Up at 0600 to wait outside for the "bus" from Trek Peru to pick me up. It turns out that there are only 2 clients on this trip, myself and Armando from Spain. There were 2 more people who apparently cancelled at the last minute due to sickness.
On the way out of town through Plaza de Armas the policia are out in force. There is a line of about 20 all frantically waving at the bus to pull over. Our driver makes it past 19 but the 20th jumps out into the street in front of the bus and stops us cold. He gets a ticket and a stern lecture but can't really explain what the ticket is for.
Once outside Cusco we take a bouncy shortcut through the back country to the start of the Inca Trail. This is one of the smoother sections of the road.
We arrive after about 2 1/2 hours at kilometer 82 of the railroad, the beginning of the standard Inca Trail.
After waiting at the trailhead checkpoint and having our permits checked and passports stamped, we're finally off on the Inca Trail. The bridge here across the Vilcanota River is the real start of the trail.
The first few kilometers follow the river valley across from the railroad. There are 3 different trains operating on this line: the standard backpacker train, the Vistadome tourist train, and a luxury train operated by Orient Express. Needless to say we will be returning on the backpacker train.
The weather has been great for the rainy season.
Salapunku, first Inca ruins across the river. Our guide Martin says this outpost was an inn for travelers on the way to Machu Picchu.
Find the parrot
Early in the hike the trail passes through some farms and tiny villages.
Inca ruins at Patallacta
After a couple of hours we stop for lunch. Our porters and cook have gone ahead of us on the trail and set up the dining tent and laid out tea and sandwiches for us. This is the first trip I've been on with this kind of service and it's quite nice. Once we've finished lunch we head off down the trail while behind us the cook and porters tear down the lunch setup and then pass us on the trail on their way to our campsite for the night.
In the afternoon we take a rest break at a small store. Really small. The entire store is the the shelves by the door.
Arriving at our campsite, the dining tent is set up with tea laid on. The tents are set up and all I have to do is throw my pack in the tent and unroll my sleeping bag.
After settling in at our campsite the guides and porters from different groups get a soccer game going.
In the late afternoon the clouds clear from the higher peaks and we can see the high glaciers.
