Machu Picchu and Cusco

Today we woke up around 3:45am to start the very early morning hike to Machu Picchu. Some people in our group wanted to get tickets to climb the mountain next to Machu Picchu (not us!) so they wanted to be first in line at the checkpoint. The checkpoint opened at 5:30am and we then started our 4km hike in the dark. It was very peaceful. Along the trail we saw a bat after our petzel lights reflected its' orange eye. Very cool. We hiked up to the sun gate (Intipunku). We wanted to hike quickly to be able to get there for the sunrise. It was quite a workout. We arrived in time but it was cloudy. However it was great to see our goal of Machu Picchu below us.

On our last hike down to Machu Picchu:

Beautiful Machu Picchu...we made it!

Alan and Colleen overlooking Machu Picchu

Once we arrived at Machu Picchu, our tour guide Victor gave us a tour of the area. It was amazing to see how big and well preserved Machu Picchu is after seeing other Inca sites. Machu Picchu was discovered by an American archelogist in 1911, after a local boy showed him to the site. Before Machu Picchu was rediscovered, it was considered an Incan myth.

Here is the temple where the windows create a perfect stream of light on the winter and summer solstice. We were there 2 days after the winter solstice.

Expansive ruins:

We had a great tour of Machu Picchu. Here we are leaving the site. It was an amazing end to our hike.

We took the bus down to the town Aquas Calientes. This was where we caught the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, we took a bus to Cusco.

Train to Ollantaytambo:

We arrived in Cusco around 7pm. We enjoyed dinner with Kate, Simon, and Marina. I tried Alpaca and it was actually good.

Simon and Alan enjoying a big Peruvian beer:

The festival was in full swing that night with people partying in the street. Alan and I found a massage place where we got hour long massages for $10 each. Wow! It was a great treat for our sore muscles.