Inca Trail - Day 3
We actually got a break this morning so instead of waking up at 5 something, we were awoken around 6:15. Today would be a relatively easy day with most of the hike being downhill, so I was eager to get started.
Again, it was raining for about half of the morning, but today I didn't mind. The terrain was generally flat or downhill, so with my walking sticks, it was a comfortable hike. The downhill portions could be pretty steep at times, so if you have access to hiking sticks, definitely bring them. At the start of the trail, there are women selling wooden walking sticks as well for about 3 soles ($1 USD) if you don't have your own.
By lunch time, my knees were killing me. The downhill is easy on the cardio, but rough on the joints. Lunch was at Winay Waynu - which means Forever Young. Our guide went into a rendition of Forever Young by Alphaville as he was explaining this. Apparently he's a big karaoke fan and would probably be hitting up the karaoke club in Aquas Calientes (AC) later that night.
Anyway, after lunch and a brief tour of the ruins at Winay Waynu, we hiked downhill for another couple of hours and finally made it to the train tracks. The rest of the hike would be spent following the tracks to AC since the official trail was closed due to the landslide. It felt a little like a scene out of Stand By Me - like we were going to see a dead body next to the tracks at any moment.
We reached AC probably around 5:30 that night and had a quick debriefing. About half of the group decided to check out the Hot Springs in AC. It was 10 soles to get in (~$3 USD) and I'm still on the fence as to whether it was worth it. There was one main hot bath, which was very crowded. If you consider all the hikers that come through there, it's no surprise that the water smelled pretty bad. I tried not to think about it too much and just let my muscles relax, but it was difficult not to breathe. And every breath you took, reminded you of how bad we must have smelled...
Miguel had arranged for us to have a corner of a restaurant for sleeping that night, but the group opted to get rooms at a local hostal instead. I'm definitely glad we went with that option. It was the best shower and night of sleep that I'd had in a week.
Again, it was raining for about half of the morning, but today I didn't mind. The terrain was generally flat or downhill, so with my walking sticks, it was a comfortable hike. The downhill portions could be pretty steep at times, so if you have access to hiking sticks, definitely bring them. At the start of the trail, there are women selling wooden walking sticks as well for about 3 soles ($1 USD) if you don't have your own.
By lunch time, my knees were killing me. The downhill is easy on the cardio, but rough on the joints. Lunch was at Winay Waynu - which means Forever Young. Our guide went into a rendition of Forever Young by Alphaville as he was explaining this. Apparently he's a big karaoke fan and would probably be hitting up the karaoke club in Aquas Calientes (AC) later that night.
Anyway, after lunch and a brief tour of the ruins at Winay Waynu, we hiked downhill for another couple of hours and finally made it to the train tracks. The rest of the hike would be spent following the tracks to AC since the official trail was closed due to the landslide. It felt a little like a scene out of Stand By Me - like we were going to see a dead body next to the tracks at any moment.
We reached AC probably around 5:30 that night and had a quick debriefing. About half of the group decided to check out the Hot Springs in AC. It was 10 soles to get in (~$3 USD) and I'm still on the fence as to whether it was worth it. There was one main hot bath, which was very crowded. If you consider all the hikers that come through there, it's no surprise that the water smelled pretty bad. I tried not to think about it too much and just let my muscles relax, but it was difficult not to breathe. And every breath you took, reminded you of how bad we must have smelled...
Miguel had arranged for us to have a corner of a restaurant for sleeping that night, but the group opted to get rooms at a local hostal instead. I'm definitely glad we went with that option. It was the best shower and night of sleep that I'd had in a week.
posted by KC at
6:07 PM
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