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Machu Picchu - 7972 ft

Machu Picchu is more awesome in person. What a fantastic place!! Machu Picchu is commonly referred to as the "Lost Inca City". Vilcabamba more accurately described as the "The Lost Inca City", as it was the last refuge of the Inca Empire until it fell to the Spaniards in 1572.  Machu Picchu just wasn't discovered due to it's remoteness in the Andes Mountains. You can hike the five day journey on the Inca Trail along the original trail built out of stone.  We took the train from Ollantaytambo, much quicker that way.

The typical shot. I wanted to change it up a bit by making it black and white

We stayed overnight in Agua Calieintes and were able to go to Machu Picchu twice.  The first day we visited in the afternoon, there were low clouds and mist just as you would expect to see.  Our local guide, Al, was very knowledgable about the site, he is from the area and used to play soccer with his friends on the Machu Picchu grounds.  Can you imagine?



Machu Picchu is located in a Cloud Forest and is green all year round, no snow either just the mist and rain.  Behind the clouds there are the craggy peaks of the mountains surrounding the site and the higher peaks contain glaciers.







The second visit was in the morning the next day and we hiked to the sun gate.  It was a bright and cloudless day.  The hike was not easy, uphill on the uneven stone Inca Trail.  Amazing views!  We could see the craggy peaks and the glaciers that were shrouded in mist the day before.  After our hike back down to the site we found a quiet spot, ate some snacks and meditated for a bit, and just enjoyed the view - cameras down.

Inca Trail on the left, glacier in the upper left, and road for the buses on the right

View from the trail

Glacier

Meditation View!!





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Location: Machu Picchu, Peru

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