Apu Andino

As we sat down and stuffed our faces our first night back in Cusco none of us could believe we had already finished our five day Machhu Picchu trek.
Day one:
We were picked up at our hostel at five thirty am by our guides Rolando and Gerson (who soon became known as Rolo and Juicy G) and drove to our trail head. We hiked about three hours in the morning to our campsite for that night and had lunch. After which we hike up to the most beautiful green blue lake any of us had ever seen in our lives. The surrounding glaciers could have been a clue as to the temperature of the water but we jumped in and went for a swim anyway.
Day 2:
We departed just as early for “challenge day”. We hiked four hours up to a 15,000 foot pass, the altitude draining us all of breath and warmth. After which we descended another two hours, broke for lunch and continued on another three hours to our campsite.
Day 3:
By far the easiest day of our trek we hiked five hours in the morning. By then we had descended so much we were hiking through the tropics enjoying the humidity after the altitude of the day before. After lunch we went to beautiful hot springs surrounded by green mountains and got to soak our sore muscles. Then we collapsed in bed to prepare for……
Day 4:
…..Challenge day number 2! In theory day four was easier than day two, hiking one less hour at a much lower altitude, but by then we were so mentally and physically exhausted we just about cried when we arrived at our hostel in the town of aguas calientes.
Day 5:
Finally we arrived at Machhu Picchu! When we first got there in the morning the fog was so thick we couldn’t see two feet in front of us. Eventually the fog lifted making our first view of this wonder of the world that much better.
There is no better way to experience Machhu Picchu than with your fellow Inti warriors knowing we only have three days left together.