A Journey Through Peru - Part 8 - Machu Picchu

Our train to take us to Aguas Calientes arrives 4 hours late into Ollantaytambo after an earlier collision on the tracks. As a consequence we don’t make it to our hotel until 1am ahead of a planned 5.30am wake up to get to Machu Picchu shortly after the site opens at 8am. Standing in a queue for 4 hours with little information has felt like an ordeal and I start to worry that this, along with the lack of sleep, might sour our experience.

As we wind our way up the mountain we get the first glimpse of the citadel and any worry I had that this will be an anticlimax has gone, instead it feels like we’ve earned our visit to, what I can only describe as the most awesome place I have ever visited. Machu Picchu is a nearly complete ancient citadel perched improbably on a mountain top 2,400 metres above sea level and surrounded by the most dramatic mountain and cloud forest scenery. The city is an engineering marvel and some of the craftmanship cannot be reproduced even today. I'll be honest and no picture of mine is going to do this place justice but I'll take my best shot(s).

The classic Machu Picchu view

Tourists dressed in bright colours take in the view of Machu Picchu with their guide​


Machu Picchu again!


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