Inca Trail - Day 3

Up early again at 05:30, and conduct the usual drill. Starting at a little after 06:30, we begin trekking from kilometre 111. As this is where the trail starts to enter the jungle, it has a more tropical feel to it. Additionally, most of the time the trail is a shelf like edge in the side of the mountain, it's really a wonder of beauty. We make Wyñayhuayna and explore the site, then have lunch, which is our last meal with the porters and chefs. We conduct a ceremonial goodbye, leave some tips with the lead porter, and part ways. On we go to make our way to Intipunku (Sun Gate) which we make at about 16:00 which is 3 kms from Machu Picchu. The view of Machu Picchu is blocked by the clouds, as we are in the mountains, however 15 minutes later the cloud parts and I am in awe of the view. I walk down the last 3 kms of the trail to Machu Picchu and as I do, the sun starts to break through the cloud. The view becomes even more amazing, and I'm quite stoked with the photos I was able to get. End of the Inca Trail! Tomorrow I explore Machu Picchu from within, looking forward to it.

Camp site breakfast - not a bad view


Trail


Wyñayhuayna


Goodbye porters and chefs


Made it!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cholula, Mexico

Image
Cholula is a city and district located in the center west of the state of Puebla, next to the city of Puebla de Zaragoza, in central Mexico. Cholula is best known for its Great Pyramid, with the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios sanctuary on top and its numerous churches. The city and district are divided into two, San Pedro Cholula and San Andrés Cholula, which together are officially called the Distrito Cholula de Rivadavia. The pyramid is small part of the archeological zone of Cholula, which is estimated at 154 hectares (380 acres).  Building of the pyramid began in the pre Classic period and over time was built over six times to its final dimensions of 120 metres on each side at the base and eighteen meters tall.  This base is four times the size of that of the Great Pyramid of Giza and is the largest pyramid base in the Americas.  Two of the stages of construction use talud-tablero architecture which was also used in Teotihuacan.  Some of the pyramid constructions have had burials,
Read more

Mitla, Mexico

Image
An archeological site is within the modern municipality of San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Mitla was the main religious centre. The name Mitla is derived from the Nahuatl name Mictlán, which was the place of the dead or underworld. Its Zapotec name is Lyobaa, which means “place of rest.” The name Mictlán was Hispanicized to Mitla by the Spanish. The construction of Mitla as a ceremonial centre began in 850, and the city was still being expanded when the Spaniards arrived and destroyed it.  The oldest group of buildings has been dated to between 450 and 700 CE and shows architectural features similar to those found at the earlier Monte Alban. The steps to the main ceremonial hall ... Inside the ceremonial hall ... Inner courtyard, the stonework is amazing ... Underground, inside one of the burial chambers ...
Read more