| Some time after lunch we crossed over the Cusichaca and passed the village of
Huayllabamba. There is a little place where you can buy soft drinks, and you may want to
take advantage because that is the last settlement you will pass for the next couple of
days (until you reach the Trekker's Hotel near Huinay Huayna on the last night of the
trek). From here you head up a side valley and the trail takes you up a vertical 600
meters before reaching the campsite (from 3000m at Huayllabamba to 3600m at the campsite).
The afternoon definitely took its toll on the group. In my case, I just took my own pace and kept my eyes open for photo ops and just in general so as not to miss anything or be distracted from what an awesome place this is. There are spectacular views both up and down the valley and a lot of wildflowers. |
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While the time of year that we were on the trail (mid-March) is the tail end of the
rainy season and therefore means some risk of bad weather, everything was very green and
there were lots and lots of different kinds of flowers. Many places the trail is right next to the cascading stream & eventually you come to the point where it is mostly steps and the trail paved with Inca stones. More Resources for Hiking the Inca Trail...<<< Susan taking a load off next to a nice stream... |
Llulluchapampa
By the time I got to the campsite, it was getting close to dusk, but I had been walking by myself for the last bit, taking my time and enjoying the view so that I felt pretty good on arrival - just a little cold. And with the camp already set up (so I could change out of my sweaty things and into the sweater I had bought in Cuzco) and some hot drinks ready in the mess tent, it didn't take long for me to be feeling pretty satisfied with the situation. (Can't speak for the whole group however, the last ones to make it to camp were pretty much beat down by the afternoon's hike.) Couple of side notes about the campsite at Llulluchapampa: The guidebook I had characterized the campsite here as 'highly recommended' and I couldn't agree more... it was the most beautiful place we camped and well worth the extra effort to get past the couple of other camping spots you will pass on the way. (And that recommendation is without even mentioning the proper toilets in the bathroom there!) Secondly, despite the fact that the clouds engulfed the valley before it got dark, by the time we had eaten dinner and it was pitch dark, the skies had cleared and I was reminded how spectacular the night sky can be when you are in a remote enough area. I made a note in my journal about the fact that I couldn't remember the last time I had seen either the Milky Way or the Southern Cross. After that much exercise and eating, I was in my sleeping bag and asleep by 9:00PM... Ready for Day Two...
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The clouds roll in over the first night's campsite.
[ Next > Day Two ]
- Inca Trail
Day One