Looking down upon the ruins of Machu Picchu.
shared some traditional stories with us. At one point a rainbow appeared over Machu Picchu, it couldn’t have been more magical. Te next day we completed the Salkantay Trail, and we
were ready to join up to the Inca Trail after spending one night in Aguas Calientes. It was interesting to experience both types of trails and compare the differences. Te clas- sic Inca Trail is the pilgrimage trail for the elite in Incan Society, whereas the Salkantay Trail was more of a com- mercial trail used by the common people. Te Inca Trail was obviously more popular with tourists, so it’s nice to know there are a variety of alternative trekking options available. We hiked the Inca Trail all the way to the Sun Gate to
get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. You feel a sense of awe and wonderment when you finally experience one of the world's most iconic sites with your own eyes. It's an amazing feeling to have walked along the paths of ancient Incan civilizations to get there. Tere’s much mystery to this place. It is unknown exactly what the citadel was used for, which is why it’s so intriguing to so many people. We arrived just as the sun was starting to set and there was a beautiful calmness in the air. We, of course, then had to do a photo shoot - the guides always know the best place to get those iconic shots. We had just enough time to take everything in before we returned the following day for our full guided tour. It was a rewarding adventure, but once again, the jour-
ney itself was much more meaningful than the destina- tion. Our last day was spent doing a full tour of Machu Picchu, which is highly recommended. Our group expe- rienced so much more by spending six days in the en- vironment hiking through different landscapes, learning about the culture and history, interacting with the locals and taking in the local life of today.
28 • Summer 2018
Meeting some of the locals. Doing a six-day trek was definitely challenging, but
challenging yourself leads to great growth and a wealth of unique experiences. I feel honoured to have accomplished this journey with an amazing group from Manitoba and an incredible local team. Tis region offers something for everyone, based on
your interests and level of fitness. If a multi-day trek is not in the cards for you, you can instead do a variety of interesting day trips that are best suited to your comfort level. Te best time to go is from April to November with the peak season from June to August. Te rainy season is from November to March and with it comes the orchids – they start to bloom in October/November and continue until March. Te heaviest rain is in February and the Inca Trail path is closed for maintenance during this month. For inspiration regarding options for exploring this re- gion, visit
www.travelroots.ca. Amanda Huculak is the owner of Travel Roots (www.
travelroots.ca).
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