The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is on many peoples bucket list but was certainly on mine. I finally got a chance to go after waiting nearly a year after booking. I booked through Wildland Trekking as I had been on a trip of theirs before. This would turn out to be a mistake, but more on that later.
Day 1
It was Friday 14th April 2017 and I left Gatwick on my way first day of travel to Lima. Lima turned out to be a bit rough and ready, but I stayed in the Limaq Hotel which wasn’t too bad. It was just a quick stopover for the next flight.
Day 2
Time to get to Cusco, the main start destination and a great place to aclimitise as it is just over 11,000ft elevation. Upon landing I was met by the Wildland rep, Nicole and went back to the Terra Nova hotel where I met up with the other 7 people. Little would I know I would make several friends and end up meeting some on multiple continents on future occasions. We all went out to dinner and a quick walk around Cusco.
Day 3 - 16th
Another day of aclimitising, but lots of local tours. First stop was Saqsayhuaman, a place with big huge walls cut from large stones precisely with no mortar.
Next was Qenqo, the temple of mother earth and probably tomb of the most important king on the Incan empire Pachakuteq. Next was Pukapukara Fort, then Tambomachay, a ceremonial place, constant uniform water draining.
Finally a city tour of Cusco.
Day 4 - 17th
Our last day of aclimitisation included a few more local spots. First we went to Chinchero village, a local weaving centre making blankets, hats etc still weaving by hand. Then on to Salineras, salt mines of Maras Moray agricultural place, terraces and eco systems.
Salineras de Maras consist of thousands of shallow salt evaporation ponds carved into the slope of a mountainside in the Sacred Valley. The system is of pre-Inca origin and has been in continuous use through the Inca period, colonial era, and into modern times, making it one of the more enduring examples of ancient technology still functioning today.
Day 5 - 18th
The time is now for the start of the Inca trail which will take us to Macchu Piccu. We travelled to Ollantaytambo where the trail officially begins.
We reached our first basecamp Wayllabamba at about 9,800ft elevation where the locals had setup our tents and had dinner on the go.
The first day was fairly easy, but there was harder ahead. Time to sleep.
Day 6 - 19th
The second day proved to be the hardest for my overweight unfit body. The hike was from Wayllabamba to Paqaymayu at 11,772ft.
I was in bed by 21:30 exhausted.
Day 7 - 20th
This was another hard ay taking us to a highest elevation of over 13,000 ft and then down to 12,000ft for our basecamp at Wiñaywayna. I think it was at this point I joked with the porters that I was pay 100 USD for a coke zero at that point. Still warm boiled water at that point was getting a bit boring. On a more serious note, I think this is the highest elevation I have ever had a poo in a plastic bag. Albeit with a fake toilet seat on top to try and fool us it was a real toilet.
Day 8 - 21st
Inca Trail Day 4 was the day when we would arrive at the Sun Gate and walk down to Machu Picchu.
After some time exploring the ruins, we headed off to our hotel Tierra Viva in Machu Picchu.
Day 9 - 22nd
We spent the next day exploring Machu Picchu town and taking a well deserved rest.
Day 10 - 23rd
The last day had finally come and we had an early start leaving Aguas Calientes on the 05:30 train for approx 90 minutes and then a van back to Cusco. Picked up luggage and then left for Cusco airport where I said my farewell to the guides and fellow hikers. It had been an amazing trip and all the other hikers made me feel very welcome.
The logistics for the day where a nightmare, leaving us to pack on a dirty floor in a hotel lobby but I didn’t let it spoil the trip. The plane left at midday to take me back to Lima where the airline would promptly lose my luggage. It was nowhere to found and I was told to go to my hotel and get my connecting flight.
Day 11 - 24th
After a long day of travel I arrived back into Gatwick about 15:00 and set off for the drive home.
The whole trip was a lifetime bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. I would wholely recommend the trip, just go direct with Peru By Locals and don’t bother with Wildland Trekking for non USA trips.