DAY 4 @ altitude 2650m-

A nice early start in the hammering rain, awaken for our coco tea and a massive bug in our tent we quickly pack up and get going to the gates of the Machu Pichuu trail.

The gates open at 5:30am so we had an hour wait there where we would (if it wasn't so foggy) watch the sunrise. We waited under-cover in our ponchos huddled up in our team. There were many other groups waiting in the same place, waiting to be let in to the final part of our venture. Each company do that exact trail and camp in the same places so you see the same people along the way of the four days.

Let in at promptly 5;30am we begun our last stretch to Machu Pichuu, waking up still at the same time the sun was out but so was the fog so our initial views were limited. The hike, of which I thought would be a doddle, was still proving a challenge, with the occasional sandwich stop we proceeded our struggles on and we were so close.

Once past a certain point you start to cross paths with day trippers, people that had caught the train to Machu Pichuu and walked twenty minutes to the viewing point, we called these people...'cheaters!!' And without one of those people receiving Josh's' banter '"How was the train?" digs on their way past, we walked past feeling smug with self achievement. I mean, they spelt of fresh flowers..? they wore dazzling white t-shirts?! they didn't look like they had grown up with wolves?! And as appealing as all this sounds, we weren't an inch jealous. Even proud of our over-powering smells and mud stains we marched through the crowd, and there it was in full glory, Machu Pichuu!!

The sight was unbelievable, the vast area and surreal feel was overwhelming, where the clouds surrounded the Inca city mysteriously. every minute of the hike was amazing and this just seemed a massive bonus reward.

Our guide Chachi takes us for a tour around explaining many impressive facts and stories of Machu Pichuu, after this, we were left to rest taking in the views of where we had so very much earnt to be. Sitting there in awe we had all become pretty lifeless the trail was complete and our legs had had enough, just as well!

After a couple hours to rome the ground we were to meet up in a near town for a 'familia' last dinner. We received our t-shirts, certificates, had a free shot and ate pizza. We said goodbye to our guides and then we sadly had to part ways with our group. Me and Paul couldn't have wished for a better bunch of people to have spent this experience with and would like to thank all nine of them for being there egging us on and lifting spirits, we love all you Hungry Llamas!!!! (team name, ha!)

Thank you Inca Trail it been amazing!