The Trek

We got up early for our 5 day trek to Machu Picchu, and boarded a bus - which promptly broke down. Our new guide, Rauol, zipped past us, saying, "I'm getting another car in the next village!" But that wasn't the surprising thing. Not in Peru. We were not surprised by this transportation failure. Or the seemingly careless attitude of our guide. No. We all just sat on the side of a dusty road, somewhere in the middle of Peru and had a great time. We talked. We did some yoga. We exchanged travel stories. All for an hour and a half. Alone. Without a guide. Or a bus. Then, Rauol returned, just like he said. He had a flat bed truck with 2x4 boards on the sides. Probably, it's normal cargo is something like goats, cows, or anything besides humans. They threw all our gear in first, and then about 18 of us piled into the thing.

We began the trek at the trailhead in Sayllapata (3,200 meters).

The route slowly ascended up to Soyrococha, our first camp site.

The switchbacks were tough, but the unspoiled beauty kept luring us on.