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Inca Trail day 2


After being introduced to the morning ritual of coca tea, we ate a great breakfast and started walking about 6.45.  The walk began by climbing gradually up the valley beside a small stream for quite a few kilometers.  The valley floor was a mix of forest and fields, with the steep valley sides allowing us to spot some deer.  On the way we passed a few small settlements not quite large enough to be considered as villages. 


After morning tea by the campsite used on night 1 by those doing the trek in four days, we turned right and started climbing more steeply through lush and wet cloud forest. This part of the trail started to get quite strenuous as we gained altitude and the rest breaks became more frequent. 





We eventually reached our campsite at Lluluchapampa just below 3,800 meters in the early afternoon just above the forest in an area of heath/moorland with spectacular views up and down the valley.  We even managed to buy a beer and some chocolate from the local llama herders who obviously supplement their income by selling goods to hungry and thirsty trekkers.



We had a free afternoon following our late lunch which allowed us to have a siesta to help acclimatise to the altitude. The weather was overcast with some light showers and plenty of cloud as we left the camp for a short walk to play spot the llama.  It wasn’t very difficult as the herders drove the llama right past us down from the highest pastures late in the day to the relative safety of their camp just below where we were camped.

At dusk the clouds parted for just a few minutes to allow us to see the Wayanay glacier far in the distance.  We enjoyed a big meal for dinner before retiring early to prepare for the most demanding day of the trek when we would cross Dead Woman’s Pass.










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