Chat on WhatsAppThe four day trek to Machu Picchu through Inca Trail Reservations was nothing short of phenomenal. There were seven of us – who began a journey that that was simply a trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. By the end of trip, we had found seven wonders in ourselves throughout the entire journey. Our rite of passage to Machu Picchu was self-reflecting, inspirational and unparalleled to anything that we had ever experienced.
Our tour guide, Victor, gave us a thorough FAQ the night before our trip. He blanketed the nervousness of our group with a sense of calm by completely describing the entire trail and telling us what essentials we would need to pack. Victor was positive, patient and extremely informative with all the questions that we had for him. His attitude was reflected during every second of the trip! Attitude reflects leadership – and the attitude of our group fueled us up Dead Women's Pass. His historical descriptions of each archaeological site and small teachings of various Andean/Incan cultures were creative and educational – I enjoyed hearing learning about the Incan culture and the environment we were in as we trudged up and down the mountain.
Honestly – the porters of our group deserve their own unique paragraph. The porters were absolutely amazing. I could not say better things about their kindness and service during the trip. The food that was cooked came out in four course meals! It felt like we were dining at a three-star Michelin restaurant while camping. It was also overwhelmingly humble to watch them traverse the terrain with their packs at speeds that were three times as fast as us. The arrangements that were carefully crafted each night were directly suited to our needs and expectations. Our campsites were always ready before we arrived and the smell of food always permeated through the air, coaxing us to fill our stomachs with the energy we would need the next day in our magical journey. Porters would magically transpire out of thin air to help us with every single need, from small tasks to fixing tents and sleeping bags – to boiling water for us on the last two days of the trip to make sure we stayed hydrated and healthy.
Machu Picchu can be described in one word – inca-credible. It was not only then ending itself – but the entire journey that gave us the sense of accomplishment. The mental and physical exhaustion you feel magically transforms itself into determination and sheer willpower. On the fourth day – standing on top of Machu Picchu – any trials and tribulations that you had experienced become infinitesimal compared to the bigger picture. We experienced rain (bring ponchos! – jackets will not cover your backpack), bugs (plenty of bug spray) and altitude sickness (be sure to acclimate to Cusco before your trip). These things meant nothing compared to the impression that we were left after four days of an arduous expedition.
Inca Trail Reservations was professional, courteous and thoughtful in every step of the way. The organization and preparation of the company made us comfortable with the entire trip and allowed us to enjoy the trail itself! They were extremely prompt in email and phone responses, held responsibility for our train tickets and were considerate to everyone one of our needs. I highly recommend going through the company – I have no doubt you will find the service they provide of the highest quality.
Daniel Su, USA/Los Angeles
13/09/2011
