1st Day
We spent half the day on a bus on the first day. It was a really beautiful drive, but a little scary at times. The road was windy and had steep drop offs.
This is one of the steep drop offs I was talking about. I can´t even see the bottom of the valley!
After the bus part we got to ride bikes the rest of the day. It was similar to the Death Road in Bolivia, but we got to ride on the side of the road that wasn´t by the cliff...which was nice. This is our group: Malcolm and Rob in the front, they are from England, and Robert and Tovah in the back. Robert is from South Africa, and Tovah is from Canada. After 3 hours on the bike we reached Santa Maria where we stayed the night in a hostel.2nd Day
The 2nd day was the hardest. We got to hike 18km in the jungle, and half the hike was on parts on the Inca Trail. Hiking in the jungle made Nick´s survival skills come out. Here he is making walking sticks for everybody. He also picked a lot of fruit for us to keep our energy up. I am surprised he didn´t get shot by the locals.
The light green plants closest to us are coca plants and the darker green plants are coffee plants, both the main agricultural money makers in this area.
A sign indicating this is an official Inca Trail.
Our first resting spot was at a little store in the middle of nowhere. They had this monkey to keep tourists entertained.
Here he is drinking milk out of a gaterade bottle.
A pineapple. There were so many different fruits growing all over.
Nick bought everyone on the team friendship bracelets including our guide Willy. We never picked an official name, but by the end of the trek it was something like Team Trail Blazing Bad Boys. We were acting pretty silly.
The team standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the huge valley. We just finished walking as far as you can see down the river!
Willy taking a ¨crazy¨picture of us on the cliff.
Another picture of the beautiful valley.
Nick on top of the world!
Hiking through the jungle.
Nick gathering food again. He is climbing a tree to knock out a weird type of fruit that I can´t remember the name of.
This is what he knocked out of the tree. We each got to eat one of the white balls. It was like eating a hairy mouse, but it did taste okay!
This is the pit inside the ¨hairy mouse¨.
A long, scary suspension bridge that was missing boards!!
This was so fun!! We got to ride in a cable car across the river!!
Us in the cable car!
Looking down at the river from the cable car.
Dad you will be proud, they use baling wire to splice the rope!
Americo, another guide, coming across with Malcolm. These guides had no fear of gravity!
Did I mention there was this nice, stable bridge just a quarter of a mile down the trail we could have taken. The cable car was a lot more fun though!!
After the cable car we only had to walk 10 more minutes to the hot springs. This was like a resort in the middle of the jungle. They did an excellent job building this place!!!
Nick and Tovah in just one of the many different pools. The water was really warm and clear! It was great after a long day of hiking. Of course the locals were in the pools washing their hair and bodies with soap and shampoo, but what can you do.
Nick and I seen this big guy while walking to our hostel. This millipede was around 5 or 6 inches long! He even left a track in the dirt.
The hide of a Puma hanging in a bar in Santa Theresa.
This is downtown Santa Theresa. Great location, but not the prettiest of towns. The big modern looking building at the end of the street is the president´s office of this state.
3rd Day
Bananas in a banana tree.
On this day we got to walk to this beautiful waterfall outside of town. We then took a small bus to the train tracks and followed the tracks to Aguas Calientes, which is the main stopping point before going up to Machu Picchu.
On the bus we seen this HUGE waterfall. I think it is caused by the hydroelectric plant, but not sure.
Everyone walking along the tracks. It kind of sucked because we had to keep our eyes fixed on the tracks to keep from tripping so we didn´t get to admire the pretty surroundings.
Waiting for the train to go by.
Still walking on the tracks. We made record timing the day before, but today we were going pretty slow as a team. Malcolm was really sick, and Tovah´s knee was hurting her so we were creeping along.
We arrived in Aguas Calientes!! The travel book and fellow travelers all said this town was a real shit hole, but we really liked it even if it was really touristy.
The team tired and dirty!
The view out of our hostel window!!! It was wonderful!! I spent an hour just staring out window. Nick, Robert, and Rob are about to go climb the biggest mountain in the middle of the picture!
Here they go...Nick climbing one of the five crazy ladders they had on the mountain.
Robert and Rob in awe of the guides running up the ladders with no hands!!!!
The view of Machu Picchu from the top of the mountain.
Nick pointing at Machu Picchu.
The guys being macho after doing the manly climb to the summit.
The view of Aguas Calientes from the top of the mountain.
The guys all going down the ladders.
4th Day
On the last day we left at 4:30am to climb the Inca steps up to Machu Picchu. This was half way up the mountain just as the sun was coming up. It is a picture of the mountain Nick climbed last night with all the clouds around it.
Us looking pretty wet and tired from climbing all of the steps in the rain, but we made it to the top!!
