Machu Picchu may have been a tourist destination since the 80’s (or earlier) once it was noted as a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it seems as though everyone and their mother has been traveling to South America recently. Really though – my own mom and dad took the trek this past summer to this New7Wonder of the World and I have four other friends who visited in the 12 months! Meghan and I were lucky enough to plan this trip at the beginning of the year and despite accepting a new job and moving to California, we were still able to make the trek. Of course, when you sign up and pay for the flights/trek, it really becomes a non-negotiable, even with a new job.
We both agreed that an active vacation would do us both good as we live our work lives behind a desk. We also agreed to minimize our time in museums as our study abroad experiences had us in and out of museums galore. After some perusing online, we decided to sign up for the REI Inca Trail Trek, a nine day adventure covering the Sacred Valley and four days of hiking the 27 mile Inca Trail until arriving at the “Lost City of the Incas”. Sure, it was a bit pricier than some plans online but it was absolutely worth it. Not only that but did you know if you sign up to be a lifetime member (only $20), you get a sick discount on adventures, special offers, an annual dividend, and have access to in-store garage sales! Ultimately the best $20 I’ve ever spent.
** This is going to be a very long post but I hope it can help future trekkers down the line, entertain current readers, and remind me in a few years what we actually did. **
California Endless Summer 