The Inka Trail to Machu Picchu - April 2012

One in the Machu two in the Picchu. Luckily I thought ahead for this post, and sent an email to Mum as soon as I got back to internet (it was her birthday, Happy Birthday Ma, I remembered even though I was hiking to a wonder! Good daughter). So, here we go, 1.5 months later, my recollection as of the day after:


We had a team of 26 porters, 2 chefs, and 3 guides for our trek group of 15 (mostly aussies).

Day 1 was really hot, the sun was the killer. I had to zip my pants off into shorts. Such an amazing/dorky look. (see photos). We were blown away when we arrived at our first resting spot. The porters had made a big tent up for us and greeted us all with rounds of applause, cordial and fully gormet meals. Overall the first day was quite easy, maybe because I was expecting to be dying 100% of the time, but it certainly helped with my confidence. When we got to our camp ground, I couldn’t help but think ”I can really do this!! EAT THIS BANOS BLOODY VIRGIN STEPS!” That night we were still fairly bright-eyed and stayed up playing card games (shithead) till bedtime.

Day 2 we had to cross 2 “passes” the first was at the top of one of the largest peaks 4,200 metres above sea level, we weren’t surprised to learn the stretch of track we had to take to get us there was called “Dead womans pass”. Callum was miles ahead of the rest of the group (the whole trail), but I was semi-easily keeping up with Rory, and of the 15 hikers, we were hovering around coming 2nd or 3rd in the group. So super proud of me.


Day 3 was all down hill and absolutely destroyed my poor wee knees. I found day 3 the hardest, most found day 2 the hardest. I realised I’m better at uphill than downhill. We saw loads of really awesome Inkan ruins on the trek, but most on day 3. One particular site we visited was infested with Llamas, and was so much fun to explore with our cameras. I snapped heaps of classics of Rory with llamas. Then we found a waterfall. Richard, Gary & Rory took a “shower” in the freezing cold water, cascading around the secluded spot surrounded by Inkan ruins. Very picturesque.

Day 4 was a 3.30am wake up *shudder* and a 2 hour trek to the sun gate, then another 2 hours or so to the site of Machu Picchu itself. Unfortuntely day 4 didn’t end with a a pleasant stroll around M.P and an early night…. we’d decided (before the trek) that we’d also buy passes to Wayna Picchu. Wayna Picchu is the MASSIVE mountain that you can see in the photo of me and Rory at M.P in the backround. We literally climbed with our teeth and nails up that thing. That was by far the hardest physical challenge of my life. Especially after 4 days of torturous trekking on the Inca Trail. But I was glad I did it, and I slept REALLY well that night.