Day 7: Machu Picchu!!!!

We're finally here! We started with two days in the Sacred Valley and Cusco enjoying the most beautiful views and acclimatising to high elevation, followed by the next six days trekking the Salkantay trail, up and down mountains, through mountain passes, cloud forests, and breathtaking scenery. At last today, we arrived in Machu Picchu.

This Inca kingdom in the clouds, is situated above the Urubamba river valley, 2430 meters or 7970 feet above sea level.  As in other Inca structures, they fuse huge blocks of stone using grooves that slot together to form precise building structures. There are many astronomical and mathematical calculations used in their building work but because there was no written language and Machu Picchu was abandoned in the 16th century, we do not know its exact use.

The view on many postcards of this world heritage site.

The Incas had over 700 terraces used for agriculture and devised an extensive water distribution system.

The reason this site was preserved was that no one knew of its existence except for its inhabitants and a few close communities. It is an amazing architectural achievement and visually impressive.

It is a must see and if you are physically fit and have the time and resources, the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu is an experience not to be missed.  Mountain lodges of Peru managed the trek well and we appreciated the efforts and close attention to detail that our guides, Antonio and Henry, and their supporting staff, exhibited throughout the experience. Peru is a most beautiful country.

Being a mountain destination the weather is very changeable. You need to bring rain gear and dress in layers so you can adjust to large changes in temperatures throughout the trek. 

We're off to Cusco tomorrow, LIz and myself, for more pisco sours and local colour. The following day, we will part company and I will be going to Lake Titicaca, at 3800 meters or just under 12,500 feet above sea level.