Marching to Machu Picchu - Day 1

I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. I'm not really sure why as I didn't know much about the Incas or Machu Picchu itself.  I think it was the hike. I love being in the woods and have been a bit starved of time in nature and I hoped this would carry me though to our summer visit home. 

I also wanted another memorable family experience. I am pretty much guaranteed that the kids will not forget this time together.

We woke at 5 am, ate breakfast and boarded a van for a two hour ride to Olleyentambo.  The kids slept. I looked out the window seeing dry roads and mountains pass by. Houses made of mud bricks with metal roofs filled small communities.  

After a short stop in the quaint town we drove a bit further to reach the trail head. We unloaded in a parking lot where we met the rest of our team.  We consisted of five Fabers, one guide, a cook and seven porters for all our gear.  Yes, that sounds outrageous but there are strict limits on the amount of weight each porter can carry.  

We got in line with the 500 other people with trail permits for the day (that includes all hired staff), had our passports verified while the porters packs were weighed and were on our way. 

Porters waiting in line to have their packs weighed before entering the trail.

Across a bridge and on the trail we learned that we would not be joining with the original Inca trail until 1/2 way through the second day. Our first day of hiking was though mountain desert.  Relatively flat the hiking was easy. Cactus and scrubby bush dotted the landscape. 

We stopped to observe our first set of ruins across the river. Our guide thus began our education of the Inca way of living.  Porters steadily passed us keeping up a fast pace.  When we reached the lunch site they had a tent set up to cook and eat in, water warmed to wash with and a delicious warm meal prepared.  

Llactapata Ruins

Lunch

Desert mountains 

Rain 

We ate, rested then set out.  The porters tore down camp, passed us on the trail and had tents and bedding set up when we arrived at camp for the night.  A warm snack then a three course dinner was the perfect way to finish the night before burrowing into my sleeping bag for a good night's sleep.

Night Camp

- Kris