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Cruising Independence
Writer's pictureRick D.

Touring Peru – Part 2 Nov 13th – Nov 16th Machu Picchu

Updated: Jan 19, 2020


The Hike to Machu Picchu

Close to the top of Candy’s all time bucket list was visiting Machu Picchu… not just taking the bus up and doing the two hour tour (Rick’s ideal visit), but hiking the 29 miles of the Inca trail with an elevation rise of 4,900 feet (starting at 9,000 feet)! After Candy’s orthoscopic knee surgery last year to prepare, plus much training and exercising by both of us, this was it! We both realized the seriousness of the hike at our ages… this wasn’t something to take lightly.


Day One: We were picked up at 5am to drive to the KM-82 hike starting point. A quick breakfast on the way and we met our team. Even though it was the start of the rainy season we fully expected to be hiking with others and were very surprised to find that we were alone with a private guide, four porters and a chef!! Ultimately, all we had to do was get up the mountains and they would do the rest… Day one is characterized as “Moderately Difficult”, covering 14 km, 6.5 hours of hiking and 1,300 feet of vertical climb…. (Yeah, moderate) Luckily we had somewhat acclimated to the altitude, but we quickly learned that very slow steady steps were more effective than ”hike and pant”. We called it “sloth mode” and our adjustable hiking poles really helped. We carried backpacks with drinking water, rain gear, extra socks and fleece or vests. Our porters, loaded with 20kg each (about 44 lbs) made up of 15kg of equipment from the trekking company plus 5kg of personal items such as warm clothes and bedding. Their loads were weighed and strictly controlled by the Inca Trail authorities. We stopped at some beautiful Inca ruins along the way, only accessible via the Inca Trail. When we made it to our camp the porters had set up a cooking/eating tent, our tent and our guides tent, had cacao tea and a snack (often popcorn, crackers and cheese) ready for us as they prepared dinner (usually 4 course and more than we could eat – the porters happily ate the rest). We were in bed, exhausted, by 8 pm.


Day Two: Characterized as the “challenging day” (what an understatement). We figured that if we could make it through day two we were golden… Day two encompassed 16km, 11 hours of hiking, first with a up trail (9,452 foot rise), a down section (2,079 foot drop), lunch, another up trail (1,423 foot rise), and a final down section (1,323 foot drop), fortunately with no rain and plenty of sun. When we reached the highest peak, “Dead Woman’s Pass” at 13,779 feet, those who had made it up first applauded each and every hiker who made it… very satisfying!! Rick approached some elder hikers on top and asked their age… he was the eldest of the group by 1 year! Again, our chef had made lunches for us and the team greeted us (with applause) with tea, snacks and another wonderful dinner when we arrived, exhausted. We were asleep by 7:00 pm.


Much of the day one and two trails were reconstructed trails, as the Incans destroyed all trails leading to Machu Picchu in order to effectively hide it from the Spanish invaders. The third and fourth day trails were original, and tough. The bathrooms (if you could call them that) quality steadily decrease over the trail… it seems a stall with a hole in the floor constitutes an acceptable toilet facility.


Day Three: Characterized as the “easy day” began with steady rain that gradually cleared… fun! Day three encompassed 10km, 2 hours of easy up (273 foot rise) and about 3 hours of down (3,280 foot drop) on the slippery rocky path. We stopped at two spectacular Inca ruins and took pictures. Again we were met by “our crew” (we were spoiled rotten by this time) with another great dinner complete with a celebratory cake (cooked in a pressure cooker on a two burner stove). We were shocked to find bottles of rum for sale on the trail, along with water and sports drinks. We bought one, which was quickly decanted into a plastic bottle. At the evening campsite our team made a special drink of Rum, Macha tea, cacao leaves and cloves, served warm… Everyone was very happy! That evening (with no influence from the rum) we saw a single file line of a dozen or more steady lights moving Southeast in the sky… we ran to the neighboring camp and they too were watching, amazed. No explanation found online after. In fact a plane with blinking lights, at a much lower altitude, crossed the string of steady lights at a right angle. Que the "Twilight Zone" music please!


Day Four: Characterized as “Unforgettable” with a mostly down trail of about 1000 foot drop. Up at 3am in the rain to be at the trail opening gate by 5am. After a one hour wait, we hiked to the “Sun Gate” and were ready for the view of a lifetime of Machu Picchu… in the fog.

