Inca Trail - Day 1

We unloaded from the bus at mile marker in Piscacucho (2680 m.). After checking in at the control station with our passports and trail permits, we entered the Inka Trail. We first crossed the Urubamba River and began walking the dusty path through the high desert. There were cactus growing along the way and very little shade. The weather was mild - perhaps 60-70 degrees F.

There were spots in various places along the way where local women were selling anything from water to hats. After a couple of hours we took our first break. We stopped at seated area shaded by trees and enjoyed the rest, as well as food and water.

In the late morning we came upon our first of many Inca ruins we would see on our trek. Willkarakay was a small and modest settlement built of native stone. Soon after that we hiked upon a bluff and overlooked the valley below to see this most impressive view. The terraced Inca place called Llaqtapata is built along the banks of the Kusichaca River, and from high above we could appreciate its well engineered structure and design. It was easy to see the Incan rule of three displayed in the terraces on the right, closest to the river. This theme is repeated almost everywhere we looked.

Isaac at Willkarakay

Llaqtapata

The first level, depicted by the snake, represents the underworld. The next level means the earth and is symbolized by the powerful puma. The third is shown by the condor and equates to heaven.


Shortly before lunchtime our guides recieved word that the couple from the UK that failed to show the night before were going to join us. Cesar went back to wait for them at the control point. He would guide them along the trail. The rest of us hiked on with Ruben. We thought they might catch up with us at the stopping place for lunch since we stayed there and rested for so long, but we would not see them until evening.


After lunch our hike became more interesting. The trail varied as did our surroundings. As we increased in slope and elevation, we were very grateful that we had porters to help us carry our belongings. The packs they carried on their backs were almost as big as they were.



Periodically we would see evidence of local people living nearby the trail. Through the trees we could see a gate or a tiny home. We came across a couple of young boys. One was climbing a tree and the other was wearing a cape. We called the one Batman and the other Spiderman. They liked their new names!


The last bit of our hike was through the woods along a stream. Tyler, Isaac, and Steve seemed to have boundless energy and quickly made it to the campsite. They put down their packs and came back down the trail to help to carry the packs of the rest of us who were slower and more exhausted. By the time I reached our campsite at Ayapata (3250 m.) I needed to lay down and take a short rest. I was pleased that my boys were so willing to serve the others in our group. Our tents were all set up by the porters who had run the trail to get everything ready for us. There were a number of hole-in-the-floor-with-a-door toilets and running water for washing hands, but not for drinking.

Shortly after our party straggled in, along came Cesar with Cat and Dave, our missing fellow hikers from the UK. The 12 kilometers which had taken us nearly eight hours to hike, they ran in four hours. We were all together that night for dinner in the food tent. The meal was fabulous. I don't remember ever having food on a hike that tasted so good. It beats MREs.