Wayna picchu mountain

Mount Cleveland

Clements peak

Beach walk

Iceberg peak

I’d like to start a little bit from the past. The day before the Machu Picchu trip, our train was more than 2 hours late (which doesn’t happen often 😅).

Today, we woke up early as planned at 5:30 am, and by 6 am we were already in line for the shuttle up to the base of Machu Picchu (this way you avoid 1,500 feet of elevation gain ⛰️).

Guess what? The drivers decided today is a beautiful day to start a strike! 😱 One guide in front of us told me this had never happened to him before — and he’s been to Machu Picchu 700 times! To add to the chaos, we had only 1 hour left to our entry window… So, without overthinking, we started our hike.

As soon as we reached the start of the trail, we were surrounded by crowds of people — many not fit or ready for the hike — so progress was slow. And don’t forget the 2,500 meters of altitude 🏔️.

Surprisingly, without taking any breaks and trying to pass as many people as possible, I made it to the top in just an hour. The trail was surprisingly well-maintained and mostly in the shade, so after the glacier, it felt almost like a walk in the park.

Once on top, I quickly started looking for a guide. I didn’t just want to see the place — I wanted to learn about it. I managed to join a group, and the guide was super nice and sincere, letting us join their expedition. The guided tour lasted almost 1.5 hours and was incredibly informative and interesting.

Sadly, Deimante was feeling terrible from the intense hike and the altitude 😔. Luckily, the guide gave her a package of electrolytes, which helped a lot, and we successfully reached the top of the mountain.

And boy oh boy… as we slowly made our way up, the sun was clearing the clouds. On top, it was still cloudy, but the view was absolutely breathtaking 🌥️🏔️. We spent more than an hour at the top, and no one was rushing us off the mountain.

I know I keep saying this after almost every peak, but this truly felt like the best hike I’ve ever done. The mountains were unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and the Inca history makes this place so unique! Once-in-a-lifetime experience — I’m so happy and grateful I got to do it 🤎

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Patrikas Borisovas

Wayna picchu mountain

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Wayna picchu mountain

Mount Cleveland

Clements peak

Beach walk

Iceberg peak

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