Machu Picchu

It was a perfect day for visiting Machu Picchu – the skies were cloudless and everyone seemed to be in good physical shape,lingering illnesses having disappeared. It was another early start as we woke up at 5:00 AM for a 6:00 AM breakfast at the station. Our train left at 6:40 AM and it was a pleasant hour and a half on the Inca Rail train. Once at the Machu Picchu station, it took another half hour by bus to get to one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites.

Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, and there have been many theories about its origins and use during the Incan period. Bingham himself seemed to feel that it was where the Incans originally came from and was possibly their capital prior to moving to Cuzco at the start of the Incan empire. The generally accepted theory today – and that of our knowledgeable guide in Olantaytambo Adolpo – is that it was a winter retreat for one the greatest Incan kings, Pachacuti. I personally like the theories that Hugh Thompson draws up in his book, The White Rock,  in which he too theorizes that  Machu Picchu was a winter retreat for Pachacuti.

We had a tour guide who took us through the site in just under two hours. Eating is not allowed on site, so we had to find a discrete location to enjoy the contents of our lunch boxes. After lunch a number of students accompanied Vicki Weeks to the Sun gate – the gateway into Machu Picchu when approaching from the main Incan road –  a 40 minute hike, Becca and Jenna accompanied me to the Incan bridge – a 10 minute hike – and a few stayed behind to explore the ruins more thoroughly.

We all met at the entrance after our various adventures at around 2:30 PM for the bus down to the village. There we had a buffet lunch/dinner and then went around exploring the shops of Machu Picchu. There were bargains to be had, particularly if you were ready to haggle. Our train for Ollanta left at 7:00 PM and we arrived tired but satisfied at Ollanta station at around 8:40 PM. All of your children had their electronics for the trip, so you can look forward to a number of more personal photos.

Start of the journey on Inca Rail

Classic view of the ruins

Part of the sun temple at Machu Picchu

The peak Machu Picchu after which the site was named. Unlike the sun temple in Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu had easy access to granite quarries

Though the stonework was impressive, it was not as spectacular as what we saw in Ollantaytambo

Agricultural terraces

The condor temple. On the floor is the head and body of the condor and the two rocks on the left and the right are the wings of the condor - spectacular stuff.

Lunch

Incan bridge - 10 minute walk from the site

Restoration with a thatched roof giving tourists an idea of what it would have looked inside each house

Time to shop