We spent 3 and a half days trekking through the mountains of Peru to get to this moment. It was the culmination of a dream that I carried with me for decades, ever since reading about Machu Picchu in an issue of National Geographic as a kid. To say it was as magical as I imagined it would be is an understatement. Our first bucket list moment on our trip.
We trekked 42 km in just over 3 days. Elevations on the trail ranged from 2,400meters to 4,200 meters, including a 1,200 meter elevation gain immediately followed by a 600 meter descent on day 2. We crossed over 4 mountain passes & saw glaciers, cloud forests, cactus, wildlife, and loads of ruins along the way. We met and hiked with so many amazing, fun, and interesting people, many of whom we consider friends and will stay in touch with. We camped each night under clear skies with a million stars, and hiked to the Sun Gate by the light of the full moon very early on the final morning, arriving in time to watch the sun creep along the mountain and hit the sun dial.
You can see more photos from our time in Cusco & our Inca Trail Trek here.
Check back on Tuesday as we break down what a trip to Machu Picchu for two people could cost you (it’s less than you think).
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