In June 2008 I trekked the Peruvian Inca Trail with the aim of raising as much money as I could for the two charities. The Trail reaches an altitude of over 4,200m, eventually reaching Machu Picchu the lost city of the Incas. The 4 day challenge took us through sub-tropical vegetation, following one of the best trekking trails in the World!
Pictures from the challenge are shown below.
Typical street in Lima ... pretty grim!
Flying over the Andes, from Lima (where we experienced an earthquake!) to Cusco ...
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, 3400m above sea level. Population over 250,000.
Cusco Cathedral, dates from early 1500s and Spanish rule.
Woman, plus alpaca, plus baby ...
Inca bloke plus tourist ...
... the menu ... guinea-pig ... popular, but tough ... particularly on the guinea-pig.
Cesia, in her mum's art shop in Cusco.
At the Saqsaywaman ruins outside of Cusco.
The start of the Inca Trail.
The beautiful Yorlanda (4yrs), who has Down's Syndrome, outside her house, just a mile or so up the Trail.
with Marcia, one of our two guides, on the Trail.
Inca settlement at Patallacta.
...couple having a drink, (pisco sour?), ouside their house on the Trail.
Dead Woman's Pass, 4200m.
In the clouds at Camp 2.
...climbing in the morning, the weather improves.
... the Trail leads up into Cloud Forest ... fantastic!
... arrival at Phuyupatamarka ...
... the start of a 3000 step descent ... a drop of over 1000m ... Peru, a nation of step-keepers ...!
... more breathtaking views ... as we drop down towards Machu Picchu.
Porters at Camp 3, (... 12 trekkers, 24 porters, 1 cook, 1 assistant cook, 1 loo man, & 2 guides ...)
Flowers in the jungle, overlooking the Urubamba River.
Our brilliant guides, Willow and (his sister) Marcia, sort out necklaces ... Inca crosses.
... at Intipuaka, the Sun Gate, above Machu Picchu, (complete with Inca cross).
Looking down on Machu Picchu.
Looking down from Machu Picchu to the Urubamba River.
Carved stone work in the Condor Temple at Machu Picchu.
Indiana Barr ...
... & the Temple of the Sun.
The Intihuatana, "hitching post of the sun".
Marcia with the "star viewing" pools.
... the final team photo at Machu Picchu, the end of the Inca Trail ... we've done it!
