On the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - Day 3

Day 3 is not the most difficult but the longest, about 15km, I think.  Not a lot to dwell on except to look ahead, take one step at a time, and keep going.  By now it's more of a mental than a physical challenge.  You try not to think of the distance.  You think of the next rest stop and when you are going to reach camp.  It's easy to miss the beauty of the mountains.  I try to stop once in a while to take pictures; to record where I've been.  Being a man, I am lucky.  I can pee whenever and wherever I want to.  The girls have a tougher time.  There is no privacy here unless you want to go well off the path, into the thick bushes.  Even the designated banos (bathrooms) are squat toilets and smelly and dirty.  Occasionally, we'll come to a ruin and we'll stop. Santiago will gather us together and explained what this ruin is about:  why the Incas built this here and for what purpose.

One of the Inca ruins on the trail

A trail amidst the rugged mountains

Small waterfalls are everywhere

Blue, Blonde, Belgium - that's Ann at the top of the trail

Christopher Lim, from Australia, lonely but determined

Hiking above the clouds

These rocks are slippery when wet

Why is this here?  The Incas never explained.  They don't have a written language

Another beautiful scenery

Another view of the ruin

We reached a designated spot for lunch.  Many other groups were there.  It is obvious that the agency that runs the Inca trail want to mitigate any damage to the land and environment.  A bathroom and sinks are provided for the hikers.  Not modern but adequate for being in such a remote area.

Why are they cheering?  Probably clean bathrooms!

Basins of water for us to wash our hands before lunch

High in the clouds and COLD!

Happy Hour Lunch!

There were 6 Australians in our group of 10.  Santiago told them that this lake looks like Australia

A well-deserved rest at Phuyupatamarka, at 3,600m high

A view of the Urubamba River

The ruins at Phuyupatamarka

There is no flush toilet in there, Ann.  It's an Inca Tunnel

Our porters with their 25kg load, and no hiking poles

The beautiful ruins at Winaywayna

The Incas cut tunnels through rocks so that they can get through

A trail with a steep drop

Llama Welcoming Party.  What is the magic word?  Reminds me of the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Intipata Ruins

We finally reached our Day 3 camp.  Many groups are here.  It took me a while to find our camp, Number 15.  It's almost down at the bottom.  There are a few bathrooms and sinks.  There are even showers but I am not sure if anyone bothered to use them.  We have not showered for four days so what difference does another day make.

There is a reason why this camp is located here.  It's near the last checkpoint before you hike the last part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  It will take about one and a half hours to the Sun Gate, then about another 30 minutes for an overhead view of Machu Picchu.  Unlike most visitors, we'll be coming from the top, instead of the bottom.  No buses or trains for us.  It's all human power.

After our last dinner together on the trail, Santiago gathered us together for a farewell gathering and speech.  I spoke for our team and thank the porters and chef for their excellent support.  It's hard to underestimate how big a role they played in our completing the hike.  Then I handed them their tips in an envelope.  We each had contributed 150 soles, or about US$46 each, for the tips.  Our tour leader, Christian, helped us divide up the tips and put them into 4 envelopes:  Santiago, the lead guide; Guillermo, the assistant guide; the porters; and the chef.  I don't think the porters get paid a lot of money.  The tips always help.  The lead porter, Chris, thanked us for coming to Peru and hope we'll bring our friends too so that they will have more jobs.  What a gracious speech.  In return, I thanked them for sharing the beauty of their country with us.  We all shook hands and some of us hugged.  Some of us may have shed tears but it was dark and we couldn't see.  Then the rain started to fall and it's time for an early bedtime because we have to get up early at 3:30am the next morning.  Quickly, the porters started putting things away and get ready for the next morning and for the final leg of our hike.  Everyone is getting excited.