So, we thought, we’re probably only going to Machu Picchu once in our lifetimes, may as well do it right. So instead of a couple-hour train ride, we opted for the four-day backpack trip.
We knew it would be tough and we were right. It’s up and down the whole way, and steep for much of that including three mountain passes. Being the path the Incans took to Machu Picchu, most of it is paved in stones. On the plus side, it preserves the path from the erosion of hundreds of people a day. On the down side it makes for some knee-grinding descents, which we are still feeling days later.
But it’s good to something really difficult sometimes, huh? And in many ways, the journey was as memorable or more-so than Machu Picchu itself. The nature was beautiful and so varied. We started in dry high sierra surrounded by cactus. We moved through lush forest to the edge of the jungle. And mountains, we saw so many mountains and beautiful valleys, not to mention Incan Ruins inaccessible by any other means.
On the fourth day, we woke up at 3:45 and started in the dark in order to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. After a couple hour walk we came to 50 enormous stone steps leading to The Sun Gate. When we reached the top, out of breath, we caught our first glimpse of the prize. I have to admit it seemed kind of small, just this little town perched high on a ridge, surrounded by enormous mountains. But sitting there, surrounded by dozens of hikers we had seen on the trail, the sun crept over the ruins and it was beautiful.
And once we’d walked around it a little, it was clear the city is anything but small. There are areas for farming, housing, industry, three major temples and maybe even hotels.
We spent about sunrise to sunset exploring and resting there, enough time that when we got down to town, our guide, with a look of bewilderment, said, “So, I gotta know. What were you doing all day?”
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- A chinchilla hanging out in the ruins. Judging by the scat, he´s not the only one around.
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- The view on the third morning.
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- Either an Incan watchtower or a hostel of sorts for Incan couriers.
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- Incan tunnel.
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- Phuyupatamarca or City Above the Clouds.
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- Crossing an Incan stone bridge at Phuyupatamarca.
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- Descending some of 2000 stone steps on the final full day.
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- Porter Walter.
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- Sun rises over Machu Picchu.
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- At the sun gate, our first view of Machu Picchu.
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- Finally arrived.
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- The farmers´housing.
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- The temple of the sun. You can tell by the quality of stonework that it´s a religious site. On one solstice, the sun aligns with one window, at the other solstice, the sun aligns with the other window as well as the sun gate, several kilometers away on top of a ridge. Near the guardhouse in the background of this picture is where the classic postcard picture is taken.
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- Stones constructed between the existing rock foundation of the temple of the sun.
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- Look how tightly that granite fits.
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- Llama.
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- Curious llama.
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- Us at the doorway to the temple of the sun.
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- The central parade grounds.
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- Possibly a scale model of the site.
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- Looking the other direction with the nearest bump being Machu Picchu and the further bump being the mountain in the background.
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- Roof trusses – LF
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- A torch holder – LF
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- Part of the largest temple on site – the number three is important in the Incan religion.
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- The main gate to the city.
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- The classic postcard picture as the afternoon sun starts to set.
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- One last llama on site.
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- A condor figure at the temple of the condor. Next stop for us, Colca Canyon, land of the condors.
