The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu...

The modern day Inca Trail begins by leaving Cusco at 5am on a bus which takes the hiker thru the pristine Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, an ancient Incan farming spot with many terraces and graneries that are seen on the mountain side as one approaches. The bus stops at kilometer 82 where the hiker begins his journey. The first day of four on the Incan Trail is a relatively easy 10km hike which takes the hiker past magnificent snow capped Andean Mountains, verdant fields, a roaring river, and several ancient Incan sites. The second day is the most difficult of the 4. Before lunch on day 2, the hiker summits a 13,500ft pass. The air is scarce on the pass and the views of the surrouding moutians are like no other. After lunch another smaller pass most be summited. Once the second pass is traversed the hike descends out of the Andies and into the beginning of a tropical rain forest where camp awaits. On day 3 the hiker passes by several stunning Incan ruins which are just percursors to what he will experience at Machu Picchu. Day 3 ends with a campsite next to the roaring Urabama River and at the foot of more ancient Incan ruins. On day 4 the hiker awakes at 4am and walks to Aguas Caliente where he catches a bus to Machu Picchu (the lost city). Normally the trail would take the hiker thru Machu Picchu´s Sun Gate and into the confines of the lost city. However, due to recent landside the trail into Machu Picchu has been damaged and is inaccessible. Until the trail is repaired, the hiker most hike down railroad tracks to Aguas Caliente and board a bus which will take him to Machu Picchu.

If one could only visit 5 amazing places in a lifetime, Machu Picchu would definitely be in the top five. Especially if one is interested in seeing preserved ancient ruins. When Pizaro and his band of Spaniard´s began thier conquest of Peru, they sacked the Incan cities that they discovered and tour down the Incan temples and buildings that they found in the Incan cities. They used the ancient Incan stones to build Christian cathedrals and churches.

Machu Picchu is an excellent example of a perfectly enginered Incan City with remarkably well preserved architecture because the Spainards never found Machu Pichu. Machu Picchu has remained well preserved since it was deserted around 1532. Machu Picchu was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale Univ in 1911.
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Jonathan´s first person report of the Inca Trail:

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu was a great experience for me. There were 16 hikers in my group. Most of the other hikers were from Australia or the UK. I was the only USA/American in the group. I was the only hiker who didn´t have a porter carry his baggage. My pack was 14-15 kgs (30-33 lbs), and I carried it by myself for the duration of the hike. I trained extensively in SF before I left for Peru and my training paid off. I was by far in top shape for the trail. There were 2 English sisters on the hike. I was discussing my Scottish heritage with them at the peak of one of the passes. One of sisters commented, ¨Jonathan I can´t imagine you being from aywhere, except made out of steel in a factory.¨ The views of the snow capped Andean Peaks, the beatiful flowing Urubamba River, and the marvelous Incan Ruins leading to Machu Picchu along of the trail were exquisite. All the personalities in our hiking entourage seemed to fit together well. I learend lots of new slang from the Brits at our dinner parties such as ¨bollocks¨ and ¨wanker.¨ The meals on the hike were great. This is the first camping trip that I think I´ve gained weight on. The porters, who are Quechan (of Incan decent), prepared our meals for us.

Machu Picchu itself is a mystical, magical place surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River. The views of the mountain tops around Machu Picchu are some of the most breath taking views I´ve ever seen. It´s easy to see why the Incans picked this site to build Machu Picchu.