Yesterday I completed the Inka trail, and it has possibly been the best think I have done during my round the world trip.
Day one started with being picked up at 6:45 from my hostel followed by a bus trip to Km 82 and the start of the trail. The first days walking was not too far and taken at a fairly slow pace with quite a few stops either to admire some of the inka remains, or to help distance ourselves from some of the other groups.
Day two started relatively early with us being woken at 5:30 with our morning cup of tea before breakfast at 6:00. The days walking was mainly up hill with us having to climb from the 3000m of our campsite to 4215m at “dead womans pass” before a steep descent to our second campsite at 3600m. Unfortunately the hope for no rain during the trail was shattered as it rained for just under two hours with one hour of this being whilst the faster members of our group were having to wait for the slower members and guides. Luckily it had cleared by the time we arrived at the pass allowing us great views back down to the previous nights campsite and to our next campsite where we were due to arrive for lunch.
Day three was a later start and agin started with a climb to the second pass. This was the longest day both in terms of distance and time. Luckily our guide was able to arrange a change of the campsite for that night as we were due to camp at the campsite on the third pass rather than the one only 6km to Machu Pichu, which would have meant either a rediculously early start to the fourth day or a late arival to Machu Pichu. Again it rained for about an hour, but luckily this time it was whilst we were in our “resteraunt tent” having lunch.
Day four was the earliest start with us being woken at 4:30 and the one time you realy wanted/needed it no cup of tea. Then breakfast and a short walk to the checkpoint to be there for 5:30 when it opened to allow you to start the final part of the walk to Machu Pichu. Again it was raining but not too hard. The walk to the sun gate was fairly slow with everyone leaving at the same time, and the path being too narrow to pass the slower people near the front. Unfortunately upon ariving at the sun gate the cloud was still low so were were not able to get an early glimpse of the city. As we descended to the city the cloud slowly lifted to reveal magnificent views of the city.
It was nice only having to cary a light pack with the porters carying the tents and food, although you could see the difference between how the different companies treated the porters, with some companies providing a full uniform including good footwear and backpacks whilst most left it to the porters to provide their own equipment meaning that most of the porters were walking in sandals and carrying the equipment in tarpaulins.
The food during the trail was extremely good definately the best I´ve ever had on a walking and camping trip. Breakfast was toast and then either pancakes or omlettes, and then lunch and dinner woulld be soup, a main course and small desert with an afternoon tea of popcorn and crackers between the two.
Machu Pichu was wonderful and I would definately recommend visiting if you can. But ariving having done the inka trail makes it even more spectacular.