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Machu Picchu Adventure: Wayki Experience
Near Cusco, Peru
As part of the Inca Trail Hike that we had reserved with Wayki Trek, we had the option of signing up for a unique experience the day before we started on the infamous Inca Trail. The experience involved taking a van with our fellow hikers to the surrounding farmland – about an hour outside of Cusco – where we visited the porters’ village. Porters are an integral part of making the Inca Trail hike run smoothly – they carry everything required for the nights to camp on the Trail, as well as all food supplies and other miscellaneous items. Mac, E, & I hired a porter, split between the three of us, to carry 15kg of our belongings that we wouldn’t need while hiking (sleeping bags, extra clothing etc.). [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Of note, the other two couples with us on the hike also hired porters]. The views on the ride were breathtaking! Totally postcard worthy!
The visit to the porters’ village – dubbed the “Wayki Experience” – was so incredibly amazing and I’m so happy we did it. The Experience started off in a field outside the village, where we saw all sorts of crops – quinoa (it was really cool to see how this grain actually grows!), potatoes (did you know Peru grows over 4,000 different types of potatoes?), beans of all sorts, and various other vegetables. We all grouped together in the field where we ate potatoes & lima beans that we cooked in the earth, under a pile of dirt & coals – a common tradition for the workers in the fields.
Quinoa!
After a healthy share of beans and potatoes, the group headed further into the field to harvest lima beans. Once we had enough stalks, we continued into the village where we visited a house full of guinea pigs! It would have been insanely cute, except for the fact that the guinea pig (commonly known as Cuy), is a delicacy in Peruvian cuisine. After that little detour, we all headed back to the porters’ village where everyone shucked the beans from their pods. We spent the night at a porter’s house (we all slept in tents in the backyard).
After a long round of shucking, it was time for dinner & live music! A potato stew was served (along with several types of medicinal teas – coca & muña), while a local harp player came & accompanied our dinner. Mario actually makes instruments from scratch and it was amazing to see (and hear!) him play. Once dinner was over, a group of local children came to join the festivities. There was singing and dancing and it was such a wonderful evening! We had been told before we left for the Experience, that gifts to the porter families as well as the local children are extremely appreciated. Before arriving at the village, we stopped at a local market and bought the family items that aren’t or can’t be grown on the farm: oil, sugar, lentils & kidney beans & rice. Neil & Nola – our fellow hikers from Australia – brought all the kids Aussie hats!
Once the fun had died down, we all huddled into our respective tents to get a good night’s sleep for the upcoming day: our first day hiking the Inca Trail!!
PS. Want to read more about our Machu Picchu Adventure? Check out these posts!:
The Porters & The Food[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
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