Hiking the Inca Trail, Peru

Exactly three years ago today, six friends and I were spending a leisurely Sunday wandering the market in Pisac, Peru.  We had spent the previous couple of days in Cusco, getting acclimated for the Inca Trail.

The following morning we set out on the four day trek to Machu Picchu.  Here are some of my favorite shots from the hike:

Inca Trail Day 1. November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 1.  November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 2. The perfect wake up call: Porters stop by every tent to deliver hot tea each morning. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 2. The perfect wake up call: Porters stop by every tent to deliver hot coca tea each morning. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 2. Standing on Dead Woman's Pass (just under 14,000 feet) looking down at the trail we had just hiked.
Inca Trail Day 2. Standing on Dead Woman’s Pass (just under 14,000 feet) looking down at the trail we had just hiked.  November 2010.  Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 2. On the descent from Dead Woman's Pass, we can see our camp for the night and the trail we will be taking in the morning. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 2. On the descent from Dead Woman’s Pass you can see nestled down below our camp for the night and beginning of the trail for Day 3. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 2. Our camp for the night - this site has toilets and (ice cold) showers. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 2. Going with an agency like Peru Treks makes the Inca Trail a luxury backpacking adventure.  Porters carry all the food and tents and have everything set up by the time hikers reach the camp. (The company is also locally owned, eco conscious, and is all about the ethical treatment of porters.)  November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 3. November 2012. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 3. The downside to hiking the Inca Trail is how crowded it can be and having to stick to a tight schedule during the day (not ideal for photographers!).  November 2012. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 3. The most beautiful day on the trail: so many ruins to explore and such gorgeous scenery. November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 3. But we often had times when there were long stretches of just two or three of us, and that was truly magical.  Day 3 was the most beautiful day on the trail with so many ruins to explore and such gorgeous scenery. November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 3. Our beautiful lunch spot after hiking over two mountain passes. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 3. Our beautiful lunch spot after hiking over two mountain passes. November 2010. Olympus Tough 8000.
Inca Trail Day 4. The last morning on the trail, all the groups get up insanely early in the morning to hike the final two hours and jockey for one of the first spots in line to be let in to Macchu Picchu. We hiked in the dark and climbed steps that were so skinny you had to scramble up on all fours. We made it to the Sun Gate and saw little glimpses of M.P. through the fog.
Inca Trail Day 4. The last morning on the trail, all the groups get up insanely early in the morning to hike the final two hours and essentially race for one of the coveted first spots in line to be let in to Machu Picchu. We hiked in the dark and climbed steps that were so skinny you had to scramble up on all fours. We made it to the Sun Gate just after sunrise and saw little glimpses of M.P. through the fog.  November 2010.  Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 4. Machu Picchu. November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.
Inca Trail Day 4. Machu Picchu. November 2010. Nikon D80 with 18-135 lens.

3 thoughts

  2. Pingback: Peru in Pictures (Part 1) | K. Dickinson Photography
  3. Pingback: Peru in Pictures (Part 2) | K. Dickinson Photography

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