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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2023 13 retreat for the Inca leaders until it was abandoned from what most say was due to the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. Although the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, it remained basically deserted until the early 1900s, when an American explorer by the name of Hiram Bingham discovered the completely overgrown Lost City of the Incas. We saw the caves, the carvings in the Citadel, and the strange altars that were used. This lost civilization had engineering marvels of building their agricultural terraces for growing crops. After the educational tour, half of us trekked up Huayna Picchu (the iconic mountain that sits behind the archaeological site) and I was exhilarated by the culmination of physical exertions and the experience of the spectacular beauty below me. There are no words to describe the sights of Machu Picchu. You will need to actually go there and see it for yourself. This final day of hiking ended when we all boarded the bus that brought us down the mountain to the town of Aguas Calientes to have a farewell lunch with our guide and porters. We laughed and reflected on one of the most exciting and educational hikes we've ever been on. It was truly one of those once-in-a-lifetime vacations, along with the accomplishment of hiking the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We used Alpaca Tours, but there are many available touring companies that can make this your next destination. If you ever get the chance and want to experience one hell of a hike, go for it! Mammoth stones fitting perfectly together The final day, Huayna Picchu behind the Lost City of the Incas Geared and ready for the four-day hike on the Inca Trail Our group was astounded of the delicious meals including fancy desserts Inca Trail Dead Woman's Pass