The Inca Trail and Cusco

When we arrived in Peru´s capital city, Lima, we checked into the hotel and got free Pisco Sours at our inca trail meeting that evening. We met three other women doing the trek and all went out for dinner together that night.

The next day we all flew to Cusco and recieved cups of coco tea when we arrived at the hotel to help us with any altitude problems. We had a welcome meeting where we met one other girl and then all went out for lunch -3 courses for under a pound. Then we wandered around the typical peruvian markets and i became the proud owner of an alpaka jumper and 2 pairs of alpacka socks. The haggling is fun but can become tiring, it´s worth it though to get a good deal. In the evening, the full group of 16 gathered for another meeting on a day by day break down of our trip.

The next day we all had breakfast in the hotel, put our bags into storage, packed duffle bags for the inca trail and set off. First we stopped off at a project that our tour company ran where we went to a village and watched the women there weaving, we saw the process from the wool spinning, dying (they use leaves to create different dyes) to the weaving which they used condor bones for. All the women and children wore traditional clothing- long dark hair in two plaits tied together with string at the bottom, long skirts, plain tops, brightly coloured cardigens and shawls. After looking around the market village, we had a guided tour of the sacred valley before being to explore the incredible ruins amongst the mountains.

Next stop was an amazing place for lunch followed by a trip to Inka Bar where they brew corn beer. We learned about the beer making process before sampling the different flavours- the best beer I´ve ever tried. After this packed day we were driven to a tiny town called Ollantaytambo were we all spent the night before the big day ahead.

In the morning the trek began. Day one was to ease us in gently- after walking to camp we had luch and looked around a little ruin close by and watched the porters (who crazily still had energy) play football. To end the evening was hot choc , biscuits and a three course meal before heading to the tents for sleep.

Day 2 of the trek was hard as we climbed a long steep pass to Warmiwañusca (dead woman´s pass) which is 4200metres above sea level and the highest point of the trek. Though it was tough we had so much fun chatting with everyoine in the group and playing distraction games. At the top it was freezing and took an hour and a half to climb down. At camp we had a late lunch and a chance to chill abit before dinner.

Day 3 we trekked up to the second pass 3398metres, the trail went through this beautiful cloud forest, we then had lunch before continuing up the third pass and walking through a causeway and tunnel. Before reaching the town above the clouds (ruins called Phuyupatamka) we passed a double rainbow over the mountains which was so beautiful. Then we dorddled down to camp, the whople day was 9 hours of trekking, but we loved it and trhe group was so close by this time. This evening was a bit of a celebration with cake, pop corn, beer and cocktails. I went to bed at 12am so had 4 hours sleep before we got up to start trekking on day 4. After breakfast we trekked to the sungate in the pouring rain and then onto the stunning Machu Picchu, where lamas were grazing amonst the ruins.

After lunch all together in Aguas Calientes we got the train then bus back to Cusco. Our last night all together was amazing- my favourite of the trip so far. We all had dinner with our guide too and tried the local delicacey- ginea pig- as a starter. For mains, i was less adventerous with a burger, but i did try some of Allegra´s alpaka. Then, after some coctails we all went out dancing til 5am- the perfect way to spend the last evening of everyone together, we all had so much fun.

Once we´d said bye to everyone on the trip, us girls spend a couple more nights in a cheapy hostel. We had a chilled couple of days going to the market, seeing an art gallery and we climbed up a hill in Cusco to El Cristo Blanco and get a great view of the city.