As ancient as the mysterious ruins that lay at its end, the Inca Trail was originally created as a passage for the high priests and Inca royalty between Cusco and Machu Picchu. I suppose I was a little anxious upon arriving at the start of the Inca Trail for the first time. The flash y backpacks, outfits, experienced guides, colorful porteadores, the sense of having a common goal and the seemingly endless mountain path that stretched out before me, all made me wonder whether I had what it takes to finish the trail. It was however exciting; and with low cloud cover, we set off for what would be a four day trek to the lost citadel of Machu Picchu.

The trail begins harmlessly enough, and with high spirits you pass along the shores of the mighty Urubamba River before the rough and snowy Andean landscape slowly gives way to a progressively more jungle-like environment. Inca Ruins mark the way, and as the trail continues these ruins increase in frequency, size and complexity, making me realize that what is now a four day adventure trek trail was once the place the Incas called home.

While a lot of bonding is done with the group both on the trail and in the campsites, I also found it to be a deeply spiritual experience where I was able to set my own pace, get in touch with myself and also test my will and strength to make it to the goal.

It isn’t that easy either, but the reward is much more than worth it. The morning of your fourth day on the trail we rose early in order to arrive at Machu Picchu a little before sunrise. As an early morning bright-orange-sun rose above a misty Machu Picchu, tears quite literally filled my eyes.
Neither words nor photographs will ever be able to capture the beauty of that site and the wonder of that moment. It is simply extraordinarily. And I had done it; the hard work, dirt and sweat were all worth it. I was on top of the world looking down on one of her more awesome sights. I knew then that not only was I able to complete the Inca trail, but that I would quite likely be there to complete it again soon ready for new and greater challenges.