The Inca Trail

The next stage of the great Meghan-Dad Peruvian adventure of 2013 was the Inca Trail. The trail is a 4-day, 26-mile trek through the Andes that ends by arriving at Machu Picchu in time for sunrise on the fourth day. The classic "Inca Trail" is in fact one of many ancient Inca roads in the area, but this one is special because it was built as a celebration of the high mountains, which the Incas worshipped (the trail ranged from the low of Machu Picchu at 7,900 feet to the highest pass at over 13,800 feet). As a result, the trek offers one amazing view after another, plus a firsthand experience of the many microclimates of the Peruvian sierra and an up-close experience of all the ruins sites along the trail. It was, in a word, incredible!

Our group of 16 hikers ready to start the trail

Starting point: Urubamba river valley (8,500 feet), beautiful glaciers already in the background

Looking down on the Inca site of Llactapata (shaped like a flower)

Camp the first night - our tent

Breakfast in the dining tent

The second day was a lot of climbing, but we had llama friends accompany us from time to time

Super steep ascents up to the first (and highest) pass of the trail

But the views at the top were worth it! (this was one direction)

The whole gang at the top (this was the view in the other direction)

Day 3 began with a visit to the ruins of Runkurakay, a meeting point along the road for Inca messengers

Even from afar you can see how the climate changes: glacier, dry above the treeline, high jungle, cloud forest

Ruins of Sayacmarca, perched on a mountainside

Llama friends grazing at Phuyupatamarca, with the tip of Machu Picchu mountain peaking out in the distance (the lowest peak in the center of the photo)

Afternoon of day 3: "gringo-killer" stairs - steep and long descent

Agricultural terraces at Wiñaywayna

Morning of day 4: up at 3:30am to get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu before sunrise