Machu Picchu

There are lots of ways to get to the famous Machu Picchu. One of the more well-known and unique ways is to hike what is called the Inca Trail. I’ve read that the Inca Trail was not actually used by the Incas, but our mandatory guide, Juan Carlos, told us that the Incas did use it.

Nowadays, only 500 people are allowed onto the trail each day. We chose the 2-day package, instead of the more common 4-day or even 5-, 7-, or 12-day options. This meant that we hiked to Machu Picchu on our first day, and then visited Machu Picchu on the second.

We started our Monday very early. Juan Carlos and a driver picked us up from our hostel at 4:20 am, and we drove a couple of hours to the train station of Ollantaytambo. There, we rode the train for another hour or so until the starting point for two-day trekkers: km 104.

We had been wearing coats on top of sweaters and jeans on top of long johns, but now we were at a lower elevation than Cusco, and in the sun. As nice as it was to take off layers, it just meant that we were stuck carrying the extra clothes for the rest of our Machu Picchu journey.

Along the way we passed through several less well-known ruins from Inca times. The first one was likely a check-point for Quechua people who were on the Inca trail. You see, not everyone was welcome at Machu Picchu. The theory is that only the upper-class or the priests were invited there, and so lookouts were needed to ensure that those on the journey were deserving of the journey and were truly preparing themselves spiritually for their Machu experience.

Altar for occasional sacrifices at the first checkpoint.

On we went! Man, we got sweaty, which really was a nice change from the cold we’d experienced in Puno and Cusco.

Hiking

One of the many types of orchids in Peru.

Another orchid

Looking back on where we'd been

Around noon, we crossed the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, which means “forever young.” It was another checkpoint, and was named after one type of orchid (So many types of orchids in Perú!) covering the site while it was still hidden. It had a temple to the rainbow, which seven trapezoidal windows to represent the colors.

Steep steps in Wiñay Wayna

Wiñay Wayna

Taking a break in Wiñay Wayna for a history lesson from Juan Carlos

Terraces of Wiñay Wayna

An hour or so later, we arrived at the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu, and caught our first glimpse of the place! The Sun Gate was created so that during the December equinox the light would shine right through the arch and onto the buildings. Of course, we didn’t get to witness this phenomenon, but this is still the perfect postcard view of the ruins.

Hellooooo, Machu Picchu.

So happy that the uphill trek is over.

About now it started raining, so we hustled our way down to the bottom of the site, where we hopped on a bus for Aguas Calientes, the tourist town below Machu Picchu.

At 5:30 the next morning, we got in line to take the bus back UP to the ruins. We waited for an hour before boarding a ½-hour bus, but did make it just in time to see the sun rise! Juan Carlos gave us an introductory tour to the place. We learned that the Quechua people had an on-site quarry, and polished their rocks with sand and water. It took one person about a week to do each stone. Yikes!

And... cue sun!

The rock quarry. See how smoothly those rocks are cracked apart? The Quechua people broke them where there were already natural cracks. If there weren’t natural cracks, they would heat the rocks and pour water on them.

Temple

Our first viscacha sighting. Think rabbit with a squirrel face and tail.

Llamas grazing at Machu Picchu!

 It started getting pretty touristy around 10. We wanted to use the restroom before the next phase of our visit, and so had to walk all the way out of the site and reenter. We lost about an hour on this mission. At this point we said goodbye to Juan Carlos, too.

Machu Picchu means “old mountain” in Quechua. It actually refers to the large mountain that the famous ruins are near. Also nearby is Waynu Picchu, which means “young mountain.” It’s not an easier hike, though. We were told that it only took 45 min. to climb, so we reserved tickets, not thinking much of it. It was a more challenging hike than the trek to Machu Picchu the day before. There are stairs on the path, but they’re steep and narrow. Mom had twisted her ankle the day before, and so this was a great place for her to do it a couple more times. 

See that mountain? The one with the glare on it? That's Wyana Picchu

My dad is only, like, 5 stairs behind Alan at this point, but he looks so small! 

OK, this is not a good example of the Wyana Picchu steps. See, I missed the tunnel through the boulder, and found myself on top. So these steps certainly were used by Incas at one point, but they're not intended for tourists nowadays.

Alright, it was a good view.

Going down was just as terrifying.

From a hiker's perspective

Once the four of us met up back in Machu Picchu grounds, Dad and Alan went on ahead to check out the Inca drawbridge. Mom and I hung out with alpacas and headed back to the entrance of the site.

Lucy the llama

The Inca Drawbridge

We took a bus, a train, and a chauffeured car back to Cusco that evening.