Built by the Inca’s in about 500AD, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu covers only a small section of the ancient road system, which once spanned 23000km’s and connected over three million km² of territory. The trail was built block by block along the spine of the Andes, linking southern Ecuador to central Chile.

The route of the Inca Trail, passes by a number of ruins. The first day is spent trekking alongside the Urubamba river with a few short pulls to a lovely section overlooking the ruins of Llactapata and Wilkarakay. Llactapata was bolt in about 1450 AD and was said to have been an agricultural station, supplying Machu Picchu with maize. Myth has it that there is a massive stash of gold buried in the ruins.

Soon, the path heads away from the Urubamba River up a tributary, called the Kusichaca (Cusichaca) River. Here, you will start the first of many long steep climbs but amazingly at the top of the first main one, you can buy drinks and even a chocolate at Hualyllabamba. Not far from that is the first camp of Wayllabamba.

Next day is the hardest day of the route, as you climb constantly almost 1000m in altitude to the top of Dead Woman’s pass. Form the top of the pass, the views are endless and exquisite. The trail takes you up into the Puna Grasslands and then down the other end of the pass into the valley, to the camp at Pacaymayu.

Day three of the trail, takes you immediately up the first of three smaller passes, the first one being quite steep towards the ruins of Runkurakay, past the black water alpine lakes and then down past the beautiful ruins of Sayakmarka and Conchamarka. Then begins the most beautiful section, the cloud forest, beaming with bromeliads and an endless display of orchids. After coming out near the ruins of Puyupatamarka you then head down nurousnumerous stairs to the camp of Winayhuayna, the last nights stop on the trail.

The final day arrives and at 04h00, you awake to an electric atmosphere. Campers packing, breakfast cooking and all through the bush, darting headlamps. Machu Picchu lies 45 minutes away. By 05h30 you are on the trail head amidst an air of excitement. Nothing can prepare you for the sight that unfolds before you as you climb with the rising sun up through Heavens Gate. Below you, lies Machu Picchu, an entire sacred city carved out by the Inka’s beneath the massive Wayna Picchu. And as the sun slowly glides across the city, the emotion of this ancient site overcomes you. To see this remarkable place, hidden in the cloud forest for almost a 1000years, is a privilege and an accomplishment.