After being picked up at the crack of dawn we stopped for breakfast in Ollantaytambo
Some ruins above Ollantaytambo
Some parrots
The start of the Inca Trail at KM 82
Map of the 26 mile trek
The first checkpoint at KM 82
The first couple of miles are flat and follow the river.
After a couple of miles we reach Sallapunku
Porters with another group pass us.
Ruins along the Urubamba river gorge
We take our first rest after a good climb.
The ruins of Llaqtapata - aka terrace town.
Llaqtapata
The village of Huayllabamba
Huayllabamba
We stop for lunch in Huayllabamba
coca leaves for energy
fold the leaves
And place between cheek and gums
A glimpse of Veronica (18,865 feet)
Mount Veronica
A local girl in the village before the second checkpoint
The second checkpoint
Here we see how the porters are outfitted with the other groups
GAP porters
Andean Life porters
Rice sacks for back packs
Llama path porters are provided rucksacks by the company
Looking up towards the pass at Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft)
Finally we make camp.
I was very happy to discover a local woman selling beer at camp.
View of the Huayanay massif from camp
The begining of the climb to Warmiwañusca
Butterflies hitching a ride
The final resting spot at Llulluchapampa before Dead Woman's Pass
Refreshments for sale
Dead Woman's Pass - Warmiwañusca
Tango lessons
The final push to dead womans pass
Trekkers at the pass
Llamas
Llamas and a deer
We made it
Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft)
Looking down into the Pacamayo valley
Dead woman's pass
Porters racing to the Pacamayo valley
After lunch we climbed to the second pass of the day - below is the Pacamayo valley
View from Runkuracay
Inca site of Runkuracay
The pass above Runkurakay
The ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town)
Sayacmarca
A water channel
Our second campsite in the Aobamba valley
Dawn at our second camp
A glimpse of snow covered mountains
Every morning we were awaken with a cup of coca tea
A flock of parrots
Parrots in the mist
Hiking through the cloud forest
The inca tunnel
Inca tunnel
The restroom
Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town)
Phuyupatamarca
It is all downhill from here
3000 feet of downhill
More downhill
Some fungus
We reached the final campsite about 1:00
The ruins at Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young)
Wiñay Wayna
Inca begonia
Napkin art
Our Porters
brilliant sunrise
waiting for the gates to open
The final checkpoint 5:30am
An hour's hike leads to Intipunku (Sun Gate)
The final uphill leading to Sun Gate
It was foggy when we reached Intipunku (Sun Gate)
But within minutes....
the fog.....
began to lift....
and the sun shone down
on Machu Picchu
for the next fifteen minutes
the fog would return
and lift again
Intipunku (Sun Gate)
Machu Picchu with Wayna Picchu in the background
Our guide serenading Machu Picchu
A sacrificial stone
Wiñay Wayna Orchid (Forever Young)
The ruins atop Wayna Picchu
Wayna Picchu
The main square and houses of factories
Looking towards the Industrial zone and prisioner's area
Prisioner's area below the main square
In the area of the Royal Palace
Royal Palace walls
torch holder
view towards the main square
a map of machu picchu carved in stone
Llama in the Houses of Factories
agricultural terraces
Intihuatana - the sun dial
Inca quary and agricultural terraces
From above this area is said to look like the head of a condor
The trail to Wayana Picchu
View from Wayana Picchu
Ruins atop Wayana Picchu
Very steep stairs
An Inca tunnel near the top of Wayana Picchu
Inca stairs
Atop Wayana Picchu
Llama in the main square
Main square and agricultural terraces
bom-chica-a-bom-bom
Darian discoverd some llamas having sex
once they were done they moved to another room
she followed them for while
and noticed something strange
..... a llama is born
Mike come here!!!
the first steps
learning to walk
lunch in Auguas Calientes
bouldering on the rail road tracks