We waited for a while and were able to get some pictures as the clouds blew through the mountain passes (we were mostly above the clouds for days). We finally ascended to the Machu Picchu site as the sun burned off the fog and the wonderous city appeared… WOW !! Our guide, Marco, had been explaining the Incan & pre-Incan ways, beliefs, religion and customs for the entire trip. Once at Machu Picchu he spent another two hours, giving us an overview of the site and then set us free to explore for another two hours… It was pretty incredible! (actually we physically struggled through the last part of the ruins, as our legs were jelly). After a winding bus ride down to the small town of Allyu, we boarded the train to Ollantaytambo (complete with tea, snacks and Pisco shots!). From there a taxi brought us to our Air B&B in Cusco in the trendy (and French) San Blas district. Hello Hot Showers!!!



Ready to start the four day / three night hike

This guide shows the mountainous route of the trail
Candy with our guide Marco, and porters.
The porters were truly like human mountain goats! Hikers would yell "Porters" and everyone would move to let them pass through at breakneck speeds.
Non-hiking visitors would take the train up and back - and exhausted hikers would take the train down from the site.
Along the trail were numerous Inka ruins only accessable by hiking. Note the terraced fields which were indicative of the culture.
The scale and scope of the handmade construction was amazing!
An indigenous native carrys a wooden plow from field to terraced field.
Candy at one of the trailside Inka sites.

First night camp was in indigenous family's yard... note the tiny outhouse beyond the stone fence!
Camping Candy with her friend....
Not your average kitchen....
Candy and Marco, our wonderful guide.
Another wonderful meal!
Another amazing meal from our chef and porters.
Typical day on the Inca trail.
We made it to Warmwanuscca at 13,776 feet! Next is Dead Woman Pass...
Majestic Inka ruins along the trail.
Rocky trail was difficult in the rain...
100 steps and pant, 100 steps and pant... don't look up, keep plodding along and mentally will yourself up the trail!
Going downhill in the rain on the slippery stone pathways was treacherous
Through Dead Womans Pass to the Hidden River
We made it through day two!! By far the hardest physical challenge we've ever met!
The Inka sites get more amazing as you approach Machu Picchu. These "fields" help feed the 20,000 workers who did the stonework and construction.
We made friends along the way.
Our chef made a cake in a pressure cooker on a propane burner,,, Amazing!!
Resting up before we reach the Sun Gate
Final approach to the Awsome View!!
Temple ruins at the Sun Gate
Finally, we get there and it's covered by fog !!
Candy in the early morning Machu Picchu FOG !!
Clouds are finally clearing revealing Machu Picchu
FINALLY the couds clear and the enormity of the Inka ruins is revealed
Amazingly intricate stonework with astounding alignment, all with out modern tools!!
Modern roofing on ancient attachment points to show what it once looked like.
Amazing examples of stonework!
The way it once looked. Thatched roofs last 15 plus years.
Cutback road for bus access... pretty steep!!
Village at the bottom of the bus ride with the train line through the middle.
Another set of ruins with the largest stones... Amazing - how did they do that???
Chicha brewing lady...

Beneficial heath qualities of Cuy (Guinea Pig)
Plowing the field with a wooden plow and oxen.
Amazing ruins in the mountains

Explaining natural dies for Alpaca and lama wool.
The Spanish, after conquering the Inka, destroyed all their holy places and erected churches upon the foundations.
It’s believed by the locals that they keep the house safe with a blessing to the “Apus” (the Inca mountain gods) and ensure health, wealth, and unity for the occupants of the house. The bulls are combined with a ladder and a cross to allow easy passage to heaven when the final call comes.
Beautifully done table dressing, handmade by this Peruvian woman.
The twelve-angled stone is composed of a formation of diorite rocks and is recognized by its fine finishing and twelve-angled border, an example of perfectionist Incan architecture. The block is categorized as Cultural Heritage of the Nation of Peru and is located in the city of Cuzco. The stone is a great example of Inca knowledge in the evolution of construction. There are other stones with the same vertices but the twelve-angled stone is the most famous.
Church, bult upon Inka stonework
Candy choosing potatoes from the hundreds of types offered. Peru is proud to have almost 4000 variations of potatos!
Choosing our seats for our last breakfast in Peru...
Our breakfast view!

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3 Comments


elpida
Feb 11, 2020

What an amazing journey you both have started! enjoy all the places & faces and keep us posted along the way!

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andypapad
Jan 18, 2020

Great! So happy for you. A bit envious also...

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jdrinane
Jan 18, 2020

FABULOUS!!!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventures with all of us. I am soooooo jealous!

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