Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

May 2018

Total Miles: 66.5

Mollepata to Machu Picchu

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Why am I hiking to Machu Picchu?

Since as long as I can remember, it has been a dream of mine to stand within the majestic beauty of Machu Picchu. Since the moment I saw it as a kid in National Geographic it sparked images of Indiana Jones and I knew THIS was a place I had to see one day. To add to the feeling of adventure, I wanted to hike the off the beaten Salkantay Trek vs the Inca Trail and I wanted to do it solo. Not knowing the language added to the adventure. Although this could be intimidating, the thought of being in a foreign land by myself truly lit me up!

Below are my daily journal entries on my 5 day, 4 night Salkantay Trek in May of 2018. I hiked it completely solo. I used the All Trails map and it was amazing. I have the pro version which allows you to download maps ahead of time. SUPER helpful as I hiked largely with my phone in airplane mode and the maps work great with GPS alone, no need for a cellular signal.

I hope my adventure inspires you to be bold and live life to the fullest!

Note: The All Trails maps were marked super well, except in two areas, which I note below.

Tip: Get your ticket to Machu PIcchu as far in advance as you can. I followed the steps on this site about three months before my trip. You can also purchase your additional hikes there to Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain at the same time. WP was already sold out when I purchased my ticket.

Day 0: Flight to Cusco

I arrived at 4:30 PM and it was raining and hailing as I ran to the taxi. It stopped by the time I got to the hotel and never hailed again on the trip.

Tip: I’m vegetarian and was dying to eat at Green Point Restaurant in Cusco. I walked there from city center and the food was AMAZING. I highly recommend it for fresh, yummy Peruvian veggie food.

No one seemed to know how to get to Mollepata unlike what was described online. No worries though, taxi drivers will know how to take you to the collectivo that goes to Mollepata.

Day 1: Mollepata to Soraypampa (Mole yaah petta)

Map info from All Trails app

Note: I only had 12 hours to acclimatize before heading out on my trek. I know many people have issues with altitude sickness on this hike and it is advised to have 3 days in Cusco to acclimatize before heading out. I just didn’t have that time so I went for it. I got lucky as I was completely unaffected by altitude sickness. I did get medicine from my doctor ahead of time but didn’t wind up using it.

Cold shower, no warm water. Oatmeal in my hotel room made with my camp stove. Stored my small luggage at hotel despite not staying there upon my return. Not a problem. Yay.

Tip: be sure to get a luggage pickup ticket and put it somewhere in your pack that you’ll be able to find upon your return.

Yes, taxis are thriving at the crack of dawn. Taxi to the collectivo was 7 soles and 20 soles to Mollepata via the collectivo.

I arrived at the collectivo (van) at 4:40 AM and it filled up by 4:55 and we were off. I was the only gringo on the bus. Packed to the max, kids on laps. It felt like romancing the stone. :) The first hour of the drive was dark and foggy. After that the sun started to come out and the fog burned off and the views were absolutely breathtaking! Snow peaked mountains, lush green hills, waterfalls, cows; I saw one being milked in a field.

Altitude wise, I felt fine.

Two lane paved road most of the way until the Mollepata turn off. Then it’s one lane with rock slides and carefully coordinated passing between the cars and trucks.

When I arrived in Mollepata I asked a local, “donde esta soraypampa?” - where is Soraypampa? That’s nearly the extent of my Spanish and I feel like I want to learn more, but it’s also nice to feel completely foreign. l was directed to go up to the top of the street where I saw a blue sign with a graphic of a hiker (below). Now, the journey begins.

I went down the road for about 5 minutes and came to a split with a two blue signs indicating two ways to go (shown below); one with a bus and one with a hiker; take the one with the hiker (take the trail shown straight ahead below).

This sounds obvious, but the tours and groups take the bus route (the one on the right) so it feels like you’re going the wrong way… at first, but you’re not.

I walked on the hiker road for about 1 hour. The road has locals in cars going up, but eventually you come to the trailhead.

Being in a foreign country and hiking alone brought up many feelings of ambiguity in knowing where to go, but every so often I would see a blue sign which let me know I was on the right path. For those first several miles these signs were reassurance that I could DO this.

I ran into four people from Minnesota who were also doing the trek. We talked for a few minutes then I headed off on my own again. I never saw them again.

The trail itself is amazing there are rushing water canals that go along the trail in many parts (shown below). It’s really cool to see that this is how the locals probably get their water to their farms and livestock.

