Machu Picchu

To reach Machu Picchu, you can either hike the Inca Trail or take the train	I opted for the evening "Backpacker" train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes	Lonely Planet bashes Aguas Calientes but I found it ok	Night arrival, Aguas Calientes
One of the many restaurants along Aguas Calientes main thoroughfare	Inka Wasi restaurant, Aguas Calientes	We picked up the Machu Picchu tickets the night before - here the rates	Main Square, Aguas Calientes
Pachacutec, the 9th Inca (1438-1472)	I still couldn't get myself to eat Guinea Pig	Early morning along Aguas Calientes main drag	The first bus up to Machu Picchu leaves Aguas Calientes at 5:30 am
Sunrise, Machu Picchu	Sunrise, Machu Picchu	The first rays of light on Wayna Picchu	Arriving at Machu Picchu you beat the rush of day trippers from Cusco
The Hut of the Caretaker, Machu Picchu	The Hut of the Caretaker	Funerary Rock near the Hut of the Caretaker, Machu Picchu	Early morning tourists on the terraces near the Hut of the Caretaker
The "Standard" Machu Picchu shot from near the Hut of the Caretaker	Early morning, Machu Picchu	The best view of Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu
Ruins of Machu Picchu, "rediscovered" in 1911	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu	Construction of Machu Picchu began around 1460 AD	Main entrance, Machu Picchu
Agricultural terraces, Machu Picchu	View back up to the Hut of the Caretaker	Machu Picchu was abandoned by the Inca after only 100 years	Among the ruins, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu	Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Machu Picchu	Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Machu Picchu	Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Peru
Machu Picchu	Looking through a window	Principal Temple, Machu Picchu	House of the High Priest, Machu Picchu
Steps leading to the Intihuatana, Machu Picchu	Sacred district, Machu Picchu	Some of the best Inca masonry can be found in the temples	Temple, Machu Picchu
Temple window, Machu Picchu	View from the Intihuatana	Intihuatana stone, Machu Picchu	Intihuatana stone, Machu Picchu
PeruJun08 1969.jpg	PeruJun08 2142.jpg	Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu
Terraces along the Central Plaza, Machu Picchu	Central Plaza, Machu Picchu	Hiking times from Machu Picchu	Restore hut, Machu Picchu
Side of Huchuy Picchu from the Wayna Picchu trail	Rough stairs leading up Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from the lower Wayna Picchu Trail	The climb of Wayna Picchu is very worthwhile
Machu Picchu	Terraces as the top of Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from the summit of Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from the summit of Wayna Picchu
Machu Picchu from the summit of Wayna Picchu	Intihuantana from Wayna Picchu	High peak from Wayna Picchu	From the Wayna Picchu terraces
Not quite at the top yet	Machu Picchu from the terraces of Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from the terraces of Wayna Picchu	A steep section of the Wayna Picchu trail along the terraces
Machu Picchu from the summit of Wayna Picchu	Pedro made it to the top of Wayna Picchu	Me on top of Wayna Picchu	Waynapicchu summit 2634m
Me on top of Wayna Picchu	Me on top of Wayna Picchu	Summit of Wayna Picchu	Summit of Wayna Picchu
The zigzag road from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu	Wayna Picchu	View from Wayna Picchu	Rio Urubamba and railroad bridge from Wayna Picchu
Ruins atop Wayna Picchu	Steep stairs, Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from Wayna Picchu	Machu Picchu from Wayna Picchu
On the descent	The smaller peak, Huchuy Picchu	Huchuy Picchu	Excavation and restoration of Machu Picchu's lower terraces, 2008
Residential sector, Machu Picchu	Residential sector, Machu Picchu	Residential sector, Machu Picchu	Residential sector, Machu Picchu
Residential sector, Machu Picchu	Peaked wall of a roofless building, Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu
Temple mount, Intihuatana, Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Doorway, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu	Central Plaza, Temple of the Three Windows, Machu Picchu	Llama wandering around Machu Picchu	Llama, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu's lawnmowers	Temple hill with the Intihuatana, Machu Picchu	Agricultural terraces with restored huts near the entrance to Machu Picchu	Temple of the Condor, Machu Picchu
Temple of the Condor, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Condor, Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu
Tree growing among the ruins, Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Sacred district - Temple of the Three Windows, Machu Picchu
Looking up to the Hut of the Caretaker, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu	Staircase, Machu Picchu
Waterworks, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Staircase to the upper ruins	Wall, door and staircase
Overview, Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu from the upper gate	Upper gate, Machu Picchu	General view, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	Upper gate, Machu Picchu	Famous view of Machu Picchu
Terraces and central ruins of Machu Picchu	Mountain and valley view from Machu Picchu	The Inca Drawbridge near Machu Picchu	There's a "trail" along that sheer cliff!
Inca Bridge trail	Machu Picchu from Inca Bridge trail	Llama with Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu from upper terraces with Wayna Picchu
Back at the Funerary Stone	Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu	No wonder the Spanish never found Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge	Back in Aguas Calientes after spending around 6 hours at Machu Picchu	Restaurant along the river, Aguas Calientes	Machu Picchu bus, Aguas Calientes
Main square, Aguas Calientes	Main square, Aguas Calientes	Pachacutec, the 9th Inca (1438-1472)	Pachacutec, the 9th Inca (1438-1472) on the Plaza of Aguas Calientes
Pachacutec, the 9th Inca (1438-1472)	Jaguar statue, Aguas Calientes	Main Square, Aguas Calientes	Main street of Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes	Jewellery, Aguas Calientes	Jewellery, Aguas Calientes	Aguas Calientes
Railroad, Aguas Calientes	Peru Rail, Aguas Calientes	Tourist market outside the Aguas Calientes Peru Rail station	Tourist market, Aguas Calientes
Tourist market, Aguas Calientes	Tourist market, Aguas Calientes	Estacion de Trenes, Machupicchu (2400m)	Peru Rail, Aguas Calientes
Peru Rail logo	Peru Rail carriage	Pinnacle peak from the train back to Ollantaytambo	River along the Machu Picchu railroad
Mountain views from the Machu Picchu train	Mountain views from the Machu Picchu train	Mountain views from the Machu Picchu train	Mountain views from the Machu Picchu train
"Backpacker" carriage, Peru Rail	Peru Rail locomotive