Inca trail – Day 4
We woke up at 3am. The goal on this morning was to quickly eat a simple breakfast and pack up as quickly as possible to get in line be 4:30 at the checkpoint on the trail leading to Machu Pichu. The checkpoint didn’t open until 5:30, but good placement in line was important because the trail got much busier here, and we wanted to reach the sungate in time for sunrise to see the first rays of morning sun on Machu Pichu. An hour wait in line went quickly and we were on our way.
My favorite portion of this final part of the trail is a section Darwin referred to a “monkey stairs”. It was 50 stone steps, steep enough that you had to use your hands to help get yourself up.
We reached the sungate in plenty of time. The sungate is a point in the mountain overlooking Machu Pichu where the sun rises behind us, lighting up the ruins below. The rest if the morning Darwin showed us around and gave us a tour. Machu Pichu city really is incredible, and the things that the Incans and Incan culture was able to bud and achieve is mind blowing. More than I would be able to describe here, you’ll have to watch a national geographic special about it. Honestly though, this trek wasn’t about the final destination at all. The part I will remember most about this trek isn’t the arrival or tour of Machu Piccu, but the four days preceding. The challenges we overcame, the adventure we had, the incredible views from the mountains and comradarie with our fellow hikers. I don’t know that I’ll ever experience anything like it again.