I stopped at Mirador (below) for break around 9:45 AM and the views all around are absolutely stunning. There were about a dozen horses in the field. I was all by myself. A great place to stop and rest. My pack weighed a ton so being able to take it off for a few minutes felt amazing. The bathroom was locked. I sun screened up then headed off again.

The views over the next several miles were absolutely stunning and majestic and really took my breath away. I was so choked up that I honestly wept tears of awe several times this day. It really feels like I’m in one of nature’s most incredible canvases.

At mile 7.5 the trail intersects with the road and the rest of the trail IS the road all the way to Soraypampa. Going this way vs the road from the start is a choice I would do again hands down. It’s SO beautiful, rural and alone; but that’s what I was here for; adventure. Going this way is no doubt more difficult as as it goes up, up, up but the payoff is well worth it.

While here I took a break as there was a place to get water and I was in need of some energy. I used my filter and resupplied.

Once on the road, many trucks passed blowing up dust in my face. Overall it wasn’t too bad but it did take away a little bit from the feeling I was feeling earlier in the day. I continued walking to Soray and got there at 2:20 PM I was happy with the time I made.

Immediately upon arrival I wound up heading right up the trail to Lake Humantay.

Note - Map issue: The trail that is shown on All Trails to the Lake made absolutely no sense and was incredibly difficult to hike; i.e. no visible trail and dense with vegetation. See below for alt suggestion.

I had my full pack on as I had planned to camp at the lake; more on that in a bit. When I neared the top of the hill I wound up seeing a road a bit further out to my right that those who were camping in Soray we’re using and it seemed like a much better way to go and I would highly recommend going that route.

I arrived at the lake at 4 PM and it was all that I could have expected. As noted previously, I had planned to camp there so I had to lug my pack all the way up but upon arrival there’s a giant sign that says that you cannot camp here. Also, it’s right at the base of the mountains and the locals call this Glacier Lake. My thought was it was going to be super cold and it wouldn’t make good sense to camp here. So after enjoying the view and taking quite a few pictures I put my pack on and headed down the hill fast as it was getting late and I didn’t have a campsite yet.

When I got to the group basecamp I asked the locals where I could camp and, as far as I could understand, they said that I could not camp there and that it was for groups only. Perhaps I was wrong, as I don’t speak Spanish, but, in the end, I’m really glad I did not. At first I was quite bummed because I was already planning to camp up at the lake and had to come down another mile and a half to find out that I couldn’t camp there either so I walked out of Soray towards Salkantay.

About a half mile down the trail I found a little stream with horses on one side. I tossed my pack over the stream and jumped across. From there I set up camp. I made my dinner and got settled in. This is where I’m writing this journal entry from now at 6:35 PM.

Being here is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done for myself. It’s an absolute dream looking around and seeing nature’s beauty at her full potential. The stars are so stunning, too. It’s a new moon so it’s total darkness with no light from the moon. WOW!

All fed and ready for bed. That was an incredible day one. I plan to wake at 5:15 AM. That’s a giant amount of sleep but I think I need it because today was pretty crazy. Tomorrow is supposed to be the hardest day. Eeek! I can see Salkantay and it looks massive so I’m ready to get some rest and have a blast tomorrow!

Day 2: Soraypampa to Chauelly (chew ah lie)

Personal note: I didn’t think today’s hike was harder than yesterday.

Woke at 5:15 AM. Packed, made breakfast and left camp at 6:45 AM. The tour groups were leaving in droves, but the good news is they were going a different route. I stuck with the All Trails map and glad I did as I wanted to be a bit more on my own. Yay.

I hiked quite a bit just by myself before the trail finally intersected with the main group trail. It seems the tour companies have recently made a new trail and, at first, I started taking it. Apparently it’s shorter and less strenuous. I checked my map and realized quickly that I was not on the right trail so I backtracked and went up the trail I had on my All Trails map. This part of the trail I went back to is called, The Trail of the Seven Snakes. I thought it was worth going back for. The groups did not go on this route.

The horses were heading up the Seven Snakes trail with their group’s packs, tents and food. They were already a fair bit ahead of me but at least I could see it was indeed the right trail. The trail up is a switchback and was, for me, the hardest part of the whole day. I welcomed it as I knew today was going to be challenging. The locals call the Seven Snakes trail, “the gringo killer.” This trail goes way above the new trail and the views are stunning, plus a waterfall, yay! Then, all of a sudden, the trail pops down and intersects the new group trail.

