The last few steps of hiking the Inca Trail are nicknamed the monkey steps for good reason – trekkers literally crawl on all fours to reach their first glimpse of Machu Picchu. After four days of sweating profusely, using makeshift toilets, desperately needing a shower, sucking in air at 14,000 feet, cursing the Incas for making such ridiculously huge staircases, and asking yourself if this hike was really a good idea, suddenly everything becomes worth it.

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