Chat on WhatsAppThis was a once in a lifetime experience. I liked that our group consisted of only five trekkers, making the experience more personal. I never felt like another ¨cattle in the herd¨ which is the banality of most guided tours. Instead, we got an intimate approach to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu led by our patient and encouraging guide Ramiro. Thank you Ramiro for your dry sense of humour which made hiking possible when we were completely out of energy and suffering from mild altitude sickness. I was also impressed when Ramiro magically conjured up curative teas and vapors to help with tiredness and nausea.
The trail itself was a challenge. I definitely underestimated it because people had told me that four to eight year old people can complete it. How hard could it be? By the end of Day 1 which is considered the easiest segment, I was exhausted, short of breath, and my back and shoulders ached. When we reached the camp site, every one was giving each other high fives and celebrating as if we completed a marathon. I´ll never forget the strength and endurance of our five porters who were carrying twice our load. The best thing that night was the hot soup and hearty dinner made by our talented cook, Cristobal. After a good night´s sleep, we were ready to tackle Day 2 to climb up Dead Woman´s Pass. For me, Day 3 was the hardest day because of the 2000 steps we had to descend which were torture for my knees; but by Day 4 I had a renewed sense of excitement to reach the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. Although we had to complete the trail within four days, I never felt rushed. I definitely had time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains which inspired me to keep moving forward. I highly recommend Inca Trail Reservations .
Regards,
S. David
San Francisco, USA