I walked a bit until I reach a small village called, Suyroqocha. This is where the Salkantay pass begins. Woo hoo. The trek up to the pass is pretty intense. I had gotten some Coca leaves from one of the hikers to chew on. This was my first time chewing the coca leaves, it seemed to help give me a bit more energy or, at least, something to keep my mind off the strain of the pass.

The last stretch to the top of the pass is tough. I would take 4 - 5 steps and stop for a bit. Then 4 - 5 more steps then stopped again. It’s the highest point altitude wise and, at this point, I could feel myself higher in the atmosphere than I had ever been.

I reached the top of the pass at 10:20 AM (below). The pass is everything I hoped it would be and I had the most incredible weather and visibility.

I took a bunch of pictures, talked to a few of the other folks that were there and, after about 20 minutes, I headed out again.

Instead of heading down where the groups go down, I decided to trek to the Laguna, which was something I really wanted to see.

Tip: If you’re facing the pass signs the trail to the Laguna is directly to the right and very clear to see.

The trail is pretty much straight and flat. Boy was I glad I went out to the lake. It was so incredibly beautiful (see below). There was no one there at all as the groups don’t go here. I did not climb down to the lake as it was pretty long and steep. Not terribly bad, but the thought of trekking back up did not feel like it was going to be worth it, plus I had about 6 more hours of hiking to do today.

There’s a clear path back to the main trail that isn’t the same one I took out. At times the trail back to the main trail disappears, but I just looked ahead and found where it picked up and stayed on until it connected.

From there, the rest of the day was hiking with the groups, although I made a point to give room between me and the other hikers so I really feel I had a sense of being on my own, which I wanted.

I had a late lunch at 1:30 PM, resupplied my water from a steam then kept on.

Note: There are little huts where you can buy water, candy bars and such along the way. I never used them for water, but did pick up a bar at one point.

After the pass there’s a lot of downhill, only a small bit of uphill, but it’s taxing on the legs. Trekking Poles helped a lot.

After a bit the trail turns tropical with lots of waterfalls and even some green canopies. There were some ruins at one point along the way, but I was worried I wouldn’t get to Chauelly before sunset so I kept going. A local told me they weren’t great, but I may never know. Boo. I’ve since kicked myself for not stopping to see them. On more recent hikes I now stop and check things out, even if it takes longer to do so.

Finally I arrived in Chaulley at 4:20 PM and I had to find a place to sleep, while walking through the town the map direction didn’t seem to make sense so I followed the road a bit and even went through someone’s property, with their permission. It was awesome to go this way as there was a fantastic waterfall right through their “backyard”. Wow!!

Right after that I met up with three folks doing the trek together. Sammy, Selayna and Will. Together we looked for a place to stay. After a bit of hunting we found a place where one of the trek groups stays called, Collpapampa El Mirador. They let us stay on a piece of land away from their group/guests.

I resupplied my water for the next day, made dinner then went to bed. I made my first “ramen bomb” and it was so terrible and starchy that I threw it out. Doh! Luckily I had a backup lentils and rice meal. Whew. Yay and yum.

I treated my blisters. I had a BIG giant one on my right big toe that I didn’t even feel before, wow.

Tip: I learned from yesterday how to be more efficient breaking down camp; i.e. leaving cook set out ready for breakfast, put bars and snacks for tomorrow in my pouches, etc.

Now I’m off to bed. Ear plugs tonight for sure. :)

Day 3: Chaulley to Llactapata Mirador

This is the jungle I’ve been waiting for!

Perhaps the best day yet! Magic morning. I woke up before any sun was out and just saw silhouettes of the giant mountains right in front of me. The sound of the water below was soothing throughout the night. The roosters started crowing at 4 AM this morning, but, by that point, I had already had about nine hours of sleep so I was not bothered and went back to sleep until 5:10 AM.

I started hiking at 7 AM. I think if I would have started at 6:30 or 6:45 I probably wouldn’t have seen a tourist or a group at all today, but right when I left there was a big group going out. Luckily they stopped so the guide could tell them some information about what they were looking at. This allowed me to get pretty far ahead before they started. I went to take the trail that is suggested by All Trails, but I was told that the first bit was washed out and to take the road. I was a bit bummed as I didn’t want to be on the road all day. As I walked along the road I could see what seemed in several spots that the trail I wanted to take had been completely washed away so, unfortunately, I had to take the road for about two miles.

