If you have visited Machu Picchu, then you may know the famous Inca Trail which leads right into the heart of the ancient citadel. However, there's more than one way to get to Machu Picchu, and Brook Sabin from Stuff shares their group's 12-day Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure, as well as the highlight of the trip, the Quarry Trail.
Considered as the secret Inca Trail, the Quarry Trail is more secluded with most tourists opting for the Inca Trail instead. But if you prefer taking the alternative route, discovering hidden gems along the way, then Sabin suggests you take one of the world's best walks in the Quarry Trail.
On their hike, it was just the three of them in the group, which made for a more peaceful, less crowded trek up the Andean mountains. Not only that, but their tour guide service, Intrepid Travel, who arranged their itinerary, always made sure that they were in the right condition to continue on the hike.
Every morning and evening, they would be subjected to oxygen checks to make sure that they weren't suffering from altitude sickness. They had a caravan who would set up camp for them as well as cook their meals three times a day. There was even a "toilet tent" fitted with a chemical toilet whenever they needed to go at each stop.
The route for their tour began in Lima. From there, they flew to Cusco, the starting point of their hike. On this trail, they were able to visit ancient villages like Q'orimarca and Ollantaytambo, the final destination of the hike. Afterward, they took a panoramic train and then a bus to Machu Picchu.
One other highlight from this tour package was the Amazon adventure, in which they rode a boat for two hours along the Amazon, and stayed at an eco-lodge surrounded by nature. They explored the greenery of the Amazon rainforest and capped their adventure with a nighttime river expedition. To see more photos from the trip, check out Brook Sabin's article on Stuff.
(Image credit: Brook Sabin/Stuff)
Comments (0)