Peruvian Adventure Day 13

Day 13 Lares Trek Day 6- Machu Picchu and back to Cusco

In the middle of the night, we woke to a rainstorm.  We were all really concerned about the state Machu Picchu tomorrow morning, and we (especially Rich and Suzie who did not join us yesterday) were concerned that we might have to traipse around the site in the rain.  We were thrilled to wake this morning to yet another beautiful day in Peru.  The area seemed to have dried out nicely and our worries were for nought.  Rich and Suzie left around 6:30 with Raul and the rest of the Lares Trekkers.  We hoped to find them at the site after our hike.  We left to get on the bus line (that can be 2 hours long, depending on when you go) at 7:45 hoping for only a 30 minute or so wait.  It was important to get there before the one day tours from Cusco that get there around 8:30. 

Machu Picchu

                                      

Hiking to the Sun Gate

Even though we were at 7900’, due to its location near the Amazon, the temperature was more jungle than mountain.  Everyone, including Jeri had to strip down to summer wear.

                                         

Getting warm

We were pleasantly surprised to get on a bus immediately.  By 8:15 we began climbing to the Sun Gate.  The hike afforded us great views of the complex with Huaya Picchu in the background. 

Road to Machu Picchu

View from the Sun Gate

The Sun Gate was mobbed with hikers walking up from the Machu Picchu entrance, and from the Inca Trail from the other side of the mountain.

Carol at the Sun Gate with 100 closest friends

The hike down was difficult because the views were so spectacular.  It was hard to keep an eye on our footing while gawking.  We also ran into a couple of llamas that were hogging the trail. 

Climbing around llamas on the way down

 At the bottom, we took a side trail to a structure called the guard house for a few additional pictures, and then planned to search for Rich and Suzie.  Suddenly, we heard them on the trail in front of us.

Finally met up with Rich and Suzie

They were on their way to visit the Inca Bridge, an ancient wooden bridge along the side of a cliff.  Serendipity is great, better lucky than good!  The hike involved narrow paths with steep (1,000’ +) drop offs and killer views.  Along the path we met a young woman with a Tuck hat.  She is starting at Tuck this fall.  Small world.

Inca Bridge-No, we didn't cross it

Jeri negotiating the narrow ledges

On our way back down

By the time we finished the hike, we had to get on line for a bus back down the mountain.  We had a 2:30 train back to Ollantaytambo and about a mile-long line for the bus.  It actually went quicker than we expected, I think they went to the Disneyworld School of Crowd Control.

As we flew down the mountain negotiating one hairpin curve after another, newspaper stories of American tourists in bus crashes in Latin America flashed through my head.  I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally reached our stop.

Molly and Dave goofing around at the train station

Molly and Dave goofing around at the train station

Raul resting at the Machu Picchu train station

The train trip to Ollantaytambo was followed by a 2-hour drive back to Cusco.  Traffic in Cusco was terrible on Friday night.

We arrived at our hotel for the next two nights, the Belmond Monestario. The hotel is an old monastery with two beautiful courtyards.  Peru’s last known white cedar is the centerpiece of the main courtyard.  No monastery is complete without a chapel, or a gift shop.  It is situated 2 blocks from the Plaza des Armes.

Since we got there pretty late, we though it wisest to grab a bite to eat at the hotel restaurant.  It was very nice, but a bank-breaker.  I think this wound up being our most expensive meal in Peru. 

After being at altitude for a week, walking up the hills in Cusco was a piece of cake.  Tomorrow we are going to tour the outskirts of Cusco, and try to find a 2-hr laundry to clean our stinky clothes.