I pretty much had the trail to myself, a few cars and small tour busses that passed every once in a while. It seems most people take a bus from Chaulley to their next destination. It never even crossed my mind. There’s just too much to see and I was here for the journey, not the destination.

About 2.5 miles into the day I came upon a small little hut that sold fresh fruit, which was really nice. I talk to a hiker who spoke Spanish and he asked the lady at the hut how to get to the trail on the other side. Apparently there’s a bridge about 5 minutes down the road from the hut. I went and, oh my gosh this was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Shortly after the hut there’s a waterfall that goes onto the road. I looked to the left, down the river and I could barely make out a small trail that was super steep with steps that lead down to a local made makeshift bridge and a rope pulley cart. These carts go across the river all over and apparently is how the locals transport their goods from one side of the river to the other. I got to the other side of the bridge (below) which wobbled a lot and had no handrail.

I was greeted by the man who lived here and I was able to communicate a little bit. I think 5 soles would have been nice to give him, but all I had at the moment was 50. He was kind enough to let me pass without paying a fee.

This part of the trail is glorious!

Tip: I am so glad I came this way as it’s amazing. If you want a much simpler and faster hike, the road is the way to go but if you want to see the jungle, be greeted along the way with lots of interesting mariposas and the most incredible waterfalls, then go the trail.

I was alone the entire time on this trail all day! All the stops I took for brakes to enjoy the scenery to dip my toes in the water I was always by myself. It’s pretty amazing as I didn’t expect it it would be like that but I’m pleasantly surprised. Nothing better than to stop at one of the waterfalls and splash some water on my face!

This trip is, for me, one of the most, if not the most, amazing things that I have ever done for myself in my life!

I came to a little hut with fruits, water and snacks. I wound up getting a Twix bar, which I was going to cherish more than anything else on this planet at lunch.

After that there were several little huts like that along the way. I did see a cool looking swimming pool, and, when I got up to it there was a really posh bar kind of in the middle of nowhere. It was quite cool and empty except for the lady who worked there. I asked about the pool and she said it was a for Alpaca Adventures. That was a bummer cuz I already had made the decision to make the stop even if only for 10 to 15 minutes for a dip in the pool. Doh. No worries, I said, “Thanks,” and kept on going.

My legs are beyond sore today and every time I go downhill I feel one little pain after the next. But it’s doable. No complaining here.

I just came around a bend and out in the distance I can see some mountains that look magical. Maybe this is where Machu Picchu is located? At least looking at them I can tell that I have to climb up one of them tonight and I am thinking that’s going to be quite a challenge, but one that I’m ready to take on.

I am making a commitment to myself that even if I have to hike with my headlamp on I’m heading to the Llactapata tonight to wake to an incredible view of Machu Picchu.

La Playa is the next town I trekked through. It’s different than any place I had been in Peru so far. Definitely a Third world village, but I would not say it’s terrible. I was expecting it as I had read many poor reviews online. Overall I felt it had a little charm to it. The people were very friendly and seemed quite happy.

I was able to get a cellular connection in La Playa just standing on the road. It’s the first time I was able to send a text back to my family as I was in Cusco the last time they’d heard from me. I hope they got it as I just want to make sure they know in alright (they did). Where I exited out of La Playa it’s where most people enter it. It definitely makes itself more presentable from the tourist entry direction.

I think I can see the Machu Picchu peak from here (later that evening I found out it was not). It’s cool to actually be here in the presence of a site that I’ve seen for so many years and dreamed of one day seeing myself.

About half a mile down the road there’s a bridge with an awesome waterfall and I decided to stop there for lunch. It was noon and I was hungry and exhausted. The best thing was soaking my feet and enjoying the awesome view. It was nice to rest and take 30 minutes to do nothing. Heading out my feet are a little numb from the cold water but at least they’re talking to me again.

Note: I’m a bit sick of all my meal bars. Note to self to have more variety for lunch meals. :)

Tip: Resupply water here as the resupply spots get a bit sparse between here and Llactapata and you’ll need it.

Right after I left I can upon a sign that said “Llactapata”. From here it’s a 3.5 hour hike up, up and up!!! I was so wiped out and just kept going. The views are stunning and I saw no one on the way up. After walking about two hours I passed a small hut where a nice man made fresh squeezed orange juice! No joke. I forget how much it was but it was well worth it.

Tip: Get the orange juice!

I stopped here for a bit and took in the view. It’s magical and the man has some cool lounge chairs you can sit on too. It’s worth stopping here for a break as after this stop It’s crazy uphill for the next hour.

