Inca Trail

Given that Geoff was missing work, and Adele and Ceci were missing school, we could only do a quick trip to "the highlands", as the locals called it in the jungle, or the Andes Mountains and Machu Picchu. It wasn't nearly long enough, so we'll have to go back!

We worked with another organizing tour company (not something we have ever done before) called Responsible Travel, which was a relief since there are so many steps to make this visit happen, and after our rushed and difficult goodbyes to our jungle companions in the Lima airport, we took a quick flight to Cusco where we were picked up and taken an hour and a half to a small village in the Sacred Valley called Ollantaytambo. We arrived after dark and left for the train station at 5:30AM (but it was light out) so our overall experience was brief, but this little village won our hearts. And it felt so good to need a jacket and hat!!!

That first night we ate at a farm to table restaurant at the train station called El Albergue, which was so delicious. A few of our jungle friends were also doing Machu Picchu, and that first night we ran into Stav and Amit from Israel right there in the restaurant!

We stayed overnight in an adorable little hostel called Hostel Iskay with its charming gardens, super friendly staff and views of Inca ruins in every direction.

By 6AM we were on the train with our double masks and face shields, a mandatory state of affairs on public transport in Peru (double masks are required in all buildings and streets, but in the jungle and on the trail we took them off since no one was around!)

The train stopped at a random marker and our little family and local guide got off the train, and that is where we began the hike! It was a one-day Inca Trail, which our guide said is the most beautiful and interesting day on the four-day Inca Trail, so for our condensed version we felt very lucky. The trail was pretty much carved out of the mountain, still with many original stone-paved pathways from those industrious Incas. It was about an eight mile hike gaining a lot of elevation, but Geoff's watch clocked ten miles - maybe all the wondering around at the ruins, who knows. We went into it very tired but all of us felt amazing on the hike. It may be one of my top travel days ever. I loved it. Wild orchids, spectacular vistas, fresh clean and cool air, and I was surrounded by my favorite people (minus Tennie who we missed every single day). 

We got a glimpse of some Inca Ruins in the distance that we would visit after lunch.

Responsible Travel worked with a tour company called Alpaca Expeditions. Our guide, Javier, said we could leave anything heavy in our packs with some of the porters who would run our extra stuff up the trail with the cook and sous chef (we had a cook and sous chef?) Since we were planning to wear the same outfit the next day (thinking we would be carrying everything ourselves), we didn't have much...well, Geoff always has extra stuff so he was happy for a personal porter! Around noon we showed up to a tent with a very delicious and elaborate lunch. I wish I would have taken a picture of the set up, the cooks and workers and the VIEW. They even had a camping toilet in a little toilet tent with toilet paper, which at this point in our Peruvian adventures felt pretty luxurious!

After lunch we explored the spectacular Winayhuayna ruins overlooking that beautiful Urubamba river. This was apparently a place where people would stop and be "washed" in preparation to go to Machu Picchu, which was a very holy place with seven temples. The curved terraces were so beautiful.

And then we continued on until we reached the Sun Gate overlooking the mystical Machu Picchu. We had a bit of rain as we ascended to the top and were worried we might not see it, but like the rest of our trip, the weather gods were on our side and we had perfect views on this afternoon and the next day when we toured it.

A view of the town where we would spend the night, Aguas Calientes.

And some final photos of the day, a little closer in, before we boarded the bus down a windy road on the side of the mountain. I should mention that this day was Geoff's and my 23rd wedding anniversary! What a life we have had together!

Our guide arranged for the chef and sous chef to cook for us in Aguas Calientes at a friend's restaurant (they carried all those tents and cooking supplies all the way!) It didn't taste as good the second time around, but we were happy to support these indigenous people who work with tourists, when not farming, to supplement their income. They were delightful.

We slept well, although we were up at 5:15 the next morning to catch the early bus to Machu Picchu.