The Inca Trail is, of course, a journey to Machu Picchu, but along the way you pass through nearly a dozen other Inca sites, from simple check points for the couriers who served as a precursor to the two-legged Pony Express, to elaborate villages, temples, and agricultural terraces. The two most spectacular of these were Intipata and Wiñay Wayna, which alone made the journey as momentous as the ultimate destination.
And after the rain and snow, the sun shined down on us the third day. The trek of 6 miles consisted primarily of steep descents along 3,000 steps laid out by the Incas. It was truly the most epic day until…
A view of the Andes from the ruins of Wiñay Wayna
