Salkantay Trek: Gringo Killers and Inca Flats

Machu Picchu has always been my dream destination to visit:

There’s something about the accurately-fitted ruins with much historical significance, the engineering genius in accordance to the sun and moon and it being hidden in the clouds that makes it so mystical.

I once had a photoshopped picture of myself holding my selfie stick in front of the famed postcard photo of Machu Picchu. That’s how much I wanted to visit it.

One would’ve thought I’d rush to visit the New Wonder of the World the moment I arrived in Cusco, but it was only almost 3 weeks later that I took the plunge and went on a 5-day Salkantay pilgrimage to Machu Picchu.

I wanted the experience to be as perfect as possible and I guess subconsciously, I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype and image that I built up in my mind.

I shouldn’t have worried at all.

Vinicunca: The Colourful Rainbow Mountain of Peru

I stopped and gasped hard for air.

My heart was beating faster than after a 100m sprint.

I felt like vomiting.

“The only way to feel better is to keep walking,” and so, I did.

I kept going, with my eyes on the prize: Vinicunca – the Rainbow Mountain.

It stood in front of us in all its glory, but it’s a good 2 hours away.

So near, yet so far.

Sacred Valley Cusco: 3 Circuits for the Perfect Day Trip

“Are we in the Sacred Valley yet?”

An American lady in my tour group asked, even though we were already in the third and final town of our tour.

What she – and many tourists – misunderstood was that the Sacred Valley is just a valley. In truth, the Sacred valley is a range of valleys and towns and rivers.

Hiking Colca Canyon: One of the World’s Deepest

Day 2: It was 4:40 a.m.

We started our hike in the canyon darkness. The full moon barely lit the way.

A dotted line of white lights shone from the trekkers’ heads.

My headlamp was weak; the white spot looked like 480p quality compared to everyone’s 1080p bright light.

But it was enough for avoiding the heaps of mules’ shit on the ground.

Just 3 more hours and 1100m in elevation to complete the gruelling Colca Canyon trek.