This is the same mountain that Nick climbed, but this picture was taken with a little more light.
Nothing like having the place to ourselves....ha ha!
Us at Machu Picchu in front of Wayna Picchu. FYI, Machu Picchu means old mountain in Quecha, and Wayna Picchu means new mountain in Quecha. They do not know what the Incas called this place, but this is just want the locals called it when an American found the ruins in 1911. The king of the Incas had this built as a place for the most important people. The Spaniards never found it, but researchers think the Incas fled this place when the Spaniards arrived in the Sacred Valley. They might have fled to a lost city that no one has found yet...maybe they are still living there...who knows.
Rob, Malcolm, and I goofing off while we are waiting for the guide to round up the whole tour group.
A picture of the sun rising.
This is the main entrance door into Machu Picchu. It was one of the few doors that actually had a secure wooden door attached to it back in the day.
This is the bathroom they built for the king. They were pretty smart people. They had a whole different drainage system built for their sewage.
The Temple to the Sun.
This was supposed to be an Andean Condor. The Incas believe the heavens is represented by the Condor. The collar around the neck is supposed to be the white collar that condors have, and the rocks in the back are supposed to be the wings. People were in the way though, and Nick couldn´t get the whole picture.
They have llamas all over Machu Picchu to mow the grass. This little guy is only 1 week old!
The view of the beautiful valley from the ruins.
Like I say the Incas were smart people. They built their structures to withstand earthquakes, unfortunately this part didn´t do so well...at least it is still standing!
This is their rock quarry.
The houses in the middle of the picture were used to educate the girls that lived here. They taught them how to cook and make clothes and other womanly things.
A picture of the many agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu.
The sun dial, which is sadly famous now because in 2000 a beer company broke off a piece of the dial when they were trying to film a commerical. Way to take care of your ruins Peru!
The Sacred Rock, which was neatly carved out to look like the outline of the mountains in the background.
Wayna Picchu in the clouds.
They only allow 400 people to walk up Waynapicchu a day. Nick and I went up after our tour. It was a steep climb up the mountain to a wonderful view and some small ruins.
A line of people making their way up the mountain.
We made it to the top in 30 minutes. The record is 18 minutes, I think in a little better shape we could have beat it. I am now debating if I want to climb the ladder and stand on the rock that is on the very top of the mountain.
The wonderful view from the top!!
Nick´s friend he made while enjoying the view.
Nick sitting on a rock overlooking the valley.
Me sitting on a rock trying not to look down.
I hate heights, and rocks we have to walk on sideways!
The steep look down to the river below.
The ruins at the top of Wayna Picchu. I do not know what these were used for. It would be a great look out post.
We had to all circle around the ruins in the same direction, which made us end up going down these extremely small steps.
The view of Machu Picchu from the top of Wayna Picchu.
Nick showing how small the steps were going down the ruins. The Incas had really small feet!!!
Less than half of Nick´s foot would fit on the step. I ended up sliding down the steps on my butt, it was much faster and easier!
The steep path going down Wayna Picchu. Thankfully they had a cable to hold on to in most of the difficult parts.
Once we got down the mountain, and back in Machu Picchu we had lunch in the designated area. Lucky for us we got to have lunch with the llamas that kept rolling and kicking up dust.
A random stairway in Machu Picchu.
One guess of what these were used for is to put water in them and look at the reflection of the stars. Like I say it is a guess.
A random window that Nick thought looked cool.
A picture of the ruins we visited on Wayna Picchu.
A sleeping llama.
This is the Inca bridge that is just outside of Machu Picchu. They built it with stones, and put boards across the gap in the middle.
This is the trail on the other side of the bridge which is all eroded now. Do you see the line of vegetation across the cliff? That is their old trail!!! I can´t imagine walking on the side of this sheer cliff!! Just a little bit more information, the king had boys from the age of 18 to 24 that would run messages between each city. These boys were so fast they could deliver fresh fish to the king from the ocean in less than 10 hours, which is faster than the buses today!! A few years ago they had a contest to see who could run the fastest from Cuzco to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail. They invited everyone, athletes, porters, anybody. A porter won, doing it in a little over 3 hours!!! It takes tourists 4 days to do the same route!!! I really do think the Incas had gravity defying abilities!!
The famous view of Machu Picchu while walking back from the bridge.
Okay, so this takes a little imagination but the mountains are supposed to make a face similar to the way I have my face here. The first peak from the left hand side is the chin, the next makes the mouth and nose, and the big peak is the head dress. The guide had a really good picture of it that made it easy to see.
This is the Sun Gate, which was the main entrance into Machu Picchu from the famous Inca Trail.
Nick sitting on the Sun Gate.
Us at the Sun Gate with Machu Picchu in the background.
