Five days and four nights on the Salkantay Trail near Cusco, Peru. What an unforgettable challenge! Words can’t fully capture the beauty of trekking through these mountains.

I’m no stranger to intense hikes—Often hiking back home in Canadas mountains & a couple years ago hiked the Grand Canyon over five days, so I felt prepared for this. Other than sore feet and a single blister, I was pleasantly surprised by how well my body handled the altitude and intense climbs and descents.

Arriving in Cusco, I felt a bit of head pressure and some odd side effects, like constant burping! Nights left me waking up incredibly thirsty, needing to rehydrate. I gave myself two days to acclimate, staying mindful of my pace, especially as I was hiking with a friend. This slower pace turned out to be a blessing; it reminded me to savour the journey rather than rushing to the top, a lesson that applies to life as well. So often, I find myself filling my plate, striving to get somewhere, only to realize the journey itself holds the true gift.

The altitude created a powerful connection between the physical and the spiritual, as if the mountain itself was guiding me to reconnect with my breath. As I climbed higher up the paths, I found myself breathing in a way I rarely do in my daily life. It wasn’t just the altitude that forced me to take deeper breaths—it felt as if the mountain itself was guiding me, encouraging me to slow down, to breathe deeply, to fully embody the moment. Each breath reminded me of its profound healing power, as if nature itself was whispering, “Breath is life.”

I focused on even, steady breaths—inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth—to avoid straining my nervous system. Hiking with a friend taught me the value of pacing together and the beauty of shared experiences.

I felt incredibly fortunate to have a private guide, chef, and horseman. We were so well taken care of that it didn’t feel like roughing it, even with three nights of tent camping.

On the first day, we began at Humantay, greeted by the epic view of the mountain and turquoise lake—a surreal start. We then climbed to Abra Salkantay, the highest point of the trek at 4,629m (15,200 ft). It was chilly up there, but breathtaking. Later, the river views on day three were a dream and my absolute favourite out of the entire five days: hiking alongside cliffs and mountain streams, hearing the rushing water, and walking mostly flat terrain. The sound and serenity were so refreshing.

We passed a waterfall with others dipping in the cool water, and without a second thought, I stripped down to my undies and took a dip. I didn’t care who saw; the rush was incredible, leaving me feeling so alive.

The fourth day was the longest—ten hours, with a steep two- to three-hour incline. I ended up hiking solo with my guide since my friend injured her leg and wisely saved her energy for Machu Picchu. I noticed myself slipping into old habits, passing three groups along the way. My guide was keeping pace but looked pretty wiped by our rest stop—sweating more than I’d ever seen! After eight hours, my feet were done, and I treated myself to a well-deserved massage before our 4:30 a.m. wake-up for Machu Picchu.

Early fog at Machu Picchu hid the views, which was disappointing, but as we made our way down, the clouds lifted, revealing the breathtaking sights I’d hoped for. I also hiked to a peak for a 360-degree panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains—absolutely epic.

Reflecting on it all, I feel so grateful and thrilled to have experienced this journey.