2nd - 3rd Aug, Machu Picchu

On day 4 of the trek we arrived at the Sungate, where we got our first view of Machu Picchu, looking down onto it. We then walked down to it, through it, and to a bus down to Aguas Calientes for the night.

Huayna Picchu soaring above Machu Picchu. I'll be going up to it's summit with 5 of the Scouts tomorrow

Loving the exposure

An opportunity to climb something, anything...

Spectacular Rock architecture and sculpures inside Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu from the summit of Huayna Picchu

The hillside we climbed frantically up in the morning. We got up early at 2.30. We got our position in the queue, at the base of the hillside by the locked gate. Finally allowed in just after 4am, we had our mad race up the hill with hundreds of others. Our team did a sterling job to get to the top with only about 5 in front of us - a touch competitive ;)

We got our tickets for Huayna Picchu, then we were free to get in to Machu Picchu at 6am. We headed to the Inca Bridge first. Then in the main Machu Picchu site, we found the more interesting out of the way places to explore (climb?) before our tour with Alex at 8am. We then started our climb of Huayna Picchu at about 10am. Back down of the mountain at 12.30, bus down, lunch at 1.30, train leaving Aguas Calientes at 2.15 ... Busy day, but awesome !

The tight cave staircase up towards the summit of Huayna Picchu

Jess showing composure on one of the final staircases on Huayna Picchu

Richard approaching the summit.

Finally we got to see Machu Picchu. The team had a great day, and finally I got up Huayna Picchu (didn't get a ticket last year). It was well worth getting up early. I did end up snoozing in the train later - deleted these photos!