Machu Picchu

The final full day of the month in Latin America was at Machu Picchu, after doing the Inca Trail. It’s a 15th century Inca settlement that was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It is the most intact Inca site existing today.

The main part of Machu Picchu, as you enter.

A view from below of the scores of terraces.

Again, the quality of the construction is astonishing. They fit perfectly together.

Up in the Temple of the Stars.

Was amused that this little creature not just made its way into the Temple, but managed to get all the way up there. A few hundred years ago he or she may have ended up being worshipped as a god.

It’s hard to get all the terraces into one photo.

From near the guardhouse, you get this view of the main site plus see Huayna Picchu behind it. There is a narrow and steep trail which you can take up to the peak of Huayna Picchu.

After going around the main site, we took this path to the Inca Bridge.

Was rather glad not to actually go over the Inca Bridge. One slip, and ouch.

You can see where the trail used to be on the far side of the bridge. It was a sort of back route into Machu Picchu, as a defence against invaders.

Then we headed up to the Sun Gate, passing these llamas on the way.

People enjoying the view from the Sun Gate.

The view from the Sun Gate, which I also saw the previous day. Just after this it started to pour with rain, so we then headed back to the entry, and down into town.

Then it was on the train back to Cusco.

The train staff do am amusing dance routine, and also model clothing from Sol Alpaca. Makes the trip go faster.

And on the way out we passed the entry point for the Inca Trail where I started four days earlier.

After that it was one final night in Cusco, and then four flights home to Lima, Santiago, Auckland and finally Wellington. All up 31 days in Latin America.