January 2008 -
This was a difficult trek. We opted to do the Lares trek rather than the Inca Trail as it’s much less traveled. Although this trek doesn’t take you directly to Machu Picchu, (you have to take a train from Ollantaytambo) it is a better option for people looking for a cultural experience through the Andes. We only saw one other westerner our entire trek, and our guide was from the area which gave us great insight to the lives of locals. (Quechuans)
This was our first experience with altitude and it took it’s toll on us (mostly me of course!) My face got even rounder than usual, and I found it very hard to breath. It can be very un-nerving when it feels impossible to take a deep breath.
If there were a way to give up on that trek I probably would have done it, but when there is no where to go but up you have to push yourself. Nick had a pretty hard time toward the highest part of our trek (4 600 metres) but he handled it a lot better than me – the tears always start to flow when I’m trekking.
As soon as we started descending it was like an anvil was lifted from my chest, and that was when it became easy to admire our beautiful surroundings – we were in the Andes in a valley complete with waterfalls, glaciers and of course llamas. It made the trek up well worth it.
Visiting Machu Picchu is definitely not something anyone should miss. It lives up to it’s hype and if you get there early enough to miss the tourist rush, it looks just like a postcard. However, if you are looking for a really exciting and different way to experience the area, the Lares Trek is just as unforgettable.
Final Destination
Looks like a great trek. We booked our trip to Peru at the last minute so didn’t get to do a trek on the Inca Trail, but Machu Picchu was still pretty magical. I think you did the right thing taking another route. I have heard that the Inca trail can get pretty busy. We didn’t feel too bad about not being able to walk it. But seeing your video, makes me want to do the Lares Trek.