At St.-Nicolas day we started our adventures trip very early in the morning and were taken by bus to km 82 of the railway road. Our group was formed by 10 tourists, the two guides Edwin and Gubel, a cook and 7 porters of which the oldest had 60 years of age. At km 82 we shouldered our backpacks with our personal stuff like clothes, sleeping bag and mattress and took off for the 4-day hike. The tents, table, chairs, food and cooking utensils were all carried up and down the hills by the cook and the porters. They did a tremendous job and most of them just with a pair of old sandals on their feet.
The first day was a training day. It took us along Inca ruins (of which one was built in the shape of a puma’s paw), cross ascents and descents and finally, after many stops, to our first campsite at about 3000 meters above sea level. From this place we had a stunning view over the valley and the cloudy mountains. Upon our arrival at the campsite the porters had already put up the tents and we were served popcorn and tee. All the 4 days they took care of us and served us with delicious and diversified food. They worked like ants all the time while we tourist were already exhausted by just carrying our own little bags.
The second day was the hardest. From our campsite the trail followed endless serpentines steadily up the hills until the first pass crossing at about 4200 meters above sea level. The last part was very steep and because of the altitude every step hurt. Finally after 3 hours we reached the highest point very exhausted and out of breath: Taking our pictures, enjoying the view and watching how the other tourists fight themselves up the hill. It proved again that a slow and steady walking rhythm was taking us faster to the top than the stop-and-go style (accompanied by chatting and commenting every tree along the way) of most of the other tourist. After a short break we descended on the other side on endless steps to our second campsite which was on about 3600 meters above sea level. Short after our arrival it started raining and the temperatures turned really cold. We were glad when finally our group was complete and we could have lunch which helped a lot on getting warm a bit.
The third day it was raining cats and dogs almost without a break. We were crossing two more passes (3900 and 3600 meters above sea level), passed several Inca ruins, walked through cloud forest with opulent vegetation and finally made our way down on very steep steps to the third campsite at 2600 meters above sea level. In this place the temperature was milder and for 5 Soles (CHF 1.60) you could get a warm shower. Although this was our last night and Gustavo from Brazil was calling for a party everybody vanished after dinner and a drink at the bar for their tents. The next morning we had to get up at 4.00 a.m. to be right in time for the opening of the gates for the last part of the Inca-Trail to reach Machu Picchu and to avoid the big masses of tourists there.
The next day everything had to go quick: get up, pack up, have breakfast and then run to the check point to be in the queue as close as possible to the gate to wait its opening. When the gate opened we took our legs under our armpits and made our way as fast as possible to the sun gate high above Machu Picchu. From there we could enjoy a very early 6 o’clock view at the ruins in the first light of the sun. It was a unique feeling to see the goal of our 4-day trip in front of us for the first time! After an intense photo session we took the last steps down to the ruins and finally visited them together with our guides who gave very interesting information. After we were stuffed with impressions and had honored the unique situation of Machu Picchu we made our way down to Aguas Calientes where we had our final party together with our hiking-team and then took the train and bus back to Cusco. Flavorsome smelling, happy and exhausted we finally got back to our hostal…
The first day was a training day. It took us along Inca ruins (of which one was built in the shape of a puma’s paw), cross ascents and descents and finally, after many stops, to our first campsite at about 3000 meters above sea level. From this place we had a stunning view over the valley and the cloudy mountains. Upon our arrival at the campsite the porters had already put up the tents and we were served popcorn and tee. All the 4 days they took care of us and served us with delicious and diversified food. They worked like ants all the time while we tourist were already exhausted by just carrying our own little bags.
The second day was the hardest. From our campsite the trail followed endless serpentines steadily up the hills until the first pass crossing at about 4200 meters above sea level. The last part was very steep and because of the altitude every step hurt. Finally after 3 hours we reached the highest point very exhausted and out of breath: Taking our pictures, enjoying the view and watching how the other tourists fight themselves up the hill. It proved again that a slow and steady walking rhythm was taking us faster to the top than the stop-and-go style (accompanied by chatting and commenting every tree along the way) of most of the other tourist. After a short break we descended on the other side on endless steps to our second campsite which was on about 3600 meters above sea level. Short after our arrival it started raining and the temperatures turned really cold. We were glad when finally our group was complete and we could have lunch which helped a lot on getting warm a bit.
The third day it was raining cats and dogs almost without a break. We were crossing two more passes (3900 and 3600 meters above sea level), passed several Inca ruins, walked through cloud forest with opulent vegetation and finally made our way down on very steep steps to the third campsite at 2600 meters above sea level. In this place the temperature was milder and for 5 Soles (CHF 1.60) you could get a warm shower. Although this was our last night and Gustavo from Brazil was calling for a party everybody vanished after dinner and a drink at the bar for their tents. The next morning we had to get up at 4.00 a.m. to be right in time for the opening of the gates for the last part of the Inca-Trail to reach Machu Picchu and to avoid the big masses of tourists there.
The next day everything had to go quick: get up, pack up, have breakfast and then run to the check point to be in the queue as close as possible to the gate to wait its opening. When the gate opened we took our legs under our armpits and made our way as fast as possible to the sun gate high above Machu Picchu. From there we could enjoy a very early 6 o’clock view at the ruins in the first light of the sun. It was a unique feeling to see the goal of our 4-day trip in front of us for the first time! After an intense photo session we took the last steps down to the ruins and finally visited them together with our guides who gave very interesting information. After we were stuffed with impressions and had honored the unique situation of Machu Picchu we made our way down to Aguas Calientes where we had our final party together with our hiking-team and then took the train and bus back to Cusco. Flavorsome smelling, happy and exhausted we finally got back to our hostal…
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