Day 48. El Mapi (Machu Picchu)Peru. 5.3.25

"360 MACHU PICCHU TRAIN: OLLANTA - MACHU PICCHU. Early this morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will travel by train from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes onboard the scenic 360 Machu Picchu Train. Arriving in one of the world’s most famous ruins after the morning fog and crowds have cleared. On arrival at the train station in Aguas Calientes a representative from the hotel will be waiting to meet you. They will assist in taking your belongings to the hotel before you journey by bus up to Machu Picchu for your guided tour. 

Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca site, located 2,430 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley. It is the most famous of all Inca sites, but it was not until 1911 that it was brought to the world’s attention by the American historian Hiram Bingham. The Incas abandoned the city just prior to Spanish colonisation, the city was never pillaged and as a result the ruins are still in fantastic condition. With its location on a dramatic ridge line surrounded by sheer cliffs and the Urubamba River on three sides, the city of Machu Picchu is a remarkable place to visit. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and in 2007 it was voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World."

OMGOODNESS, THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. MACHU PICCHU HAS BEEN ON MY BUCKET LIST FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. SORRY ABOUT THE YELLING (CAPITALS) BUT I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED. 

We were picked up at 6.15am and the day looked dreary. We were transferred to the train station. Our main suitcase has been sent on to Cusco  and we have a small bag each to take on the train.

At train station in Ollantaytambo. 

We were to follow this lady to our carriage.  

I resisted the urge to bring a few of these home. 

The view from the train was quite spectacular. 

A performance was put on about a natives love story. 

Live music playing.

Entrance to the Machu Picchu area.

Orchid.

Our guide was quite spiritual.  We performed a ceremony with the coca leaves where we said a few words in Kechwan (native language) kissed a leaf blew on it and placed it on a rock. This was to help blow the clouds away.

And like magic the clouds started to lift.

We still have to walk up there. The terraces zig Zagreb across, up to the highest point. It's about a 100 m climb.

I was getting excited as we got closer. I may have shed a tear when we finally passed through the entrance to the city.

He got a little close to my foot.

Almost at the top. 

Watching and waiting for the clouds to lift.

About to head down to the city.

Tricky photography by our guide, Joel. 

Standing in the entrance to the city 💕

Millipede 

Animals were buried here.

A worship rock. Apparently looking from left to right it's a fish but looking right to left it's a rodent.

Replica of an Inca hut.

Fake windows for storing implements. 

We had seen lots of round stone poles sticking out. We know know they were tie down points for the roof.

With our tour almost over we started to head down further.

From here you can trek up to the top of the mountain in the back ground. 

The road the bus took up had 14 hairpin bends on narrow roads.

Reflection pools were used to study the night sky.

And that concluded our tour of Machu Picchu. We headed back down to the bus and to our accommodation. 

We are staying at El Mapi hotel for the night.

After a recuperative rest we went for a slow wander.

We shared a empanada for lunch and resisted the Oreo cheese cakes.

A few snaps of the town.

We have had an amazing adventure today and I can now ✅ that off the bucket list.