I am the avatar of sunscreen and deet and yet I am still full of bug bites and sunburn.
We got up early to beat the afternoon rush of people to Machu Picchu and ended up in an incredibly long bus line. If it weren’t for the fact that we were walking up an actual mountain and my backpack weighed about 30 pounds, we might have attempted to hike up.
The bus journey can only be described as perilous – it’s a thirty minute bumpy, narrow series of switchbacks which seem to go infinitely up the side of the mountain. The views were stunning and I was careful not to look down.
Upon reaching the top, we hired a guide (named Ernesto) and entered the ruins.
Our first true look at the site was left from the entrance, up to the guardhouse. The ruins were not yet filled with people, and the views were stunning.
Machu Picchu in its entirety is spread out before you. Waynapicchu is on the far side of the site, and Mount Machu Picchu is directly behind you.
I think this post is better explained with pictures, so here are a bunch!
At the end of the day, I’m sure we had gone up and down hundreds of stairs – some big, some small, some not quite stairs. We were covered in dust and my shoulders ached from carrying around my pack all day.
Somehow, one of the dastardly sandflies bit me on the palm of my hand.
First world problems aside, it was incredible to be able to explore this city built hundreds of years ago by people who tamed mountains with their bare hands. The views were simply stunning and I’m glad it’s around for people today to appreciate its splendor.
Machu Picchu: 10/10, would do again