Inca Trail to Machu Picchu29 Sep 2009
|
|
The start of the Inca Trail
Our first morning in our tent!
The start of day 2
We started our journey to Machu Picchu at Kilometre 82 (the start of the Inca Trail) and although the walk was gentle on day 1 to ease us in, the weather was not so kind and we arrived at our first camp for the night all wet and soggy!
Day 2, which we were told was the hardest day, lived up to our expectations! It was really tough as we had to go up by approximately 1000m to get to the highest point on the trail (approx 4200m/13,700ft). The last bit to get to the top was the toughest as you had to stop every couple of steps to catch your breath because the air is so thin. Anyway we made it to the top and then started heading back down again along the trail to our camp for the second night.
Although day 3 is mainly downhill it was the longest day and we were getting tired now and going down, although easier on your breathing, is much harder on your legs! We were all very glad to get to our last camp for the trip - plus there was the extra bonus of it being the first place where we could have a shower! After sharing a tent with Adrian who hadn't had a shower for almost 3 days it was a relief to my nose as well!
Finally day 4 arrived and it was just a few hours walk to Machu Picchu! It was so amazing to get the first glimpse of the "lost city" although when we finally arrived we were so tired it was hard to take it all in!
Anyway, we made it and it is very satisfying! Not only the physical challenge but the camping - with the lack of showers, cold nights and the toilet facilities along the way were disgusting! But it was worth it.
