trek
Machu Picchu
On day four we woke up at 4:45 in the morning to have time to grab a quick bite to eat and get to the bus. It is important to get up to Machu Picchu early to get a pass for Wayna Picchu. Wayna Picchu rises up above Machu Picchu and is often seen in the background of "classic" pictures. Every day only 400 people are allowed up to Wayna Picchu. So you get on the bus in Agua Caliente at 5 AM to get into Machu Picchu by 6 AM then trek all the way across the city to line up for your ticket to Wayna Picchu. After this it was about 7:15 and Luis started our tour around Machu Picchu.
Killer Climb
We woke up the third day and packed up for breakfast. As we were eating a minor drama began developing outside. Our company had prearranged for transportation to the trail head. Another van had pulled up outside as we were finishing up and insisted we travel with them. Our guides told them no and eventually they left. The real van showed up and we began loading our gear. Luis left to get our train tickets for that afternoon and as we waited with Henry the first van returned. The driver started talking smack to Henry and insisting we pay him 3 Sols and ride with him.
First Day Treking
Our second day on the trek to Machu Picchu was our first day hiking. We woke up to a home cooked breakfast before boarding the bus to the trail head. The hike started off very steep up through the cloud forest passing maize and coffee and coca growing in the traditional Inca terraced style. After about an hour we passed a little girl selling water and Gatorade in the jungle on the side of the trail. Her chaperon was a little monkey named Lulu. Lulu loved candy and would leap with blinding speed to snatch it from your fingers before devouring it.
Torres del Paine
On Monday we headed into the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. This Chilean national park is the jewel of Patagonia. We took the bus into the park and then a boat across Lake Pahoe to start the trek known as the "W" on the west side. The first day we set up camp and took a short hike onto a hill above the camp. The opening segment of our trek was exciting and awe inspiring.
The second day we headed up to the lookout to Glacier Grey, about 6 km up a trail that alternately wound through stands of small trees and out onto wind blasted rock ridges.
