The Quchichaqa, Machu Picchu

The idea time to stop over at the top is about 30 minutes. Say a little prayers, may the PEACE to the world, the blessing og GOD to you and me.

Surely GOD our heavenly father will answers your prayers. Amen.

Most people never heard about the ”Quchichaqa”, I also had never heard of it until I heard our guide Erich telling about it.

The ”Quchichaqa” is a running contest high in the Andes. The porters that normally carry our food and tents are running that day the Inca trail towards Machu Picchu. The most contestants are porters and the occasionally tourist also sometimes joins in.

Where we do this trip in 4 days, they run this track of 32 km over the mountains in a record time of 3h 44 minutes, no I’m not joking that is the fastest time this far. Where we walk in our heavy hiking boots they run it on simple slippers or running shoes like their ancestors long before them.

They also use the coca leaves for that extra energy like their ancestors did. Erich showed us how they do it, but you need one extra thing a catalyst to get it to work. They use some kind of rock for that. After a while you get a very numb feeling in your jaw and it let’s you forget that you are tired.

So any volunteers for the ”Quchichaqa”?

Equipment: Running shoes some coca leaves and a good condition.