The backstory!
I just finished the epic John Muir Trail, and now it’s time to catch up with friends and family to share all the interesting stories from the trail! Being in the wilderness gave me a chance to reflect on how fortunate we are to have civilization. With October being a month of festivities, my lunches and dinners have included plenty of celebrations for our accomplishments.
I had assumed that the offseason for alpinism had begun, but Mother Nature had different plans! A good hiking buddy came over for dinner on Diwali (Indian festival of lights) and suggested the idea of exploring Machu Picchu during the offseason. By the end of the appetizer, we decided, why not use Thanksgiving for the trip? We discussed various trail options, and thankfully, no one was drinking, or the drinks might have inspired impulsive decisions! Our friend was taken aback, wondering if we were serious since we had just bagged the John Muir Trail. We discussed the logistics of the trip well past midnight, and he insisted we should at least sleep on the idea. My spouse and I were excited and agreed to figure out our work schedules and get back to him with confirmation. The next morning, I sent a good morning text, and the three of us confirmed our plans: Machu Picchu, here we come! All within 12 hours!
Intense discussion for Peru trip!
We had no idea how to explore during our first trip to Peru and South America! I had seen hikers posting pictures on Strava, and each of us did our background research on how to prepare through our hiking friends. Machu Picchu involves two distinct components: multi-day trekking routes to reach the base and specific one-way circuits within the citadel itself. Unanimously, everyone recommended the Salkantay Trek! The Salkantay Trek allured us as it is challenging and offers dramatic changes in landscape—Humantay lagoon, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, tropical jungles, coffee farms, and stunning views of Salkantay Peak!
Additionally, we would have the opportunity to reach the Salkantay Pass, which is at an elevation of 15,200 feet, with overnight camping at Llactapatag, with a view of Machu Picchu! Did we have a choice now?
We needed to decide on the circuits within the Machu Picchu citadel. When exploring the Machu Picchu ruins, you must enter the archaeological site with a pre-purchased ticket for a specific route. Once inside, you’ll follow one of the designated one-way circuits, which are designed to manage visitor traffic and preserve the ruins. There are three circuits available, and since people book months in advance, access to the much sought-after Circuit 2 was already gone. We wanted to have an immersive exploration of the urban and royal areas of the city, focusing on the buildings and hiking to the classic mountain Wayna Picchu behind the ruins, so we booked Circuit 3.
However, all the discussion reminded me of a beautiful Bollywood song from the movie “Robot” that was shot in the area! I had to reach that vantage point for panoramic views from the upper terraces, which are ideal for the classic postcard photo of the entire site! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrE5klVk7JU. So I also included Circuit 1 in our plan. Exploring the circuits and hiking in the mountains would take half a day.
We received recommendations for various trekking operators from previous hikers and local friends in Peru. We wanted to have our first hiking experience in South America with a reputed local operator. After exchanging numerous emails, we finalized our trek with Alpaca Expeditions, and the booking for the Salkantay Trek, including the circuits, was completed. Securing tickets and all the commutes, starting from reaching to the trail head to returning to our hotels in Cusco at the end of 5 days/5 nights, were taken care of by the operator. We had to bring a day pack with all layers, snacks, sleeping bags, water bottles, emergency medicines, and essentials for the trek, including a power bank, as a few places wouldn’t have electricity to charge our phones.
Our package included a hotel stay, glass cabanas, transportation to the trailhead, family-style meals, water, duffel bags for essentials, tents, rain ponchos, bag covers, a pillow, and a foam mattress. Additionally, the round-trip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, and all commutes were included in the tour package. With everything set and our international flights booked both to and from our destination, we were ready with our bags, yellow cards, and high energies!
We flew from San Francisco (SFO) to Lima via Houston. From Lima, we took a flight to Cusco, which is at an elevation of 11,200 feet and the town where our exciting trek will commence!
We planned to spend at least 48 hours in Cusco to acclimatize while exploring the vibrant city and its surrounding mountains. In Cusco, we would meet our tour operator for an orientation and begin our scenic journey to mystical Machu Picchu!
Elation to reach Cusco..gateway to the iconic destination