Machu Picchu - Peru

Just back from the strains of Lares Valley we meet up with the rest of the group to tackle Machu Picchu. No rest for the wicked its up at 0430 to queue for the bus to take us up to this incredible site. We aim to be there for sunrise, however it's a cloudy day so no point in trying to route march up to the sun gate. We have a leisurely stroll around this incredible site listening to our guide and taking photos.
Machu Picchu was totally buried in jungle until Hiram Bingham stumbled across it in July 1911. It is to date the only major Inca site to escape 400 years of looting and destruction. Sat in an inaccessible location above the Urubamba Gorge, containing many fine buildings, people have puzzled over its meaning ever since.
Looming in the distance, towering over Machu Picchu is the mountain Waynapicchu, a sort of lookout tower. As we've booked early we have managed to get one of the 200 daily tickets to climb to the top. How lucky is that I ask still aching from our trek. We have an allotted time and set off up this incredible track cut into the mountainside, talk about steep and no barriers, it is a real adrenaline buzz, but hard going. Occasionally you look out through the jungle clad mountainside and the views are incredible. Machu Picchu looks tiny in comparison clinging to the mountain top. Onwards and upwards it seems never ending, getting steeper and steeper. Finally coming out onto a plateau, you think it's the top, but not yet. Through a small tunnel to the other side of the mountain and more steps to the very peak, a collection of massive rocks and another tunnel and we've made it. Totally amazing, fantastic 360 degree views, and a bottle tester of a photograph, which I manage to complete. :) The surrounding mountains are covered with jungle as was Machu Picchu, what else lies hidden within this vast area.
After a relax and look around its time to descend, but initially by a different route, incredibly steep rough cut steps with no handrails, as it was I suppose, but none the less pretty intimidating. Once at the bottom it was another sense of real achievement, another fantastic day.
Now I really am shattered and in need of a couple of days rest.

Adios

Tired Tony x


1. Machu Picchu with Waynapicchu looming in the background
2-7. The sights of MP
8. Yours truly
9. Couple of local residents
10. Geoff
11. Another resident keeping the grass in check
12-19. En route up Waynapicchu, steep gradient, stone cut steps, peering out, tunnels etc
20-21. Yours truly sitting on an outcrop at the very top of Waynapicchu, and even worse standing on the outcrop !!!!
22. The views
23. Geoff and some of the guys who made it
24. Proof Geoff, Vanessa and I made it
25-27. The route down, what an amazing view