It's no wonder the Spaniards never found Machu Pichu. We had to take a train through a rugged, deep canyon from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (there is no road) and from there we took a bus up a very steep hill with serious switchbacks to reach Machu Pichu itself. The Andes are awesome!
Urubamba River below Machu Pichu
First view as we entered Machu Pichu
Machu Pichu with Wayna Pichu Mountain in the background
We had sunshine as we entered, so I climbed to the top right away in order to get the expansive views of Machu Pichu from the top.
Just above those clouds are amazing snow-capped peaks and glaciers.
Machu Pichu from above
Llama mama with newborn foal
My best overview shot of Machu Pichu
The llama posed perfectly for me.
Looking down, way down, to the Urubamba River
Kermit and Alan
The road we took by bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Pichu
Chinchilla - they run wild around the ruins
Dusk over the ruins
Last view of the ruins as we exited to our hotel, the Sanctuary Lodge
The next morning the world looked quite different. It rained most of the night and in the morning low clouds hung over the mountains. We were grateful for the sun the afternoon before!
Still, it was quite beautiful to see mountains peek through the clouds.
Kermit and Alan took off up the mountain for the Sun Gate, braving the 'Inca Mist'.
The Sanctuary Lodge is directly at the gate to Machu Pichu, the only lodging near the ruins. It is an Orient Express property and one of the most expensive hotels I have ever stayed in, but we were glad to be right at the door to Machu Pichu. Behind the hotel they have a beautiful 'Orchid Path' through the tropical vegetation and I had a lovely walk photographing flowers and trees.
Wild fuchsia
Many of the orchids are small, but many are exquisite.
Hummingbirds were abundant among the flowers.
Here I managed to catch 2 hummingbirds together, actually still enough for a photo.
But by about 9:00 the clouds began to break and the sun started shining again, turning into another beautiful day in Machu Pichu!
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