the cook

first campsite: Llulluchapampa, at 12,303 feet. excellent view

view from the top of our first mountain pass: Dead Woman's Pass at 13,779 feet

Boom. you can see the little path winding up the valley

Temple of the Sun in Sayacmarca, an Incan ruin along the trail. 11,578 feet

Second night campsite. Phuyupatamarca , at 11,818 feet

This portion of the trail through the cloud forest is 80% original 

tarantula. yikes!!

wild orchids along the trail

and on to Machu Picchu....