Peru 2009

We went to Peru in 2009 to hike the Salcantay Trail and see Machu Picchu.

We spent a few days in Cusco to get acclimatised. The town sits at an altitude of about 3,400 m and the Salcantay Pass, which was the highest point in our journey, is about 4,650 m.

Cusco was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Prior to the arrival of the Incas, the local Killke population occupied that area. And once the Inca Empire fell, it was occupied by the Spanish. So the city’s buildings reflect all these three civilisations.

We were lucky enough to be in Cusco during the winter solstice, when they have a traditional festival, Inti Raymi, which dates back to the Inca Empire and was a celebration of the shortest day of the year and the Inca New Year, marking when the daylight would start to lengthen again. We watched the proceedings in Plaza de Armas in Cusco, where various local groups performed various presentations and dances, with the lively atmosphere continuing through the night and onto the following day.

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After a few days in Cusco we started our journey to Machu Picchu. We went by bus to Mollepata, where the Salcantay Trail starts. Some of the roads so narrow that the bus got us off and then struggled to get through.

We then got going towards Soraypampa and Humantay Lake, where we camped not far from Salcantay Pass.

The night was pretty cold and the inside of the tents had frost on them. This was the hardest day – ascending and crossing the Salcantay Pass and then starting the descent on the other side. The recurrent mountain in the photos is Mt Salcantay. We were part of an organised group and, while we were struggling with the hike and altitude sickness, the local porters kept whizzing past us with our tents, food and part of our luggage on their backs, leaving camp after us and waiting for us at the other end with food ready.

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The following day we descended through the Cloud Forest and kept going, slept near Winay Wayna.

On the last day we visited Winay Wayna before reaching Machu Picchu.

The first glimpse of Machu Picchu was quite unexpected – as we came up a fairly steep ascent, over the top through what looked like a natural gate, and there is was, in all its glory.

We had a quick look around the ancient city, then went to Aguas Calientes for the night.

We had a scary visitor in the room that night.

Next day we got on the bus before light and saw the sunrise in Machu Picchu. Even thought it was a couple of days after the winter solstice, we weree still able to see the sundial at work.