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 |