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Published: December 7th 2006
So the Inca trail was brilliant.
We left early on the Monday morning for our 4 day hike to Machu Picchu, our guide Henry provided was excellent throughout providing a tonne of facts and interesting snippets about Peruvians, the Incas and all sorts of other South American bits and bobs.
Throughout the walk you witness wonderful views and we were very luck with the weather. Our porters who carry all the food for the 4 days and the tents would look after us putting up the tents and waking us each morning with tea and coffee. Getting up at circa 5am each morning is really no problem when you go to bed when it is dark about 8pm.
On the second day Henry said that we were going quite quickly and that it may be a possibility for us to get to Machu Picchu on the 3rd day. This would allow us to see the wonder at both evening and again the following morning. He also said that if we did it over the standard 4 days then we would get there about 9ish on the 4th day by which time there would be tourists everywhere, getting there
on the 3rd day, having a night in a hostel in Agua Calientes with a shower and then getting up early to catch the bus up before the hoards was a much better option. We were rewarded for our decision to get to MP on day 3 because the weather was lovely providing amazing views. When you first get to MP you approach through the sun gate which looks down on Machu Picchu, again I think we were very lucky as the weather could not have been any better and as a first view of MP leaves you truly awestruck.
Our team on the walk consisted of good old Muzza, Brad (U.S), Suzy and Chris both from the U.K. Brad is a motorcycle instructor from Chicago and started off fairly quiet although as Muzza put it he may have been fighting a few self inflicted demons incurred through heavy partying in Cusco the night before. He soon warmed up though. Chris is a RAF pilot and a very impressive individual having been to over 60 countries and kept himself busy with a few mountains and other activities. Chris carried a 20+ kilo pack throughout the trail. I laboured with
a 13 kilo pack while Muzza we discovered filled his 3kg pack with helium and cotton wool.
To be honest everyone did really well, both Stacey and Muzza had felt the effects of less than cooked food so all in all it was a good team effort. Another reason we were lucky was that there were only 6 of us, most other groups were 12 to 16 in number.
In summary the walk went abit like this...
Day 1 Level, up, level, up, camp.
Day 2 Up, up, up, down, down, up, down, camp
Day 3 up, up, down, Machu Picchu, down, hostel
Day 4 Bus up, MP, bus down, train to Cusco
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Anna
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At Last
Well well you two - I have not forgotten either of you - how could I... But it is my forst time to makes some notes! Firstly Stacey did you cut your hair again????!!!! Impressed .... and secondly James it is good to see you are keeping the hair on the face short .... hee hee I am very very jealous of you both. I will be haunting you both now you will regret sending me the BLOG!!