Over the course of eight days, seven northeastern Pennsylvanians traveled by plane, train, van and tuk-tuk across South America to reach one of the wonders of the world.

Peru is home to the beautiful Inca trail, a four-day hike ending at the base of the 15th-century-constructed Machu Picchu. The ruin is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains above the Urubamba River Valley. Thousands of people make the pilgrimage to the ancient Indian structure to marvel at the ingenuity and long-lasting stone structure created by long-lost tribes.Edgar Cordoba has been a tour guide for 10 years on the trail, a 26-mile, four-day trek with the highest point reaching 13,800 above sea level. According to Cordoba, "The journey is never the same hike twice.""Every time it's something special," he said. "It's not just walking over a trail, it's also the connection you make with the people along the way."High altitudeOur adventure took us to the city of Cuzco, a Peruvian settlement nestled into the mountains at an elevation of 11,152 feet.The dangers of altitude sickness are very real at this height. Sipping water and moving slowly helped stave off the effects along with the local remedy of coca leave tea. The city square was lined with cafes and women selling handmade wares to tourist visitors. The streets are no wider than Jim Thorpe's Race Street but endure heavier traffic; cars, alpacas, motor bikes, pedestrians and dogs, all shared the roadways.For the large population, traffic police armed with whistles control the direction of the drivers. Smoked trout and every species of potato imaginable are served in each eatery, with Peruvian specialty drinks Pisca Sour and Purple Corn Refreshment.The mountains surround every village with peaks rising into the sky vanishing into the clouds before the tops are visible. At the top of a long, steep hill is legendary Saqsaywaman,pronounced "sexy woman" by visitors.Llamas graze freely along the terraces of the ruins. According to one local guide the tourist attraction originated as a temple or a military base.Old marketsVan-driver Nelly collected our group to continue on the path to Ollantaytambo,home of the Temple of the Sun.Nelly stopped frequently for beautiful photo and cultural opportunities. The first was a traditional Peruvian market in the village of Chinceros where women throughout surrounding communities come to harvest alpaca wool where they wash it with natural soap, dye and weave the fibers into scarves, sweaters and tablecloths. Spokeswoman Lydia demonstrated the processes and finished by imploring us to purchase a ware before continuing on.The next stop was an expansive family-owned salt mine. The natural salt water flows into human-constructed flats where water evaporates leaving behind the spice to be sold for food and baths.The main attraction, The Temple of the Sun, predates the written word. Wildflowers and vivid green grass cover the ground. Steep stone stairs with treacherous footing is the only way to the top of the mountain. A good pair of hiking boots is invaluable for any trip Peru. Ollantaytambo is the location of the only train station and exclusive ride to Agues Calientes, the home of Machu Picchu. The small town had only recently acquired electricity 10 years ago but was already making use of Wi-Fi.Machu PicchuAnother market awaited us in Agues with rows of handcrafted knickknacks, bracelets and gems. For the hike to the majestic peak it is important to load up on water and sunscreen. We ascended a narrow dirt pathway to the base of Machu Picchu. The ruin was swarming with tourists from all over the globe. A wooden-sign marked circuit wove through the stone marvel from bottom to top and back again."People who live here," said Corodoba, "are a big percentage of people who descend from the Incas and still work the trail. That's the spirit of the place."According to Cordoba, local residents say the rumor is that Machu Picchu was once a tomb for an important Inca king, others believe it was a sky-high village."The area is still being discovered. Two years ago sections of the trail were closed off for archaeologists to investigate. In the last three years they have discovered new species of orchids. There's already over 300.""People say they don't know where Peru is but know Picchu," said Cordoba. "It's incredible because the Incas built it and now it provides thousands of jobs."The mountain village with its lush grass and panoramic views is listed as a UNBASCO World Heritage Site and one of Seven Wonders of the World."Peru isn't just Machu Picchu, there are other beautiful Inca sites," Cordoba said.Cordoba is right. Retracing the steps back to Ollantaytambo by van-driving Nelly, one more stop was made at a little-known Peruvian oasis.Pisac is a town in the Sacred Valley with a ruin embedded into a steep mountain summit. The terrace landscapes are still farmed by everyday workers. Women wove bracelets and necklaces next to the entrance of the tranquil site. Since it is off the beaten tourist path, the atmosphere is relaxed. A few hours spent lying on the field under the blue sky passed quickly before being ushered back to Cuzco. The eight days was ending with a round of Pisca Sours and smoked trout. Cordoba left us with sage advice, "Everything is possible. You just have to put your mind to it."