Journey to the Lost City of the Incas

With 126 countries and all seven continents under our belts, we've learned a thing or two about travel. We've scaled mountains, sailed oceans, and trekked through jungles. But nothing prepared us for the spiritual and physical challenge of the Inca Trail, a journey that felt less like a hike and more like a pilgrimage.

Sarmin strolls down a vibrant street in Cusco, Peru, where the journey began, surrounded by charming architecture and a stunning mountainous backdrop.

Our adventure began in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. At over 11,000 feet, the air is thin, and your breath comes in shallow, quick gasps. It's a city steeped in history, a place where colonial architecture is built upon the very foundations of Inca stone walls, a powerful metaphor for the layers of history that permeate this land.

For this trip, we partnered with Alpaca Expeditions, and from the very beginning, their team made us feel like family. Our guide, Alvin, was a sincere and passionate young man whose love for his heritage was infectious. He didn't just tell us about the Inca; he brought their stories to life, painting vivid pictures of a long-lost empire. And then there was Romel, our porter, who hiked alongside us, a silent guardian carrying a load that would have crippled us. His strength and quiet encouragement were a constant source of inspiration.

Our first full day on the trail was a baptism by fire. We rose at 4 a.m., our hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation. For 12 hours, we pushed ourselves, one foot in front of the other, through breathtaking landscapes, past ancient ruins, and along precipitous mountain paths. We were challenged physically, but as the old saying goes, "pain is temporary, but memories are forever." And what a memory it was.

Sarmin navigates the stone steps towards Machu Picchu on a guided trail, flanked by the lush Andean mountains and ancient ruins.

Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, we saw it. Not from a bus or a train, but from high above and behind the mountains, just as the Incas would have seen it. We gazed down at the Lost City of the Incas—Machu Picchu—and the sight took our breath away, not from the altitude, but from the sheer majesty of it all. It was the culmination of a single, determined step repeated thousands of times, a journey that was about so much more than just a destination.

The next day, with our weary muscles rested, we explored the wonders of Machu Picchu in detail. It’s a place of incredible ingenuity, a city built with stones so perfectly cut that not even a knife blade can fit between them. We marveled at the temples, the agricultural terraces, and the sheer audacity of building a city in such a remote and unforgiving location.

Sarmin and Bahar take in the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu after their long hike along the Inca Trail, standing at the edge of ancient ruins with the majestic Andes mountains in the background.

After our time on the Inca Trail, we spent a day exploring the Sacred Valley, a lush, green land dotted with vibrant markets and remarkable archaeological sites like Ollantaytambo and Pisaq. It was a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion, a chance to connect with the modern-day Peruvian people and see the legacy of the Inca living on in their traditions.

Peru is a land of contrasts and ancient wonders. It's the land of the Inca, where an empire may be long gone, but its footprints on the trail of the Andes still beckon the world traveler. Our journey to Machu Picchu was a powerful reminder that "if you never leave home, never let go...you'll never make it to the great unknown." And we are so incredibly grateful that we let go.