Day three, 15km:
hours of hiking, we reached our second campsite – Pacamayo.
Pacamayo to Winay Wayna
The longest but most beautiful day of the trek. We woke up at 3.30am and it was time for both of us to lift our heavy bags once again.
We were lucky to have ‘‘tent service’’ and enjoyed hot cocoa tea and hot chocolate while snuggled in our sleeping bags.
The path today is almost all originally from the Incas. At one point, we had to climb up a staircase on our hands and knees because it was so steep.
We hiked through spectacular cloud-forests and a forest of local flora and fauna and passed through an impressive Inca tunnel.
We came across the Inca ruin Phuyupatamarca, meaning Town in the Clouds. Access to the ruins is down a steep flight of stairs passing six Inca baths.
Winay Wayna is the last official campsite before Machu Picchu, and we celebrated the last night with a cake made by our incredible chef. Everybody was amazed that someone could bake a cake this high in the mountains, without a proper kitchen.
Marco and Percy introduced us to the porters, they didn’t speak English but Marco translated our thanks to them – such humble, talented, amazing humans.
Day four, 5km: The final day to Machu Picchu
We welcomed the day with a light breakfast and the scent of cocoa tea hanging above the breakfast tent. Our legs were aching from hauling our belongings through tough terrain from the past three days.
We woke before sunrise so we could reach the ruins when the sun comes up, only 5km away which seemed like a walk in the park.
Fragments of light lit the final part of the trail for us as we moved toward the Sun Gate to make it in time for sunrise. Once we arrived, we could see the whole of Machu Picchu laid in front of us as the sun began to leak through the clouds.
A short walk down from the Sun Gate we reached the famous ruins. We had a two-hour tour and celebrated the end with a crisp beer at the tourist bar. There was no better way to finish the tour than that. Not to mention kicking off our shoes and being treated to a hot shower and massage in the local town, Aguas Calientes afterwards.
We caught the train back to Cusco, arriving just before midnight and made our way back to our hostel for a good night’s sleep.
The writer travelled on her own dime.