Day 4 – 9 miles hiked, 8 hours
Compared to other days of the hike, Day 4 was the least interesting. We walked on a flat road through the jungle in the morning and alongside train tracks in the afternoon. It was great for chatting, and I had good conversations about the Catholic faith, entrepreneurship, and family relationships with my new hiking friends. I enjoyed hearing their perspectives about our similar experiences. I especially enjoyed asking them what they were like as 22-year-olds and if they had any free advice. I am so grateful to have lucked out with such a cool group. We agreed to reconnect in 2025 for a hiking trip in Austria!
By the early afternoon, we made it to Aguas Calientas! This is the town at the base of Machu Picchu and where we would spend the night. I felt out of place “re-entering civilization” after being without any crowds, phone service, or commercial buildings for five days! In English, “aguas calientas” translates to hot water, a fitting name because of the natural hot springs. Alex, Tanner, Julia, and I walked to the hot springs after we checked into our hotel. Honestly, I was underwhelmed by the hot springs because the water was dirty, and the temperature wasn’t higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. (In Pagosa Spring, Colorado, the hottest pool at the hot springs spa was 114 degrees Fahrenheit!) My muscles felt a bit better, so I’m glad I went anyway.
After the hot springs, I took the most relaxing shower ever. We walked to a nearby restaurant, and I ordered alpaca steak for dinner. I was without phone service for this entire trek, but I texted my parents on the hotel WiFi before hitting the hay. 🙂
Day 5 – Machu Picchu
After four days of hiking long days, witnessing beautiful changes in nature, and building meaningful friendships, we made it to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu (translated as “old mountain” from Quechua)! Everyone’s excitement in the morning was more energizing than the coca tea!
We left the hotel by 6:20 to catch one of the first buses up to the ruins. Our good luck with the weather during the trek continued through today. December is in the low season for tourism and the beginning of the rainy season in Peru. Thankfully, the rain we had did not distract from the most important parts of the hike! From Machu Picchu, we had stellar views of the surrounding mountains and even saw the viewpoint and campsite from Day 3, Llactapata Lookout!
It’s incredible what the Incans built in the 15th century without using wheels to move the rocks! About 1000 Incans were living and working in Machu Picchu at the time of abandonment. It is theorized that the civilization was abandoned either out of fear of the Spanish conquistadores or from a smallpox epidemic. Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanish because it can only be seen from above, and it is one of the most well-preserved Incan cities. One theory why the Incans chose this site to build a city is that it is the center of energy between four mountain peaks and was a religious landmark. Even today, discoveries about the Inca and Machu Picchu lead to more questions than answers!
Alex, Tanner, and I also hiked Huayna Picchu. (Huayna Picchu means “young mountain” and it is the mountain peak in front of the clouds in the photo above.) The climb to the peak is so steep and narrow, that only 200 people are allowed to ascend a day. We made it to the top, climbing the steps with hands and feet, and WOW was the view incredible! It was one of the toughest parts of the week but so worth the climb to view the ruins from above.
We caught the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and then rode a bus back to Cusco. I journaled and slept during most of the four-hour journey. To celebrate the end of the trek, our group went out to a club said our final goodbyes (I had a morning flight the next day!) The Salkantay trek is one of the most adventurous things I’ve done, with the coolest people, and the most interesting nature. Thanks be to God for His beautiful world, and for these two amazing weeks of PTO from work!
The photos above were taken and edited by Julia!
kira vesta 