We woke up at about 3am today to get ready and pack everything we needed for the trek. We planned to do the shortened Inca Trail trek since we only had about 11 days in the country and I wasn't sure I could camp out for 4 straight days. At about 4am, we met our guide Nelida of Llama Path to head out to Ollantaytambo which was about an hour away. Here, we then hopped on a train ride to the 104km point. This took about another hour and after all that - we finally arrived!
So much excitement was running through me, yet I was nervous at the same time because I didn't know what to expect. It was also just crazy to me that 2 years ago I was planning this trip until it fell through. Now, it was finally happening.
The trek was a challenge for the first few hours. Everything was uphill, there were a ton of stone steps (300 just in one area alone) and when you throw in the elevation factor it was a whole different ball game. The beauty and history along the trail really made it worthwhile and I'm so glad I did it. I highly recommend the walking stick - it definitely helps in those moments when you're just completely exhausted.
Throughout the trek, we saw several archeological sites, learned about the Inca history, learned a few Quechua words and phrases and even had a picnic lunch in an old temple. It was an amazing experience and visiting Machu Picchu wouldn't be the same without the work it takes to get there by foot.
Check back for what happened towards the end of the trek as we approached the famous ruins...
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