I have wanted to go to Peru and Machu Picchu for as long as I can remember. For the past decade, it has been one of my top bucket list items that has been simmering away on the back burner as other things took priority. I have read several books about the mystery behind the ruins – and other archaeological sites along the Inca Trail. I  had pictures of the Machu Picchu ruins hanging on my walls in my house and office to inspire myself to figure out how I can finally get there.

 

Well that time has finally come!

I put the word out to everyone I knew to see if someone wanted to join me on this trip as my husband didn’t have much desire to go. As luck would have it, two people from work were interested as well as one of the girl’s husband. Katie, Nicole B and Ed will fly to Lima, Peru on Sunday, May 7th and then to Cusco, Peru on Monday, May 8th. We will spend the next 5 days acclimating to the altitude and exploring the region and then on Saturday, May 13th, we will start our hike on the Inca Trail with Sam Travel Peru. Sunday, May 14th will be our hardest day as we will hike 9 miles and reach an altitude of almost 14,000 feet. We will hike into Machu Picchu on Tuesday, May 16th in time to watch the sunrise and tour the site for the day. We will go to Aguas Caliente for the night and then return to the ruins on May 17th to hike Huayna Picchu. We head back to Lima on the 18th and then fly home that evening. Words can’t express my nerves about the challenge of the hike, gratitude and appreciation for the support from my family and friends and just my overall excitement for this adventure! It is going to be an amazing trip and it is only 2 days away!