Salkantay Trek Day 4, Last Day on the Trail

We opted for Plan C!

Rather than riding a bus to a train to Aguas Calientes, or hiking up 2 hours and DOWN 4 hours, we suggested to Julio that perhaps a hybrid approach that focused on the downside which was along the Salkantay River and might include some fishing would suit our knees and desires best. 

He pondered about 30 seconds, his smile may have actually reached his ears, and he decided Fishing was the plan!

So, we took a short bus ride to the river, and while he and I fished, Daphne and Sophia explored the river valley. 

Julio was really nervous about using my tenkara fly gear…a) because he was worried it was expensive and b) because he thought it may be too flimsy for the big fish he planned to catch…

So while I pursued local entomology, he hacked down a bamboo and dug for worms before we tackled the beautiful glacial waters of the Salkantay River once again…

Julio’s smile at having trekkers willing to spend their vacation fishing with him was better’n any fish I could have ever caught!

And then there was nothing left but the little 7 mile hike along the rail line into Aguas Calientes along the Urabamba River. It’s funny, but by this point if Julio said “seven miles” we just shrugged, had a sip of water, and started hiking…

First glimpses of Machu Picchu Mountain from a jungle clearing

The fish were lying in the gravel on the bottom right, looking upstream (like they’re supposed too), but needed conventional fly tackle to reach them!

First glimpse of a structure up in Machu Picchu City

Bird of Paradise, in paradise 

Julio was hooked on fishing! And one of the local dogs was willing to help find fish if he could!