Exploring Cusco Peru on foot in my last day.

After properly acclimatized, it is easier to walk around Cusco like normal without the shortness of breath due to high altitude. I already did the four days hike of the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu, a day in Aquas Calientes toured the Sacred Valley, and traveled for three days to Puno and Lake Titikaka. Now I am spending my remaining days in Cusco chilling, window shopping, visiting several plazas and churches. There's a lot to see in Peru, and I wish someday to go back again.

To see more of Cusco, check my previous video before our Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. We spent three days acclimatizing to the high altitude which kind of slowed us down at first.

https://youtu.be/_-lAAL1aL4s

Post Inca Trail Day 5 - Exploring Aquas Calientes

After four days of hiking, we finally made it to the Sun Gate where we waited for the sun to rise and the clouds to clear to see the beauty of Machu Picchu. Then in Aquas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu, we all gathered in the restaurant for our last meal together as a group. Edwin, our guide distributed the certificate that says "We Survived The Inca Trail".

My friend and I stayed in Aquas Calientes for one night while most of our group boarded the 6:20 pm train back to Cusco. Originally I planned to go back to Machu Picchu to do more exploring in the morning but after four days of rigid hiking up in the Andes and explored many ruins along the way, we decided to just stay in the town below Machu Picchu, called Aquas Calientes which means Hot Springs in English.

Aguas Calientes is a town in the Urubamba River Valley. It’s known for its thermal baths and as a gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The town center is full of eateries and shops, anchored by the central Mercado Artesanal, a craft market.

The town is just small surrounded by towering hills, rivers and many train tracks. It is the base before going up to Machu Picchu ruins. There are several ways to get to Machu Picchu. You can go there by bus from Aquas Calientes, by hiking from Aquas Calientes or via several Inca Trails. For us, we joined organized four days treks starting from KM 82. It is a very challenging trek going through two high mountain passes where the air is thin which made it harder to hike.

The Inca Trail Day 4 - Machu Picchu Ruins

Day 04: Winawayna to Machu Picchu (5km)
We set out really early before dawn to reach the Sun Gate. From the Sun Gate, we can see Machu Picchu in all its glory when the clouds lift. It was very epic and my most proud accomplishment. My first ever hike and highest mountain. At 50 plus, it is no feat but I made it. Thank God for looking over me and my group. A few suffered minor altitude sickness but we arrived healthy and in high spirit.

The Inca Trail Day 3

Day 03: Pacamayo to WinayaWayna (15km)

The next morning of our day 3 of 4 days trek, the fog was very thick and so we put on our flimsy raincoat. We had early breakfast as we had to start early because it is going to be the longest trek about 12 km. We left at 7 am after the other groups. From Pacamayo it took us about half an hour to climb up to the ruins of Runkuracay. These small circular ruins occupy a commanding position overlooking the Pacamayo valley below. We positioned ourselves in one of the circular areas while our guide Naomi gave us some historical background. It is hard for me to listen to her thick Peruvian accent that I looked around and filmed instead while feigning to listen to her. I thought I could just read about it from the book I bought in Cuzco.

Picture Perfect forever etched in my mind

Another 45 minutes of a beautiful picture-perfect hike to the top of the second pass: Abra de Runkuracay (4,000m). In this part we are walking along the trail of the Incas paving, for the most part, being the original. The morning dew and misty air and some pond made the place looks surreal. I could just stand there and soak it all in but Edwin was calling us from the top to keep up. When I reached the pass surrounded by big rocks at around 9:30 am, the group is getting ready to descend, adjusting all our trekking poles. The descent down the stone steps from the pass is very steep passing cave-like sections and tunnels. This section of the trail, up until the 3rd pass, is insanely beautiful as the path crosses high stone embankments and skirts deep precipices.

Check my video to see what I mean.

After about one hour from the second pass, we arrive at Sayacmarca by way of a superbly designed stone staircase. The name Sayacmarca means 'Inaccessible Town' and describes the position of the ruins perfectly, protected on three sides by sheer cliffs. No one knows the exact purpose of these ruins. Then we passed Conchamarca ruins, a small Inca dwelling situated in the shadows of Sayacmarca. My group climbed to the ruins while I decided to go ahead to the next camp to use their toilet. Tina decided to accompany me. Then we found ourselves in the path that descends into a magnificent cloud forest full of orchids, hanging mosses, tree ferns, and flowers, passing through an impressive Inca tunnel, carved into the rock, on the way. It was like an Eden garden. When we reached a camp which is perched on an open area, I used the toilet facility. The camp is well kept and looks more like an upgrade to the regular camp that the majority use. Anyway, Tina waited for me but to no avail, my stomach is just giving me false alarm again.

The Inca Trail Day 2

Day 02: Wayllabamba to Pacamayo (12km)

Our guide told us our wake-up time is when the roosters make "cock-a-doodle-doo" noise at precisely 5:00 am. I woke up before that and it's still pitch dark, needing to go to the toilet but I held up until dawn. True enough it was at five when the first rooster crowed. I tried to get more sleep but soon after, Edwin our guide were doing his rounds giving out hot tea in his long johns. 

Our breakfast was already set up when we came out of our sleeping tents. The porters were so fast in dismantling our tent and packing them. We were advised to carry only what is necessary and travel light for today we are going to undertake the highest and steepest climb to dead woman's pass. We had to pay an extra $20 for the porter to carry our backpacks. I noticed only me and Tina and another couple dump our backpacks. I pulled out my light day pack for my light jacket, snack, and extra water. At breakfast, hot tea and instant coffee and cream were being passed around the table. I had assorted cutup fruits, oatmeal, and a toast. The mood is light and friendlier. One girl is suffering from stomach cramps since day 1 so the guides were extra attentive to her food. 

The Inca Trail Day 1

It's been on my bucket list to do the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu but it is not until I met my friend Tina last year that we both firmed up the plan of going.

Our itinerary, our physical and mental conditioning took us a year to prepare. I built the itinerary where to go according to my budget. However, our physical and mental conditioning seems reversed. The more the trip is near, the more the fear is for real - the fear of trekking in high altitudes and steep mountains. But my determination and excitement to go have kept me going especially I am not going to do it alone. I say If we don't do it now, we will never going to do it.

Day 01 Cusco to Wayllabamba (12 km)

Our trek guides Edwin and Naomi picked us up early from our hotel at around 5:00 am. We were the last of the pickup. There were 12 of us hikers plus our two guides. Among us sitting on the back of the bus were our chef and his assistants. They are responsible for most of our meals during the trek. As the sun rises, we traveled past the picturesque villages of Chinchero, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo, for the 2-hour scenic trip to kilometer 82 (the start of the Inka trail). 

Ollantaytambo

We first stopped at the town of Ollantaytambo for about an hour to have breakfast. Ollantaytambo is a village in the Sacred Valley set on the Urubamba River amid snow-capped mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. We stopped at the village's old town made of Inca-era grid of cobblestone streets and adobe buildings. The train also stops here which makes it easy for day trips from Cusco. I would stay here for at least a couple of days for exploration. It is great for photo enthusiasts and even for writers, I would think.