The guard house walking back into Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. After this we returned to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cuzco. Rob got terribly sick on the train, and ended up going to the hospital. Ended up he had gotten severly dehydrated, was blacking out, and was on his way to having a heart attack!!! This is why drinking water is a good thing!!!
The 2nd day was the hardest. We got to hike 18km in the jungle, and half the hike was on parts on the Inca Trail. Hiking in the jungle made Nick´s survival skills come out. Here he is making walking sticks for everybody. He also picked a lot of fruit for us to keep our energy up. I am surprised he didn´t get shot by the locals.
The light green plants closest to us are coca plants and the darker green plants are coffee plants, both the main agricultural money makers in this area.
A sign indicating this is an official Inca Trail.
Our first resting spot was at a little store in the middle of nowhere. They had this monkey to keep tourists entertained.
Here he is drinking milk out of a gaterade bottle.
A pineapple. There were so many different fruits growing all over.
Nick bought everyone on the team friendship bracelets including our guide Willy. We never picked an official name, but by the end of the trek it was something like Team Trail Blazing Bad Boys. We were acting pretty silly.
The team standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the huge valley. We just finished walking as far as you can see down the river!
Willy taking a ¨crazy¨picture of us on the cliff.
Another picture of the beautiful valley.
Nick on top of the world!
Hiking through the jungle.
Nick gathering food again. He is climbing a tree to knock out a weird type of fruit that I can´t remember the name of.
This is what he knocked out of the tree. We each got to eat one of the white balls. It was like eating a hairy mouse, but it did taste okay!
This is the pit inside the ¨hairy mouse¨.
A long, scary suspension bridge that was missing boards!!
This was so fun!! We got to ride in a cable car across the river!!
Us in the cable car!
Looking down at the river from the cable car.
Dad you will be proud, they use baling wire to splice the rope!
Americo, another guide, coming across with Malcolm. These guides had no fear of gravity!
Did I mention there was this nice, stable bridge just a quarter of a mile down the trail we could have taken. The cable car was a lot more fun though!!
After the cable car we only had to walk 10 more minutes to the hot springs. This was like a resort in the middle of the jungle. They did an excellent job building this place!!!
Nick and Tovah in just one of the many different pools. The water was really warm and clear! It was great after a long day of hiking. Of course the locals were in the pools washing their hair and bodies with soap and shampoo, but what can you do.
Nick and I seen this big guy while walking to our hostel. This millipede was around 5 or 6 inches long! He even left a track in the dirt.
The hide of a Puma hanging in a bar in Santa Theresa.
This is downtown Santa Theresa. Great location, but not the prettiest of towns. The big modern looking building at the end of the street is the president´s office of this state.3rd Day
Bananas in a banana tree.
On this day we got to walk to this beautiful waterfall outside of town. We then took a small bus to the train tracks and followed the tracks to Aguas Calientes, which is the main stopping point before going up to Machu Picchu.
On the bus we seen this HUGE waterfall. I think it is caused by the hydroelectric plant, but not sure.
Everyone walking along the tracks. It kind of sucked because we had to keep our eyes fixed on the tracks to keep from tripping so we didn´t get to admire the pretty surroundings.
Waiting for the train to go by.
Still walking on the tracks. We made record timing the day before, but today we were going pretty slow as a team. Malcolm was really sick, and Tovah´s knee was hurting her so we were creeping along.
We arrived in Aguas Calientes!! The travel book and fellow travelers all said this town was a real shit hole, but we really liked it even if it was really touristy.
The team tired and dirty!
The view out of our hostel window!!! It was wonderful!! I spent an hour just staring out window. Nick, Robert, and Rob are about to go climb the biggest mountain in the middle of the picture!
Here they go...Nick climbing one of the five crazy ladders they had on the mountain.
Robert and Rob in awe of the guides running up the ladders with no hands!!!!
The view of Machu Picchu from the top of the mountain.
Nick pointing at Machu Picchu.
The guys being macho after doing the manly climb to the summit.
The view of Aguas Calientes from the top of the mountain.
The guys all going down the ladders.4th Day
On the last day we left at 4:30am to climb the Inca steps up to Machu Picchu. This was half way up the mountain just as the sun was coming up. It is a picture of the mountain Nick climbed last night with all the clouds around it.
Us looking pretty wet and tired from climbing all of the steps in the rain, but we made it to the top!!
This is the same mountain that Nick climbed, but this picture was taken with a little more light.
Nothing like having the place to ourselves....ha ha!
Us at Machu Picchu in front of Wayna Picchu. FYI, Machu Picchu means old mountain in Quecha, and Wayna Picchu means new mountain in Quecha. They do not know what the Incas called this place, but this is just want the locals called it when an American found the ruins in 1911. The king of the Incas had this built as a place for the most important people. The Spaniards never found it, but researchers think the Incas fled this place when the Spaniards arrived in the Sacred Valley. They might have fled to a lost city that no one has found yet...maybe they are still living there...who knows.