At this point I was so tired I literally thought is going to pass out. Yikes. But, I just kept getting myself to take one more step over-and-over again. I was here for this, to push myself, to hike more than I had ever done at one time. There was no other way but to go forward.

On this part of the hike there were some tears of joy as I’m soaring up so high and it’s simply breathtaking!!!

Finally, after hours of going up, for what I thought would never end, I reached the top of the mountain. I had planned to stay at the Llactapata Lodge, as I had seen in many YouTube videos, but I was just so tired I had to stop, so I went out about 5 more minutes and camped at Llactapata Mirador. It was incredible! I was the only one here and NOW I could see Machu Picchu (below seen above the right side of my tent and the vertical tree) in the far off distance and she’s stunning!

Right after I set up camp two hikers from France arrived, Max and Miriel. It was the first time I had seen hikers in quite a while. Right after that another showed up, David, who I met on yesterday’s hike. David was solo too.

I took pictures, we all ate dinner together then headed to bed. We were all exhausted.

The frogs are singing happily. :) Good night.

Tip: Camp at Llactapata Mirador vs the Lodge. This spot is private and magical.

Day 4: Llactapata Mirador to Aguas Calientes

I woke up before the sunrise and took my time getting ready, watching the sun rise on Machu Picchu was surreal.

Going down the mountain was fun, fast and I jogged and slalomed down with my trekking poles. Not too far down I came upon some cool ruins. Apparently you can’t camp there but it did look like a nice spot. It had a similar view to what I had the night before.

Right after the ruins I went through Llactapata lodge. This is where I was going to camp the night before as they have a camp restaurant. I’m glad I didn’t stay here as there was a big tour group that was packing up and getting ready for the day. I stopped for a moment, took a picture of the view then kept on heading down the hill. After that I jammed down the hill with renewed energy. I was feeling great. All my pain was gone and I was fresh. I guess this is what they call getting your, “hiking legs.” This part down was super fun and mostly covered as a canopy of jungle. Some parts are open but mostly it’s covered and shaded.

Once I got to the bottom I came to an amazing suspension bridge. As I went across it wobbled from side-to-side, just like I imagined in the movies. It was awesome. Once on the other side I came to a road and walked down a bit until I came upon a fish farm. The owner let me in and communicated with me via Spanish. From what I understood the different pools were for the smaller medium and large size fish. Thousands of fish swimming all together. It was a trip on the eyes.

From there I kept on and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw and giant waterfall. I couldn’t resist so I had to stop, take off my pack and hike over to the bottom of the waterfall. It was spectacular and well worth the stop.

After that I kept heading down the road until I reached Hydro Electrica. Once here you have to check in, show your passport and sign in. After that I reached the famous railroad tracks that I’ll follow all the way into AC.

Tip: Do not forget your passport. You need to show it here.

All along the way there are lots of little stands. I bought a bag of Doritos. I never eat this type of food but David, from the previous night, had some at dinner and they were delicious.

Note - Map Issue: From here the All Trails map is not correct. The trail that it shows is overgrown and has barbed wire on it. It’s not hard to find the right way to go though, but the tracks do “Y” at a few points.

One thing I was really looking forward to was going through the train tunnel. I dunno why, I just thought it’d be great and I saw many pictures of people who had done it. However, it seems they don’t allow people to go through the tunnel anymore. Either that, or the time I was going trains were coming through and perhaps they don’t allow it at THAT time? Nevertheless, I did try to go around the train to see if I could sneak through the tunnel, but there was a guy who stopped me and told me to go down via the main walking path. So it looks like the walking paths may now be the preferred method into AC.

Right after that David, from the night before, caught up with me and we walked down the train tracks together chatting on our way into AC. We stopped for some fresh squeezed juice. I had orange and he had pineapple. It was nice to chat with somebody and he’s a cool guy too so it was a good conversation. We swapped hiking stories and gear choices, etc., for me that was pretty cool as I have never really talked to anybody about hiking stuff as this is a new hobby for me. Cool!

Note: One thing to note is that train track walk feels endless. It just keeps going and going and going, and it’s very rocky so you have to look down a lot. It has tons of people going both ways so just know that you are not alone by any means when you’re on this last stretch of the hike.

Just before I got into Aguas Calientes I stopped for a moment to check out of sight and David kept going. I didn’t see him anymore on this trip. We exchanged emails and have been in touch since. Again, super cool guy.

