Day 4 - 3 Miles + Machu Picchu

Sun Gate * Machu Picchu * Agua Calientes *Yucay

We woke at 4 am this morning so that we could be on the trail by 430. It was a short walk to the check point, where we waited for 45 minutes to show our documents to then enter the last 3 miles of the trail. Roger kept a brisk pace along the mostly flat section of this trail. There was one small section however that was so steep that we had to climb it on our hands and knees! After about 90 minutes of hiking, we reached the Sun Gate entrance to Machu Picchu. The only way to see this part of the complex is if you have hiked the Inca Trail.

It wasn’t overly crowded, and we easily found a nice place to sit and just take in the amazing view. The Sun was actually rising behind us and then slowly descending down the mountain until it washed over the entire Machu Picchu complex. It was nice to be blessed with a sunny day. We patiently waited until most others had left the complex then enjoyed the moment and took some amazing picture of our group.

The hike down into Machu Picchu took only a few minutes and the reward was well worth the 3 days of hiking and our very sore muscles. We spent a long time in the upper section of the citadel enjoying the amazing views before we headed to the main entrance to regroup, hit the bano, and grab a snack. We needed to get some energy from our early start if we were to enjoy our tour of the complex.

It’s remarkable that this complex was preserved until the early 1900s and Peru has done a good job and protecting it and making it a pristine, beautiful place to visit. There aren’t any tacky vendors hanging around or unnecessary buildings. Visitors are now limited to a fixed amount each day, which even though full, didn't feel crowded. We walked around for a couple of hours visiting the store houses, temples, common areas, and several different structures. There is evidence now that perhaps a civilization existed there before the Incan Empire. Like other places, the Incans left this area when the Spainards arrive and escaped into the jungle.

After a yummy Buffett lunch just outside the exit to the complex, we took the 20-minute bus ride down to Aguas Calientes. The bus ride is totally sketch and it wouldn't take much for a bus to have an accident and fall off of the steep cliff. It was spooky to look out the window as we were descending the windy, steep road.