It's an alarm clock with a difference. Compared to the high pitched electronic squeaks that drag me from my dreams at home, the gentle tap on the tarpaulin and the cheery "Buenos dias!" made a pleasant change. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee further compensated for the early wake-up. It is 5 o'clock in the mountains of Peru and it's time to get started. Welcome to another day on the Inca Trail.

For those who have completed this world-famous trek this will probably sound very familiar. When I signed up for the trek in order to see the famous Machu Picchu ruins, I was unaware of the level of luxury and pampering in which we would indulge. Four days of hard trekking I thought, followed by late evening fumbles in the dark to erect a tent while battling the elements. Dinner might be a tin of soup cooked over a humble stove, with maybe a biscuit to go with a cup of tea to finish. I couldn't have been further from the truth. Here's a snapshot of a typical day on the Inca Trail. 

Morning

Woken with a cup of tea or coffee and a bowl of hot water for the morning wash. By the time we were up and about, breakfast was served. Eggs (or another hot dish) accompany more hot drinks and breads with spreads. A big breakfast set us up perfectly for a big day. 

Once breakfast is finished, it was time to pack into our day sack those items that we would be needing for that day's hike (water, snacks and layers). The rest, we left behind. No packing of the tent or washing up here. It's taken care of by the team. 

Hiking

An hour or so after starting the hike, we noticed the porter team come jogging past. They were carrying our luggage, the kitchen supplies and the tents. And they were smiling as they waved to us before shooting ahead along the path. 

A little while later we saw them again. They had set up a makeshift lunch spot, where another excellent spread was laid out in front of us. No need to do anything except eat it, relax and regain our energy for the afternoon push to the next camp. 

Again the same men passed us a little way after lunch, this time with a little more spring in their step. 

At camp

It's always good to reach camp, and it's especially welcoming to find the tents already erected, our luggage safely installed in your allocated tent, and a hot drink waiting for us on arrival. Part of me felt guilty for being so pampered here in the high mountains of Peru; another (bigger) part of me lapped it up and thought "this is the life!".

And a final word about the evening dinner - how those guys can cook up such imaginative and hearty meals with such basic facilities never ceased to amaze our group of trekkers. I have completed several treks in different parts of the world and this was the only one on which I suspect I gained weight! 

More information about trekking along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu can be found here.