Inca Trail
to
Machu Picchu
We took the train from the Sacred
Valley to Km88. We disembarked, met our porters, crossed a bridge over the Urubamba River, and headed up the mountain.
Time to Hit the Trail
Some Stretches
Along
The Inca Trail
UNMUTE
Incan Tunnel
The most dangerous section of the Inca Trail. You enter at the upper trail into an Incan tunnel, which has a stone staircase leading down to a lower level that continues onto a narrow ledge and over two logs.
Some Stone Staircases
Along the Inca Tail
Wilderness Travel
Campsites
The Finest on the Inca Trail
Finest equipment. Hot coffee, cocoa, and tea were brought to our tent every morning. Hot water in a large bowl was always supplied every morning to wash up. Meals were served in the group tent and were delicious.
The campsites were always private with a wonderful view. There was a campfire at night for the group with snacks and drinks. The stars at night were just like Shirley
Maclaine described them as "like Zircon Plums."
Day Five
Last Morning on the Inca Trail
Climbing out of the High Altitude Jungle
Up
To the Sun Gate
It was the fifth and last day on the hike and dark when we broke camp. Today's hike was planned so that we would climb out of the high-altitude jungle by way of a very steep 500 ft staircase to reach the Sun Gate
in time to see the mist lift and the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
An important archeological construction used as some kind of control gate for people entering or leaving the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. It is dedicated to the Sun God and during the solstice, the rays of the sun shine through the portal of stone. Located 9000 feet above sea level, Machu Pichhu is still 1,000 feet below off in the distance sitting in the saddle between two
mountains. We reached the Sun Gate from the
Inca Trail by climbing a 500 ft stone staircase. We had been hiking for 5 days through the Andes to reach this point. When Machu Picchu came into view there wasn't a dry eye in the group. We made it and the spectacle that spread out before us was overwhelmingly
breathtaking. The group just relaxed on the portico for a couple of hours admiring the view.
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Machu Picchu view from the Sun Gate.
The sun rises over Machu Picchu and as the air warms the mist lifts. A spectacular sight to see.
We Descend 1,000 ft
into Machu Picchu