Machu Picchu + the Inca Trail, Peru

Rainbow over llama grazing in agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu, Peru

PERU Page 2/4:

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Right: A rainbow shines over a llama grazing in agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu.

Peru Index 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 :
Page 1: Overview / Cuzco / The Wari People / Inca Conquest / Moray / Salt Pans at Salinas / Lares Trek / Fujimori, Toledo, & the Economy
Page 2 (this page): Inca Trail to Machu Picchu ~ Page 3: Cordillera Blanca: Trekking Season & Climate / Chavin / Santa Cruz Trek / Inca Legacies
Page 4: Cordillera Huayhuash: Altitude Acclimatization / Climate/ Touching the Void / Amazon Source

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Machu Picchu:

Spaniards passed in the river valley below but never discovered Machu Picchu, which is on a ridge at about 8200 feet (2500 meters) elevation. In 1983, UNESCO listed the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu as a World Heritage Site. The following Machu Picchu images are from my visits in 2000 and 2003.

Above: Green grassy terraces support the ancient walls and restored buildings of Machu Picchu. (I stitched this panorama from 5 images).

I recommend the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides Peru (order from Amazon.com) for initial trip planning and as a handsome souvenir left at home. Before and during the trip, read the Lonely Planet Peru guidebook for detailed itineraries, specific lodging, transportation and sights. Support my photography by buying books or consumer products at Amazon.com using any of these special links:

Machu Picchu

Left: Vertical image #03PER-15-29-MachuPicchu.

Below: A rainbow shines over thatched-roof huts at Machu Picchu, Peru.

Above: I stitched this Machu Picchu stairway panorama from 3 images.

Left: Patches of sun spotlight Machu Picchu, as seen from atop Huayna Picchu.

Ladyslipper Orchid at the Pueblo Hotel gardens, Aguas Calientes, Peru
Above: A Ladyslipper Orchid grows at the Pueblo Hotel gardens in Aguas Calientes, Peru.

Below: A wild Begonia flower blooms on the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu.
Begonia flower, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Peru

Below: Machu Picchu spotlit, as seen from atop Huayna Picchu (which is climbed via a very steep & exposed stairway).
Machu Picchu, as seen from atop Huayna Picchu

Left; Hummingbirds of Peru.

Below: Slipperwort, or Snapdragon (calceolaria crenata) grows along the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu.

Left: #03PER-15-29-MachuPicchu.

Below right: #00PER-15-35-Huayna-Picchu.
Machu Picchu

Below: a rain shower sprinkles Machu Picchu:
Rain storm breaking over Machu Picchu, Peru

Restored Inca Trail bridge at Machu Picchu, Peru
Left: Restored Inca bridge on an unused portion of the Inca Trail at Machu Picchu.

Below right: exploring a corridor in the restored ruins of Machu Picchu:

Below: Terraces march up the flanks of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu panorama, Peru
Above: I stitched this Machu Picchu panorama from 7 photos by my wife Carol Dempsey.

Below: The Machu Picchu train makes a stop at Aguas Calientes.

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu:

Trekking is the most rewarding way to reach Machu Picchu. You can also take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you can easily bus to Machu Picchu on the ridge above town (or walk there for 1 to 1.5 hours one way).
We trekked a standard route of 32 miles in four days, ascending a total of 8600 feet. A bus took us from Cuzco to the end of the road in the Urubamba Valley at Chilca (railroad kilometer 82), where we met our porters and began walking with day packs. Starting at 7700 feet elevation, we trekked as high as 13,770 feet, before descending on the fourth day to the sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu (8200 feet), where we caught the bus down to Aguas Calientes. Spaniards passed in the river valley below but never discovered Machu Picchu.
The Peru National Institute of Natural Resources requires overnight trekkers on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to hire a guide (about $60 or more per day) plus a $50 entrance fee.

Inca Trail starts at this bridge over Urubamba River (7700 feet elevation), railroad kilometer 82
Left: The Inca Trail began for us at this bridge over the Urubamba River (7700 feet elevation) at railroad kilometer 82.

Below: A porter lugs a heavy load up the Inca Trail.
A porter with a heavy load on the Inca Trail, Peru

Left: Mo feels in high spirits at Dead Woman's Pass (13,770 feet).

Below: Our group poses for a portrait on Dead Woman's Pass (at 13,770 feet elevation) on the Inca Trail.
Inca Trail: Group portrait on Dead Woman's Pass (13,770 feet)

Inca ruins at Sayac Marca, Peru

Left: The Inca ruins of Sayac Marca cling to a high ridge.

Below right: On the trek, we ate fresh and healthy gourmet lunches supplied by our tour company Aventura Quechua (Cusco phone 51 84 965 0572) (this link leaves my site).
Gourmet lunch on the Inca Trail, Peru

Inca Trail flute serenade
Left: Our multi-talented guide Wilbert attracted us higher with his Andean flute. He played several more instruments, spoke eight languages, earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from a Peruvian university, and had a playful sense of humor.

Below: The spines of this alpine plant discourage hungry beasts.
alpine plant, Peru
Our porters for the Inca Trail pose at the Inca ruins of Intipata
Above: Our Peruvian support team poses at our third and last camp on the Inca Trail, in the ruins of Intipata: 22 porters, 2 cooks, and 2 guides supported our group of 12 trekkers. They thanked us for the work, all the more sincerely due to current high unemployment in Peru. Our guide Wilbert translated their native Quechua language for us.

Above: Stalls sell colorful rugs in the village of Aguas Calientes, located on the Machu Picchu Railway line.

Carved and decorated Andean plates for sale, Aguas Calientes, Peru

Above: Vender stalls sell carved and decorated Andean plates and bowls in Aguas Calientes, the service town for Machu Picchu.

PERU Page 2/4: The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

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