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We started out the day early enough - we had been told that there was construction on the slip of a road between Ollantaytambo and KM 82 and if we weren't past it before 7:00 we wouldn't be allowed to pass until late in the day. So, we were up and on our way sometime around 6:00AM... The initial day on the trail was about the longest distance-wise and a fitting introduction to the Inca Trail. The first half of the day is not too rough (and we had beautiful weather) but after lunch the traill is up, up and more up. The day is split into three pages here: Getting Underway and the mornings hike; the first ruins we came across - Patallacta; and the long Uphill hike of the afternoon.
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The road between Ollantaytambo and KM 82 is little more than a one lane path and you
pass a couple of villages along the way. We got through the construction (which was in
fact going on - I had been sceptical that there would be any actual work going on at this
early hour but it looked like there had been a substantial landslide) and we got to the
trail head around 7:00AM. In addition to the road work there was other 'traffic' - people
out and about (some in the traditional garb), cattle and some turkeys (one of whom went
into full display as we passed). << A little hillside chapel outside the village of Chilca... |
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End of the Road... This is the train stop at KM82 and in fact the end of the road. The train goes on to Aguas Calientes (below Machu Picchu) but this is as far as you can go in a four wheeled vehicle. Traditionally, most treks to Machu Picchu started at KM88 but nowadays more and more outfitters are starting from this point. Here is where all your stuff gets piled out of the van and picked up by the porters. While it's not the last place you can buy a soda, this is pretty much the end of the road for most everything else. So, at this point you either turn back or Get Underway... |
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- Day One
The Inca Trail