Instead of taking the train to Machu Picchu like most people, our family decided to hike on the trail that the Incas used back in the 1500s.
The day of the hike, I was nervous because the altitude had been affecting me, and even though I love hiking, this was the one of the biggest hikes I had ever prepared for. We left our hotel and walked down the road to the train. We met up with our guide and got on the train at 6:15 AM. I unwrapped my breakfast and tried to force down tiny bites of food. My nerves were making me feel sick. I took deep breaths and looked around at the scenery. We saw horses and cows, and remnants of ancient civilization. I couldn’t believe that something so far in the past could make me feel like there were Incas just beyond the trees. Just as my nerves were starting to calm down, the train conductor came on and said “We will be stopping at kilometer 104 shortly, all passengers who are hiking to Machu Picchu, this is your stop.”
As the hike started, I focused on placing my feet one at a time and reciting podcasts that I had memorized. My nerves disappeared and I was filled with a sense of determination to finish the hike. The hike was hard and steep, but once we got out of the cloud forest, everyone was focused on the amazing scenery and wildlife. We saw the beautiful Urubamba river and the sprawling mountains that surrounded it.The Urubamba river is the river that winds along the Inca trail all the way to the Hydro Electric town. We learned interesting history about the Incas, Machu Picchu, the Urubamba river, and more. Our guide told fun stories about Hiram Bingham and the lost city of the Incas to keep our minds busy as we followed the river into the mountains. We arrived at a waterfall as our checkpoint for lunch. We got our hair wet and laughed and took many photos. We got to explore a Incan “army base” called Wĩnay Waina before continuing on to lunch. Lunch was delicious (fried rice and chicken rolls) and we were making good time by the time we started hiking again. We continued the hike, but this time it was downhill. We edged our way along the cliff side, occasionally reaching lookout points. There were many photo worthy moments that made the hike worthwhile. Close to the end of the hike we here was a rock scramble that was steep and bumpy, but even though the monkey scramble was hard, the reward was even better. We had reached the famous Inti Punktu (sun gate) lookout point where we could see the valley with Machu Picchu in the distance. After feeling reinvigorated by seeing Machu Picchu, we picked up our bags and finished the walk to Machu Picchu with a bounce in our step. It was hard to believe that I had come that far.
We had arrived at Machu Picchu! We took so many photos and for the first five minutes I couldn’t believe that we were there at last. It reminded me why I love to hike, the feeling that you get when you reach the top. I was full of pride and a sense of accomplishment. The next day was our chance to explore the ruins, and I couldn’t wait.
Even though I had seen the ruins from a distance the day before, being up close to them was really special. It was so spectacular I can’t even describe it. I loved the rocks and grassy, green agricultural terraces and seeing the llamas. The ruins seemed to continue endlessly, and the view from the terraces was so incredible. We saw mountains and trees, and streams, all intertwined with the Incan civilization, making the tour breathtaking. Our guide told us stories about the Incan culture and their rituals and temples. I had seen photos before going to Machu Picchu, but nothing compared to seeing it in person.
