#250. 05/01/05 Machu Picchu

The four day hike to Machu Picchu exceeded all my expectations. Rather than spending four days simply getting to the Lost City, to me, the journey itself was just as breathtaking as the destination.

Hugging the side of immense mountains, the Inca Trail sports spectacular views at every corner. Snow capped mountains tower over deep green valleys, high-jungle micro-climates hide ancient ruins, spectacled bears and hundreds of species of orchids. A myriad of Inca watch towers, terraces and lost towns pepper the route, wheting the appetite for the trail's final destination.

In physical terms, the trail was tough going for me, a seasoned couch potato. But by staying with the head of the group, you have to keep pace with the leader. It's incredible what you can put your body through if you have the right mental attitude — I don't think I've ever physically worked like that, but it's an amazing feeling when you push yourself and meet your personal goals. On the second day, climbing 1km in altitude and reaching "Dead Woman's Pass" brings an incredible sense of achievement and elation, almost like reaching the summit of a mountain.

Unexpectedly, meeting new people was also a memoral part of the trek. Because you're walking (and recovering) with the same people all day and because you know they're going through the same experiences as you, you end up making good friends with all sorts of people. Apart from another Dub, the group was mostly young Americans. Also fun was the interaction with the guides and porters and I even learned a little Quechua, still the predominant language around here. To the amusement of many an indigineous porter, I accidentally said "how's it going, bitches" in the language of the Incas.

Machu Picchu itself was almost an anti-climax after climbing for four days to reach it. The city is full of amazing things — temples and baths and amazing astronomic accuracy, but we were all a bit sleepy after getting up at 3:30 to beat the tourist rush. Nevertheless, reaching the picture postcard point above the city just as the cloud was clearing will be remembered in my mind forever.

Photos for the Inca Trail and Peru so far.