The Inca Trail is not what was expected. It was a little easier, granted we only did part of it since we were also biking around other parts of Peru. But it was amazing nonetheless!
The Inca Trail
The Inca Trail opened to tourists in the early 1960s and allows only 500 people per day. While walking the Inca Trail, you’ll be walking through a cloud forest, home to over 15 types of snakes (one, the rattlesnake, which is venomous), deer, puma, and multiple types of birds. The mountains surrounding you grow 4cm per year, and the glacier you can see is Veronica.
As you can see on the left, we hopped right off of a train in the middle of the jungle to start the trek. Since the hike goes on for abotu 25 miles, some people opt to do just a part of it, which is what we did.
From the start of our hike, we could see a little cut out in the mountain where there is no scenery, due to a landslide a few years back. It seemed way out of reach, but by lunchtime we were at the site and could see the mountains we had trekked around, along with the ruins next to the river where we had started.
The Gate of the Sun on the Inca Trail
As we came to the end of the Inca Trail, we climbed the “Wall of Pain,” 48 steps, which basically seem like climbing a ladder. After climbing the stairs, you reach the Gate of the Sun, which is where the sun comes up to shine right on the Machu Picchu ruins. The view from the Gate is incredible! The ruins seem untouchable and are mystifying.
How in the world did these Incan people build such a magnificent place? You’ll sit there in awe for hours.