Rob, Malcolm, and I goofing off while we are waiting for the guide to round up the whole tour group.
A picture of the sun rising.
This is the main entrance door into Machu Picchu. It was one of the few doors that actually had a secure wooden door attached to it back in the day.
This is the bathroom they built for the king. They were pretty smart people. They had a whole different drainage system built for their sewage.
The Temple to the Sun.
This was supposed to be an Andean Condor. The Incas believe the heavens is represented by the Condor. The collar around the neck is supposed to be the white collar that condors have, and the rocks in the back are supposed to be the wings. People were in the way though, and Nick couldn´t get the whole picture.
They have llamas all over Machu Picchu to mow the grass. This little guy is only 1 week old!
The view of the beautiful valley from the ruins.
Like I say the Incas were smart people. They built their structures to withstand earthquakes, unfortunately this part didn´t do so well...at least it is still standing!
This is their rock quarry.
The houses in the middle of the picture were used to educate the girls that lived here. They taught them how to cook and make clothes and other womanly things.
A picture of the many agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu.
The sun dial, which is sadly famous now because in 2000 a beer company broke off a piece of the dial when they were trying to film a commerical. Way to take care of your ruins Peru!
The Sacred Rock, which was neatly carved out to look like the outline of the mountains in the background.
Wayna Picchu in the clouds.
They only allow 400 people to walk up Waynapicchu a day. Nick and I went up after our tour. It was a steep climb up the mountain to a wonderful view and some small ruins.
A line of people making their way up the mountain.
We made it to the top in 30 minutes. The record is 18 minutes, I think in a little better shape we could have beat it. I am now debating if I want to climb the ladder and stand on the rock that is on the very top of the mountain.
The wonderful view from the top!!
Nick´s friend he made while enjoying the view.
Nick sitting on a rock overlooking the valley.
Me sitting on a rock trying not to look down.
I hate heights, and rocks we have to walk on sideways!
The steep look down to the river below.
The ruins at the top of Wayna Picchu. I do not know what these were used for. It would be a great look out post.
We had to all circle around the ruins in the same direction, which made us end up going down these extremely small steps.
The view of Machu Picchu from the top of Wayna Picchu.
Nick showing how small the steps were going down the ruins. The Incas had really small feet!!!
Less than half of Nick´s foot would fit on the step. I ended up sliding down the steps on my butt, it was much faster and easier!
The steep path going down Wayna Picchu. Thankfully they had a cable to hold on to in most of the difficult parts.
Once we got down the mountain, and back in Machu Picchu we had lunch in the designated area. Lucky for us we got to have lunch with the llamas that kept rolling and kicking up dust.
A random stairway in Machu Picchu.
One guess of what these were used for is to put water in them and look at the reflection of the stars. Like I say it is a guess.
A random window that Nick thought looked cool.
A picture of the ruins we visited on Wayna Picchu.
A sleeping llama.
This is the Inca bridge that is just outside of Machu Picchu. They built it with stones, and put boards across the gap in the middle.
This is the trail on the other side of the bridge which is all eroded now. Do you see the line of vegetation across the cliff? That is their old trail!!! I can´t imagine walking on the side of this sheer cliff!! Just a little bit more information, the king had boys from the age of 18 to 24 that would run messages between each city. These boys were so fast they could deliver fresh fish to the king from the ocean in less than 10 hours, which is faster than the buses today!! A few years ago they had a contest to see who could run the fastest from Cuzco to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail. They invited everyone, athletes, porters, anybody. A porter won, doing it in a little over 3 hours!!! It takes tourists 4 days to do the same route!!! I really do think the Incas had gravity defying abilities!!
The famous view of Machu Picchu while walking back from the bridge.
Okay, so this takes a little imagination but the mountains are supposed to make a face similar to the way I have my face here. The first peak from the left hand side is the chin, the next makes the mouth and nose, and the big peak is the head dress. The guide had a really good picture of it that made it easy to see.
This is the Sun Gate, which was the main entrance into Machu Picchu from the famous Inca Trail.
Nick sitting on the Sun Gate.
Us at the Sun Gate with Machu Picchu in the background.
The guard house walking back into Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. After this we returned to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cuzco. Rob got terribly sick on the train, and ended up going to the hospital. Ended up he had gotten severly dehydrated, was blacking out, and was on his way to having a heart attack!!! This is why drinking water is a good thing!!!
1 comment:
I love the pictures! I think this is the best blog so far!! I wish I was there with you guys...my dream trip...but now, after reading all your notes, I think I might have to take a train and hike as little as possible...I'm a weakling! :)
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