It’s always been a dream of mine to hike the famous Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu. It’s the ultimate dream destination for hikers. The Classic Inca trail takes four days to complete. You hike through beautiful sceneries; which include various micro climates, mountains, valleys and cloud forests. These photos don’t do it justice. It’s worth seeing for yourself. The Peruvian government requires all hikers to have permits and you must go through licensed tour guide companies. They are limited so plan ahead! We went with a company called View Peru. And I’m so glad we did! They send you a detailed itinerary of what you will see, how long you will hike each day and what you need to bring to ensure you have a comfortable trip. We spent 2 days in Cusco to acclimate to the high altitude. This is recommended! The last thing you want is altitude sickness on the hike. Cusco is just a little over 11,000 feet above sea level. Luckily, I adjusted well to the altitude. The city of Cusco is rich with culture and history.
On Day 2 we took a tour on horse back through the Sacred Valley.
Met a little friend along the way.
The entire hike is over 26 miles. So each day you hike for about 5-8 hours depending on how fast you go. You’re climbing up and down mountains and through valleys. It’s really cool to see all the different micro climates. Day 2 was the most challenging. We climbed to about 13,900 feet above sea level. It was rough and I was short of breath but the view were so rewarding. It was the start of the rainy season so the trail wasn’t very busy. We did run into another couple with a different tour company but I couldn’t resist posting the photo above. You literally get to camp above the clouds. Our camp was just above theirs next to these cuties.
The day we hiked into Machu Picchu we woke up at the crack of dawn. The colors of the sunrise are dreamy AF. The goal was to reach the Sun Gate a couple of hours after sunset to see the perfect alignment of the sun. It just happened to be their Summer Solstice.
Once you pass through the Sun Gate you get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. The ruins were beautiful. After our tour we did another hour hike up a very steep Wanyapicchu. You need a separate permit to climb this mountain and they only give away 400 permits a day so plan ahead! You get the best vantage point once you climb this mountain!
After the party is the after party. And by after party I mean a hot shower, massage and delicious meal at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu.
In the early evening we took the Belmond Hiram Bingham train back to Cusco. It is the most beautiful train, I’ve ever been on. They have full dinner service, an open bar and live music. It gave you a glimpse into the past.
Best. Adventure. Ever. And I’m so grateful to have experienced this with my life partner. If you guys are seeking an adventure rich with culture I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu.
If you have been on this trip I’d love to hear your thoughts! And if you have recommendations/suggestions for our next adventure please comment below! xx JC
Gear from Eddie Bauer and Adidas hiking boots!
18 Comments
Such beautiful photos and a fun video! This place is truly heaven on earth! ♥️??♥️
Merci for sharing your precious moments.
??LA BIJOUX BELLA ??| By Mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog
You have to go to Igaucu Falls on the Brasilian side just as life enriching as Machu Picchu if not more that hotel nearby has
A incredible pool too Thanks for the pics on your hike & love that train Brought back a lot of memories.
Wowwww amazing trip! This is what my girlfriends and I talk about being our dream trip. Do you have any packing tips?
How beautiful! I have to visit someday. All of the pics looks so pretty. 🙂
These photos are incredible!
Vivian | LIVE IN LOVE
IG | @viviyunn_
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Where did you find cute hiking boots?! I have yet to find cute but functional hiking boots since I started planning a trip to hike the Inca trail later this year.
Great post! Where are your hiking shoes from!
Jamie! You should definitely become a vlogger on YouTube! I would subscribe on your channel 🙂
Hi! Where did you get your shoes? Going in April and love these!
Stunning! Makes me want to go on this adventure .
Please share your outfits from Eddie Bauer. I love that pile jacket. Where is it from? I am planning to go to MP this August. Would love to hear about the hiking boots you wore!
We did the Inca trail back in 2011 and it was fabulous! How about Tanzania for a safari and Zanzibar?
Wow, so awesome! One day I’ll do it too 🙂
http://www.thebilingualgirl.com
Ohh.. i love u jamie.. Greetings from Poland 🙂
Iceland and Bhutan are great options next!
Love to see that you had such a beautiful time!
Great pics! We were there two days before and didn’t get much sun. Did you get a chance to see Chincherro Ruins, Maras salt terraces, and Lake Titicaca?
We’re you guys at Mangos in Lima Sunday night?
I should’ve said hi. (big fan of Gifted)
A lot you guys have been asking! My shoes are from Adidas and my gear is from Eddie Bauer. I’ll post some links now!