There are fewer sights more magical than the one from the “Sun Gate”—watching, as the first light of dawn falls upon the mountain top city of Machu Picchu. It’s spectacular. And as we sat on the interlocking stone, clouds below our perch, contemplating what it must have been like for Incan Emperors to walk these steps, or how Hiram Bingham felt as he cut away the vines of his epic discovery, we couldn’t help but wonder… why didn’t we spend at least five minutes on a treadmill before committing to the Inca Trail?
But instead, we drank the Coca tea, we sniffed the Muna leaf (found growing on the side of the mountain), and we gritted our teeth, tackling one stone step at a time. Then, on the morning of the fourth day, exhausted and stinky, having navigated Andean delights such as “Dead Woman’s Pass”, we were met with a jaw dropping sight: the incomparable wonder of the Incan lost city.
…and a tour bus full of khaki wearing vacationers holding bottled water.
Magical.
Here, we must give a shout out to Peru Treks, an incredible Cusco trekking company who kept our group organized and well-fed throughout our hike—to the point of somehow making a birthday cake on the side of the mountain.
“But what does one really need to know before making the journey to this ‘Wonder of the World’?” you may ask: Firstly, hiking the Inca Trail is worth it! Though the train is easy and takes less than four hours to reach Aguas Calientes (the village closest to Machu Picchu), what a person sees along the hike is every bit as impressive as Machu Picchu itself. There are several Incan ruins to explore, beautiful and varied landscapes, and countless examples of wildlife that have no desire to kill you. Secondly, arrive to the historical site early. Walking among the ruins is great at all times, but significantly better with fewer people. And lastly, book an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes if you have time. It’s a cool little town with great restaurants, lively bars, and cozy accommodations, and you’ll definitely want to rest for an evening after hiking the Lares or Inca Trail.
Another thing that should be considered, is taking altitude sickness pills before making the trek. There were a couple members of our group who chose not to do this and the difference in their overall demeanour became starkly evident on day two. We were also informed that arriving in Cusco at least two days in advance of our trek would help us acclimatize, a decision we would whole-heartedly recommend to anyone making the hike.
If hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is one of your bucket list items (like it was for us), do not delay; book your trek and remove the damp laundry from your step machine. With the building of a new airport, the site will only get busier, so maybe go sooner rather than later.
