Rygsækrejsen 2015-2016: Inca trail

lørdag den 31. oktober 2015

Inca Trail - day #4 and visit to Machu Picchu.

Mikkel spent most of the night going forth and back to the toilet. Not food poisoning but definitely something related to dinner. We had all our stuff packed and were ready for breakfast at 3:45 AM execpt Mikkel wasn't having any. Then we headed for the gate and sat there in the darkness for a little more than an hour waiting in a long line before being let through. Last leg of the Inca Trail and fingers crossed for a beautiful morning at the sun gate. First we had to climb the monkey steps - some very high steps - around 50 of them. We finally made it to the Sun Gate just before 7 AM and what a sight. Machu Picchu and the iconic mountain was there below us a few clouds drifting up from the valley - but picture perfect. We did a lot of photos like everybody else and then we finally started the 45 minute walk towards Machu Picchu itself now meeting other visitors coming towards us. They looked and smelled so clean compared to us.

Once we got to Machu Picchu our guides started to talk about group photos and didn't really pay attention to those of us who needed access to a toilet after having hiked for nearly three hours. So Mikkel had to run for the toilets and got away from the group while they did all the tourist photos. The toilets on Machu Picchu are located outside the main gate, so there was a small logistical problem about getting back in since Mikkel didn't have a ticket but at the end after some 45 minutes he was re-united with the guides and the group but decided to stay at the cafe. At 10 in the morning the crowds arrive and he really didn't feel like walking around more.

Malene spent another hour and a half walking around with the group before coming to the cafe. We headed for the big queue to the shuttle bus which would take us to Aguas Calientes and meeting with the rest of the group at 1 PM. We got there, some ordered lunch, our guides did sign our "I did the Inca Trail"-diplomas and then we had the rest of the afternoon to hang out. We found a place that served cake and coffee and waited there until we had to go to the station. The Belgians stayed in Aguas Calientes for the night, so we said bye to them, headed for the station and made our way back to Cusco with the train, and then got a bus from Ollantaytambo.

Back in Cusco it was Halloween Friday, something they take super seriously so most of the town seemed to be packed with dressed up people. We just wanted to get back to our hostel, have our stuff and most of all a shower after 4 days of camping and hiking. Even the guy at the reception was dressed up when we got there - a very scary version of the joker. We got a key to our room - and had the best shower in a long time. And then headed to bed. No more early mornings for a while. Especially not tomorrow.

Waiting to enter the last stage of the Inca trail

At the Sun Gate

Machu Picchu Morning Mist

Happy European hikers

Machu Picchu post card picture

The mandatory postcard picture

The girls - Malene, Louise and Marie

The guys - Jonas and Mikkel - Oh where's Mikkel?

Malene and Mikkel - hmmm still haven't seem Mikkel

Machu Picchu Selfie

Queue for the shuttle bus

In Aguas Callientes

Angry mosquitos

Heading for the train back to Cusco

Halloween check in at the hostel

torsdag den 29. oktober 2015

Inca Trail - day #2

Woke up early. We had to be out of the tents before 5:30 so the porters could pack them and be on their way towards the next camp. So weird that they cannot come up with a system where the tents are put up on a permanent basis. On the other hand it keeps a lot of hands and feet busy constantly carrying whole camps across mountains.

We set out a bit later than planned, our guide being slightly frustrated with the pace of some of the participants. We enjoyed the morning however. First stop after some 10 minutes of walking. Check-point, optional stamp in passport and then continue up the hill. All morning was uphill. Whenever our guide gave us an estimated time of arrival we continued to do it in half the time meaning a lot of waiting time. We made it to the top of the dead woman's pass around 12 with Jonas and Louise and didn't bother waiting for the rest of the group. It was cold and windy at the top and we would rather get to the camp before the rain - if any today - and the downhill section of the trail was steps. A lot of steps.

So we made it down in our own slow pace to the camp, found our tents and rested, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.
We had late lunch and then time for some more resting. No urge to hike around the area, the weather being a bit cloudy and cold. Instead we stayed in the camp which today was big - crowded with other groups of tourists and local kids also doing the trail. No the tranquil place you could hope for but 50 teenagers having fun right next to our camp.

Dinner included some more information about tomorrows hike. Not so steep, more ruins to look at and at lower altitude than today. A couple of guys from our group not feeling too good today from the altitude. Malene and I felt overwhelmingly great considered the hiking distance and the altitude. Maybe it was the training with Sharon and Keith that is doing the difference. We think so. Ready for an early morning tomorrow - again - and a longer hike. Thumbs up.