Victory music: Necessary

As beautiful as the trail is, sometimes you find yourself walking alone and in need of a little musical inspiration. Make sure you have your pump up playlists for the trek, but most importantly: Have a Victory Playlist for when you reach the Sun Gate. It's about an hour journey from The Sun Gate to Machu Picchu and after 4 days of walking through the elements, you're going to want all your favorite "I did it" songs.

Overall, I was surprised by how doable every day was. Of course there were challenges, but at no point did I feel like I wouldn't make it to camp. By the end you find yourself cursing the rolling hills, but the gorgeous views and the sense of accomplishment make it all worth it.