Chat on WhatsAppI was hesitant to start, panicked over the exhaustive hike. I sought words of wisdom from my brother who just told me 'one foot in front of the other'. Still I worried. Until I went to the first meet and greet at Inca Reservations.
There the guide, Paul, comfortably led us through the initial briefing. I knew we were in capable hands, continually proven by his love of country - he repeatedly displayed during our 4 day trek with stories and in depth historical commentary. He and the rest of the company were so welcoming and capable. I spent 4 days in awe of the guides, the cook and the porters - superhuman porters.
The sites we saw were incredible but for me the true proof of their skills and our guides attention were shown when he took the time for a moonlit view of Winayhuayna - something ignored by every other company we passed. The beauty and solitude of that cannot be minimized. I felt connected for the first time to the Incan history and people.
All this culminated in the beauty that is Machu Picchu. Magnificence that cannot be explained but instead must be seen.
For me, though, it was the journey not the destination, as this group, both tour guides, the cooks, porters...allowed us to truly take in the beauty of Peru.
The trek was hard, the toilets a challenge, but an experience anyone should seek out in life.
