Machu Picchu

The icing on the cake for a visit to Peru is Machu Picchu. Not the most easy of places to reach on a budget, and with only a limited rail service operating (the train lines, and much of the flat land to build them, having been washed away during the January floods). No Inca trail this time, it's fully booked with tours months in advance and incredibly expensive, and it's not possible to do it without a guide, just the super expensive tourist train (only locals from Aguas Callientes are allowed on the 10 soles local train). That along with the 126 soles entrance fee, makes it one expensive trip to see some ruins!

We'd planned on a night in expensive Aguas Callientes, the scruffy purpose built tourist town that serves the ruins, and to visit the ruins on our first day, spending all day till sunset. Alas, that was not to be as I was struck down by a mystery day-long illness (and nursed back to health by my lovely wife!), and the Autovagon train broke down, so we arrived late.

So up at 5am to catch the first bus (well, one of the first 20 buses – Machu Picchu is, after all, Peru's flagship site), and to see the sunrise. Arrived, passed through revenue control, then hiked to the “hut of the caretaker of the funary rock”, to a view of thick cloud covering the whole site below us.

But it wasn't long before the sun began to rise over the surrounding mountain range (which at 5.500 metres is almost twice as high as Machu Picchu), the clouds began to thin, and fall away magically down the mountain side, as Machu Picchu revealed itself to us on the ridge between two mountains.

Spent no less that 10 hours exploring the site, enjoying the different lights at different times during the day, and taking thousands of photos. Walked some of the other “Inca trails” that lead to the site, including to the Inca drawbridge, looking at old trails that disappear up vertical looking cliff faces... I wonder how many more “lost” cities like Machu Picchu are hidden out there.

Worth the expense! Here's just a few of the many thousands of pictures!