Machu Picchu
On day four we woke up at 4:45 in the morning to have time to grab a quick bite to eat and get to the bus. It is important to get up to Machu Picchu early to get a pass for Wayna Picchu. Wayna Picchu rises up above Machu Picchu and is often seen in the background of "classic" pictures. Every day only 400 people are allowed up to Wayna Picchu. So you get on the bus in Agua Caliente at 5 AM to get into Machu Picchu by 6 AM then trek all the way across the city to line up for your ticket to Wayna Picchu. After this it was about 7:15 and Luis started our tour around Machu Picchu.
It was invaluable to have a knowledgeable guide as you wander around the ancient Incan city. This place was huge with temples, guard houses, alters and agricultural and residential zones. Luis showed us features of the Incan houses, gave us information about agricultural techniques and showed us the many temples and the purposes. The Incans used Machu Picchu for an observation post due to its fantastic view of the stars. They had established an elaborate calendar based on the sun, moon and stars and had built their temples around the rules of the heavens.
As we wandered around Machu Picchu the clouds began to descend until, after we had climbed up the guard house - the classic view of the city, we were totally immersed in the fog. Outside the guard house there was a sacrificial alter used to offer llamas up to the Condor. Beside the alter were various stones ranging in size from baseballs to bowling balls. These piles of stones turned out to be the work of pilgrims who would carry the stones from their villages to Machu Picchu. Even if they were only carrying then up from Aguas Caliente this was a serious feat!
As we headed back down through the residential zone the clouds began to break allowing us to get some great views from above the city. We passed though several more temples before it was time to move on to Wayna Picchu. This was where we had to part ways with Luis as well. He had to head back to Cusco before us and so we rested and filled out our trip surveys. We thanked and congratulated Luis on his superb guiding skills and promised to see him back in Cusco. Then we took off for the long steep climb to Wayna Picchu.
I had no idea that high above Machu Picchu lay another smaller city perched atop a spire of rock. Wayna Picchu literally clings to the shear cliffs of the mountain of the same name. The climb up is extremely steep at times more like a ladder than a staircase. Steel cables bolted into the rock help you haul yourself up the switchbacks over stairs caved from the bedrock of the mountain.
The climb is more than worth it as you emerge into a ruined stone city near the top of the mountain. Climbing more staircases winding around and in some cases through the mountain you eventually reach the very tip of the peak with unparalleled views in every direction. Far below you is Machu Picchu and even further below that is the river. This is the first time on the trip that I began to really experience vertigo. The mountain is so steep that you are literally looking straight down at least three thousand feet to the river below.
After descending back down to Machu Picchu it was time to board the buses for Auga Caliente. We had enough time to get some lunch, relax and get to the train by 5 PM. A simple four hour train ride back to Cusco and we arrived at our hostel for a deep sleep. What an awesome trip!