I didn’t sleep very well last night, we had a huge thunderstorm around 1030pm. The thunder sounded like it was bouncing off all the mountains and the lightening looked amazing, lots of flashes. It also rained quite heavy but only for around an hour or so.

At 430am we got up, ate a banana and drank some coca tea before setting off on the final uphill hike to the top of the mountain. As we walked uphill with our headlights the sun began to rise and you could see it reflecting off the top of the snow on the Salkantay mountain range.

This is the mountain we climbed, it took us around 2 hours to get to the top.

The climb up was steep and hot but as soon as we got to the top I felt cold as it was only 7am and it was still quite cloudy. It felt really good to have made it. We climbed around 8km.

It was then just a short 20 minute flat walk to the campsite at Capuliyoc where we originally picked up the mules. I took some final photos of the mountains.

We ate our final breakfast and then it was time to say goodbye to Hugo, the horseman.

(Eder the cook, Hugo the horseman and Edwin the guide).

Edwin, Eder and I then got on the minibus with all our bits to head back to Cusco. A couple of Argentinian guys who had been trekking too joined us on the bus.

It was a five hour journey back to Cusco where I said goodbye to Eder and Edwin.

It has been an amazing trek, I think in terms of steepness and trekking conditions, it’s probably the hardest trek I have ever done. But the amazing scenery and the ancient Inca ruins make it all worth it.

When I got back to Cusco I had a shower and a little rest. I then headed out to the Centro Artesanal in Cusco. It’s a huge marketplace selling lots of handicraft and jumpers etc.

I then ate a very early dinner and was in bed by 830pm as I was so tired.