So earlier this month, I did a hike that I was sure would kill me — the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Everything hurt, but the view of the citadel was completely worth it.
And once I did it, I asked my Instagram followers what questions they had about the hike, and most people asked if it's doable even if you're "not fit."
I don't know how to properly answer that as everyone has their own medical history, fitness levels, and adjustments to altitude. But I can give you an idea of how my experience was. My exercise regimen in New York was roughly one spin class a week and walking every day around the city. Nothing too crazy.
There are several types of hikes you can take to Machu Picchu, and you can choose the one based on what you think your body can handle. So while many people do the 4-days, 3-nights tour, I decided that the 2-days, 1-night was best for me.
The altitude adjustment could also impact your hike. While Machu Picchu is certainly a lower elevation than Cusco, you are likely passing through Cusco to get to Machu Picchu. And some of the harder hikes start at a high altitude and descend to the citadel later.
The tour I signed up for was really only ONE full day of hiking. It took me seven hours to reach the citadel (one hour more than usual). Here's a play-by-play of the shorter Inca trail hike and what happened.
5:15 a.m.: Llama Path (the tour company I used) picked me up from my Airbnb in a private van. It was FREEZING so check the weather and see if Cusco is cold depending on the time of year you're visiting.
6:33 a.m.: We arrived at a cute restaurant to have a buffet breakfast. We stocked up on water bottles and snacks for the trek.
7:45 a.m.: We took the train from Ollantaytambo to the beginning of the short Inca trail. The train itself is pretty fancy and we slept through most of the ride.
9:00 a.m.: We arrived at the beginning of the trail. We checked in, took a bathroom break, put on sunscreen and bug spray, and tried to prepare for the hike.
9:26 a.m.: We arrived at the first Inca site. This was a tease. We had barely walked 10 minutes. I felt fine but had no idea what I was about to get into.
10:05 a.m.: My scrunchie broke. I asked a random British chick named Sophie to lend me a hair-tie, and she did. Saved my life. I also already stopped for a break.
11:57 a.m.: I was dead and it had only been 2.5 hours. We reached a waterfall and my legs were already burning. We tried to only take short breaks so that our muscles would stay warm and active.
12:15 p.m.: We made it to Wiñay Wayna, which means "Forever Young" in Quechua. This picture was taken when I reached "the top," but it was actually just before we had to climb 362 stairs.
12:38 p.m.: I literally got so tired that I started climbing the stairs on all-fours. A man at the top took a picture of me. FML.
1:00 p.m.: We walked over to a campsite to eat lunch and relax for about 30 minutes. The first four hours are the most grueling and intense. So from here on out, the path was more flat and easier on the knees.
3:18 p.m.: The final 30 minutes before reaching Sun Gate were brutal. It was another set of steep stairs and ascension. But when we made it, the hard part of the entire journey was over!
4:28 p.m.: After an hour of walking down narrow, rocky stairs and just general rocky terrain, we arrived at Machu Picchu. And it was WORTH IT.
After you take your pictures and spend time at the citadel, you have a choice to hike down (about one hour) or take the bus. My body felt a bit broken, and after relaxing at Machu for a while, my muscles were stiff. We took the bus down to Aguas Calientes.
The next morning, we got up at 4:30 a.m. and met our guide at the bus station to go back up to Machu Picchu and walk through the site. This required little to no physical effort, but everything hurt. That seven-hour hike stayed with me.
Conclusion: I am not that fit, but I was able to do it. My advice is to hydrate a lot, take breaks and go slow, and pick a tour that is best for your body and fitness levels.
And if you don't think you can handle the Inca trail, but still want to exert yourself, you can always take the stairs from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu. It takes about two hours.
But no matter what your fitness levels are, or what age you are, it's possible to see Machu Picchu. And you should, because it was truly surreal.
Arielle Calderon is a writer temporarily based in Latin America participating in Remote Year. If you have any tips on cool places, events, or things to eat in Perú, Colombia, or Mexico, email her at arielle.calderon@buzzfeed.com or DM her on Instagram.
