Inca Trail Day 1 and 2

If you go to Peru, you have to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It´s the only thing that I have had to book in advance on this trip, and it forced me to travel all the way back to Cusco. It´s also extremely expensive relative to other S. American experiences. My four day hike, set me back about $420 USD. In the end, the trip was completely worth the money. The company I chose, Llama Path, was great and the guide, Freddy, both knowledgeable and ridiculously funny. Our group, was fairly young, American (only two German students), and everyone got along great. The hike itself can be a bit tough at times (not even close to climbing Huayna Potosi), but the views are spectacular. The ruins that you visit along the way - are obviously not as impressive as Machu Picchu, but each one is interesting in its own right and they add more to the story of Machu Picchu and the Inca people themselves. Its been quite a few weeks since I hiked the trail, so the names of specific ruins and places might not be right on - so I´ll apologize in advance.

Here´s the Group
The original Inca Trail can be seen on the right.

Me with Llactapata

Nevado Veronica (5750m)

A Shepherd at heart

The big climb also known as "Dead Woman´s Pass" (4198 m). This is the most difficult section of the trail with about a 1000m elevation gain.

Bastian and I on the top of the pass. I believe this is the stupidest pic of me yet. Coming down from the Pass

A bunch of pictures of Sayaqmarka (Dominant Town) chilling in the fog

A small Inca ruin just below Sayaqmarka.

Finally, the sun broke through for a few hours.