I visited Machu Picchu today. What did you do?
Some famous places are hyped and end up being slightly disappointing once you get there. I’m glad to say that Machu Picchu isn’t one of them. It’s truly awesome, in the literal sense of the word: Awe-inspiring, mind-blowing, pick you adjective, it will qualify.
Chasing sunrise
Another inhumanely early alarm clock, this time at 4am so we could attempt to get on the first bus to Machu Picchu. With the length of the lineup, we made it on more like the 12th bus. But it was okay, since they all left within minutes of each other. It’s a very efficient operation, this bus; as soon as one fills up, the next pulls up. The bus left around 5:45, and we made our way up, up, up along narrow twisting switchbacks where the view just kept getting better and better.
Around 6:10, we arrived at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. It was light out, but the sun still hadn’t come up. And while it was a bit foggy and cloudy, there were enough clear patches to make us hopeful that we might get to witness a really good one. We made one last bathroom stop outside the gates (there are no bathrooms anywhere in the site, making decisions about water consumption very strategic) and then made our way through the entrance gates.
Patrick, our local guide for the morning, suggested that we hike up about ten minutes to a terrace that offered the “classic” Machu Picchu viewpoint. We followed his advice, and while the hike up was a bit tough, it was so totally worth it. As we reached the viewing platform, the skies broke up, and we got the most breathtaking clear view over the entire site, watching the sun rise over Machu Picchu Mountain and illuminate the lost Incan city below. I’m not a religious or spiritual person, but a moment like that can’t be easily described in words.
The mysterious Machu Picchu
Patrick led us over the next three hours on a private guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu is huge. I mean, really, really massive. It’s hard to tell from the photos, but you can spend hours just in the main area. Plus, there are hikes you can take — up to the Sun Gate, for instance, or climbing Huyana Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Being lazy oldsters, we opted to do none of these; instead, we visited the main areas of the site. We got plenty of exercise, anyway; those Incans sure did love their stairs.
Very little is known for sure about Machu Picchu. The city remained hidden from Europeans through the Spanish conquest and for centuries afterwards, and was only “discovered” by an American explorer, Hiram Bingham, just over 100 years ago. In truth, the area was known to the local population for long before that, but pretty much everything we know about it now is based on educated guesswork by archaeologists. We saw the Temple of the Sun, which was used to see the equinoxes and served as a sort of Incan calendar. The amphitheater was where ceremonies to the Incan gods were held. There are remains of homes, agricultural terraces, quarry areas that were still under construction when the site was abandoned, and much more. I honestly only retain about ten percent of anything the guides say on tours like this, especially ones where there’s just so much amazing scenery to take in at any moment.
It’s estimated that no more than 300 people lived there at any given time, which means that the thousands of tourists who go through every day really crowd up the place. We were incredibly lucky to have gotten there so early, since it started to fill up soon afterwards, and by mid-morning the place was packed.
Llamas, ninjas and more cheesy photos
After the tour was over, we exited the gates and took a bit of a food and bathroom break just outside the entrance area. Our ticket was good for up to three entrances during the whole day, so we went back in on our own to do some more exploring.
Taking the lower path through the terraces this time, we wound through the site, taking as many cheesy photos as we could. Jumping shots, selfies with the llamas wandering around the site, silly expressions, you name it. Heck, why not, right? When were we ever going to be back here again? Watarimono made an appearance, too; I figure since he ninja’d us the incredibly good luck with the weather, he deserved to sightsee a bit.
By that point, the crowds had increased tenfold and the hot sun was beating down. Plus, we were getting tired from all the walking around. So we hopped on the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Down was much scarier than up, since we were going faster, plus it was light out so we could actually see how steep and narrow the road was. But we made it down without incident.
The road back to Cusco
Back in Aguas, we had lunch at a fairly mediocre restaurant near the train station, which our tour had booked for us in lieu of the dinner last night that we skipped to go to the hot springs. We went back to the hotel lobby to rest and relax for a bit, and then grabbed a drink at a bar by the train station until it was time to board the train back to Cusco.
I spent most of the three-hour train ride back to Poroy listening to music and dozing. A representative from our tour company met us at the train station and drove us back into Cusco to our hotel, where we sorted bags, grabbed some food and showers, and are now about to fall into bed. We’re exhausted, but happy.
Machu Picchu is Machu-awesome. I can safely say that this day is one I will remember for a very long time.