The Inca Trail Day 3: Choquicocha to Wiñay Wayna

I feel so privileged. Privileged to be here in Peru. Privileged to have both the health and means to undertake The Inca Trail. And beyond privileged to experience ancient Inca culture in a way only a few ever will.

Today was always meant to be our “easy day” on the Inca Trail. A day when we would take our time, and make frequent photo stops as we descended into the Cloud Forest that serves as a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. As beautiful as yesterday was, I spent so much of it just trying to catch my breath that this was a welcome respite. And while the fog was our constant companion again today, it would come and go, revealing at what seemed to be key moments, the beauty that lay all around us. Really though, fog is something you have to expect when hiking in the Andes. Much like the Himalayas it’s simply a product of the fast-changing weather conditions that take place at such high elevations.

Machu Picchu may get top billing…but along the Inca Trail Wiñay Wayna gives it a run for its money

Petting a couple of llamas at Intipata in Peru along the Inca trail

Along the way we visited not one, but three large, nearly intact Inca sites that quite simply took our collective breath away, Phuyupatamarca, Intipata and Wiñay Wayna. No. We are not yet at Machu Picchu. That comes tomorrow. But their setting, combined with us being amongst only a handful of people there made the whole experience simply magical. Humbling. In every which way. I also got to pet some llamas that were just randomly hanging out.

Wiñay Wayna archeological site along the Inca Trail

Machu Picchu will always get top billing of course, along with the hordes of tourists from around the world. There are certainly good reasons for it. But Intipata and, most especially Wiñay Wayna (Forever young in English) are, I wager, not far behind in terms of sheer beauty and magnificence. That made me happy.

What is even more crazy is that Wiñay Wayna is literally a five minute walk from our last campsite and yet most groups may not make here it in time to see it. That’s because most have their long day today. So while we all converge here on Machu Picchu Eve, they will arrive too close to sunset to make a visit possible.

And so Privilege, Gratitude and Humility are my words for today.