Aguas Calientes is actually a pretty cool place. From what I’ve read everyone says it’s a dive. I don’t really think so. If feels a little like Sayulita, Mexico, if you take away the beach and put it in the middle of the jungle. It’s got a good vibe and a lot of energy for sure.

I got to my hotel, Gringo’s bills, and it’s pretty amazing. I asked where I needed to pick up my MP ticket and they said I could do it there. So I gave them my confirmation number from the ticket I purchased in advance and they printed out my entry ticket. I guess all the hotels are on the same system. This was super convenient.

Getting to my room I had to go up and up a bunch of stairs and pathways, which I was quite fine with me by this point and my room was excellent.

Once in my room, the first thing I did was call my wife. It was SO good to great her voice. After that I took a hot shower. It was other worldly to lay on a bed; I don’t think I’ve ever appreciate laying on such a comfy surface in my whole life!

Next I headed to the plaza for a late lunch. I had a burrito with guacamole and chips which was REALLY good.

After lunch I walked through the town and explored every corner I possibly could.

One thing that feels a bit strange is the shell shock. After having hiked for 4 days pretty much on my own, being self-sufficient, I’ve arrived at what feels like Disneyland. The contrast is a bit shocking. I can’t say it’s unexpected but it is interesting to know that many people simply ride in by train or bus versus hiking in. Neither is better. It’s just the contrast of being a simple human being for 4 days and now being thrust back into modern life with stores, internet, cell phones, etc. I turned my phone off and took in the sights as I wasn’t quite ready to be in the modern world just yet.

Next I headed to the train station to make sure I understood how it worked as I was going to be taking it out tomorrow evening.

I then walked all the way to the end of town to a hot springs! Okay, now I have arrived! For 20 soles I was in it was AMAZING, relaxing and just want my body needed.

After that I headed back to the room and talked with my daughter for a bit; she was now awake. Oh man, I missed hearing her voice.

Now I’m having dinner in a little restaurant on a side street. The town is maze-like with steep, winding streets. I tried to get lost, but really can’t cuz it’s pretty small overall. Ha ha.

Day 5: AC to Machu Picchu!

The big day has finally arrived, and it did not disappoint. Up at 4:20 AM.

Today I’m using a simple day pack that I picked up in town for 20 Soles. It’s still dark out so I’m using my phone as a torch.

There’s a line through the center plaza to get the bus but it was already wrapped around the corner and well up the street. People must have slept out here.

Going up the stairs all the way to the entrance was fun. There were many other people doing it and the energy was exciting.

Tip: Bring whatever water for the day you’ll need. There are no water sources once you start the trail up and no place to buy water when you get into MP. I was under prepared for this as there’s LOTS of climbing. A lot and more if you go to Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna (Wayna) Picchu. I wound up asking some people if they could spare some water and they were kind enough to help out.

My trip through the ancient city was incredible, personal and perfect. The weather was clear and I had the privilege of being one of the first in.

I can only imagine what it must have been like for Hiram Bingham to be here for the first time. A really fun experience to learn about his life and adventures while I was in AC too.

I hiked to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain. Wow, that was intense and super rewarding. The trail just keeps going up and up and it’s fairly exposed to the sun. A lot of people got heat stroke, needed to stop and went back down.

Tip: A hat and water are important on this day if you hike Machu Picchu Mountain or to Waynu Picchu.

Tip: Don’t skimp on the train ride. I took the cheapest ride back. The train was super slow, I could have walked faster. No joke. It completely stopped several times for long periods and eventually broke down. We all hiked a bit until we could get to busses they had brought in to get everyone back to Cusco.

Although it sounds a bit nutty to have gone through a funky train ride experience, I really enjoyed the adventure of it all.

Once in Cusco, it was dark and late, I had to find a taxi and get to my new hotel. Luckily they were open late so I was able to check in no problem.

When I got back to Cusco I went back to Green Point Restaurant. They were just about to close (5 minutes) but they were cool enough to let me order take out. I ate in my hotel room then passed out for a full night of much needed slumber.

In Closing:

I had an incredible adventure. Beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The confidence I gained in my ability to travel to a foreign country alone and hike solo through rural, tropical and snowy terrain, living out of my pack and from the Earth was so satisfying.

On my flight back home I watched a documentary film called “Love Thy Nature” by, Julian walker. It struck a chord with me and resonated with the experience I had just had. Remembering that we’re simple human beings. It’s an amazing to have this feeling so clearly in view. I only hope I can hold onto this feeling and the clarity I feel I have in my life now.