Leaving the hotel at 8.30 we drive 2 hours to Ollantaytambo where we stop for 30 minutes to look at an old Inca town. The we drive to landmark 82km along a dirt road which looks quite dodgy in spots.
Here we enter the check point to the Inca Trail. The trail was first explored by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and opened for walkers in 1970. The famous ruins of Machu Picchu are not the only historical remains within the area: many other interesting sites are hidden in places which can only be reached on foot,and have scarcely been explored. Our trek starts by crossing the Urubamba river, then follow its rapids down the Sacred Valley.
The porters set up the tent for our lunch stop and serve mushroom soup and a hot meal. There is hot water in buckets to wash our hands, cool drinks and a wonderful view.
We hike for another hour or so and set up camp under the ruins of Llactapata. A gorgeous valley, we soak our tire feet in an icy stream, have hot tea and biscuits and short nap before dinner is served. It was one of the groups birthday and somehow the chef made an amazing birthday cake, iced, with "happy birthday' written on it, amazing as they only have little stoves to cook on.
Bed by 8 o'clock as we have an early start.
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