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Day 1 - Porters deciding how to split the loads before we start	The bridge over the Orubamba River - there is a government checkpoint before the bridge to ensure your name is on that day's list.
Tecoma Sambucifolia - one of the many flowers we found on the trail. All of them also appear on our flowers page.	Prickly pear showing the white products of the cochineal parasite - when squeezed, these turn a vivid red
Inca ruins	First village rest house - on this first day,there were a number of these where one can buy food and water, but none after that.
Turning away from the main river valley.	The lunch tent pitched all ready for us by our efficient porters
Evening at Huaylabamba - pitching the toilet tent	View of another group of overnight tents
Day 2 - A very early start for the big ascent
The surface of the Inca trail is generally extremely good, much of it with paving from Inca times. The steeper section sections are stepped as here	Porters resting. They wear very light footwear and carry heavy loads including gas canisters.
Looking forward to the Dead Widow's Pass	....and looking back on those behind us
Nearly there	The summit itself
and a delicious lunch waiting just over the summit	Steeper and stonier going down
First sighting of the Pacamayo campsite where we are spending the night	View from our tent (stone toilet block on the right - good clean facilities but only cold water. Near the toilet block gets more noise, but is a great help when it is wet or dark. Best to take lots of earplugs!
Day 3 - an early start in a light drizzle	It's good to have a light cagoule to cover oneself and one's pack
Inca watchtower	and seen from above
A mysterious lake	. . . and an Inca tunner
It is still raining but no-one is disheartened	The rain continues
Inca command post	The view is magnificent in good weather!
Humming bird's nest (top left)	The trail continues
Teddy, our excellent guide who was very helpful on the birds and flowers	More Inca tunnels
Lunch tent near the second summit	The second pass at last
Inca fortress	and cloudscape
Weather improving	Lots more flowers
and marvellous views of the mountains	You can buy these lightweight bamboo poles at the start of the trail and they are nearly as good as the aluminium extensible sticks we brought with us
A small entrance	leading to another impressive Inca tunnel
Distant snows	and porters fascinated at looking at the snow through binoculars till the light faded
Day 4 - our last breakfast, with porridge as usual	The river carves a very tortuous path through the mountains, and the railway follows it.
We are luckier with the weather today	for our first view of Macchupicchu
Recess for hinge in Inca masonry	The temple of the 3 windows
Macchupicchu is surrounded	by extensive Inca terracing
Lunch in Aguas Calientes	before catching the afternnon train back to Cusco
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