Visiting Machu Picchu, Our Long Time Dream

An image of Jean sitting on the top of Huchuy Picchu at Machu Picchu, Urubamba Province, Peru.

An image of foggy sky over Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Bob and I managed to get aboard the first bus of the day from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu.  The 20-minute bus ride up the switchbacks of the dirt road had us clinging to our seats whenever we rounded the sharp corners.  The other option for getting to Machu Picchu is to hike up the mountain, but it is supposed to be a pretty long and very tough climb.  We preferred to use that time to explore the ruins at the top.

An image of Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Machu Picchu stands in the midst of a tropical mountain forest in the Andes Mountains.  Built for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (1438-71), the role of this ancient city still remains a mystery.  It was abandoned by the Inca rulers during the Spanish Conquest.  The site was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in July, 1911. Machu Picchu, today, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is a magnificent place to visit!

An image of Bob and Jean at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

In the early morning hours, Bob and I took time for a quick mugshot as the clouds blew across the mountain tops of Machu Picchu.

An image of Machu Picchu through the main stone gate in Urubamba Province, Peru.

This defensive main gate entrance to Machu Picchu frames a view of Huayna Picchu in the background.

An image of the Tower of the Sun buildings at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

An image of the stone wall of the Tower of the Sun at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

The most important building at Machu Picchu is the “Tower of the Sun”.  This structure was built on top of a large granite rock that projects from the mountain.  The stonework is amazing!  Somehow, the Inca stone masons figured out a means to cut and then fit together granite blocks to form a building without using mortar….and it has remained solid and stable for centuries!

An image from above of the Tower of the Sun at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

The “Tower of the Sun” is built around a natural rock feature that is inside the tower’s walls.  The building features a trapezoidal window.

An image of the window in the Tower of the Sun at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

The trapezoidal window may have permitted observation of the mid-winter solstice.

An image of the agricultural zone at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Historians are unsure as to the use of each of the areas within the ruins, but this hillside, above the “Tower of the Sun”, was believed to be an Agricultural Zone.  The whole area of the settlement was built upon solid granite, with bedrock frequently utilized as the  foundation for the buildings.  The stonework gives evidence of exceptional masonry skills, and the monolithic size of boulders moved into place for certain purposes certainly shows the Inca to be very hard-working and creative.

An image of a restored roofed building at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

To give visitors some semblance of the original Inca village, the roof has been restored on one of the buildings beside the “Tower of the Sun”.

An image of the agricultural zone and stone buildings at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Near the agricultural zone are more “storage” buildings that have had their roofs restored.  The incredible amount of work that was done to create this high-altitude sanctuary is mind-boggling.

An image of the stone walls and buildings at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

We were told by our guide that tons and tons of boulders, then gravel, then sand and finally earth were carried up to this mountaintop from the river at the bottom of the valley via the impossibly steep and narrow Inca Trail.  The purpose of so much rock and soil was to build up and flatten out this plateau.

An image of the terraces and buildings at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru

To prevent erosion at the sides of the plateau, terraces were constructed, each shored up with stone walls that were also reinforced with soil.

An image of the astronomical observatory building at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru

The “Astronomical Observatory” sits high above the “Tower of the Sun” and can be seen on the top left of this photograph with people standing next to it.

An image of the Intihuatana or hitching post at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

In the “Temple of the Three Windows” is one of the few remaining stones that is sacred to the sun-god Inli.  This stone is called either “The Hitching Post”, the “Sukhanka Stone”, or the “Intihuatana”.  This huge stone sundial was carved out of natural rock, and it is believed that it was used to indicate equinoxes and lunar movements.

An image of the Temple of the Condor building at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Here you see the “Temple of the Condor”.  Many anthropologists believe the shape and position of the two large rocks replicate the shape of a Condor.  Each represents one of the condor’s wings spread in flight.  The Condor was an important symbol in the Inca civilization.  It stood for fertility, and also, with the movement of its wings, the gathering of clouds to produce rain.

An image of the Temple of the Condor at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

The Condor’s head and beak were carved into the ground below the wing formations.  Condors remain the largest birds in the Andes, and like in the times of the Inca, they are still revered by many in South America.

An image of a Chinchilla among the rocks at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Nestled amongst the rocks of “The Temple of the Condor” were numerous Chinchillas sleeping away the day.  Chinchillas got their name from the Chincha Indians of Peru.  Chinchilla means “Little Chinta”.  When the Inca conquered the Chincha people, they forbade the Chincha people to wear clothing made from Chinchilla fur.  The fur of the Chinchilla was declared the fur of Inca Royalty and could only be worn by Inca of Royal birth.

An image of a Chinchilla standing among the rocks at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

We were able to get quite close to this Chinchilla near the Royal enclosure, but not close enough to touch his velvety fur.

An image of llamas roaming freely at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Beyond seeing Chinchillas, Bob and I also were in very close proximity to the numerous Llamas that graze at Machu Picchu.

An image of Bob standing beside a Llama at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

According to scientists in France and Peru, Llamas have played a key role in the agricultural world of places like Machu Picchu.

An image of Jean standing beside a Llama at Machu Picchu at Urubamba Province, Peru.

Modern-day research shows that the Inca used llama dung as fertilizer, a key component that helped the Inca develop their massive, widespread agricultural base.

Today, the purpose of the Llamas is to keep the grass clipped and most certainly fertilized in and around the ruins.

An image of Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

There are two mountains at Machu Picchu, the tallest one on the right is called Huayna Picchu, the smaller one on the left is called Huchuy Picchu.  On our first day at Machu Picchu, we thought we would try to climb the tallest mountain, Huayna Picchu.  Arriving at the control gates at the foot of that mountain at 1:30 p.m., we learned that hikers must commence the climb starting no later than 1 o’clock.  So, we decided to return and climb Huayna Picchu the following day.

An image of Huchuy Picchu at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Bob and I then headed over to climb the small mountain of Huchuy Picchu (8,133 feet/2,479 meters).  As we would soon learn, even this supposed little mountain was a fairly big challenge particularly with our legs still tired from the previous day’s hike on the Inca Trail.  The climb was worth it, rewarding us with a wonderful view from our mountaintop perch of Machu Picchu below.

An image of people climbing up Huchuy Picchu mountain at Machu Picchu, Peru.

One obstacle, as we climbed up Huchuy Picchu, was a massive boulder.  The provision of a thick knotted rope enabled us to pull ourselves up and over the vertical obstruction like these two young ladies behind us.

An image of Bob and Jean on top of Huchuy Picchu mountain at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

After a very short climb, Bob and I made it to the top of Huchuy Picchu, seen here with Machu Picchu in the background.  Only later, when we returned to the base, would we meet a person who had just caught a highly poisonous snake on this same mountain – while we were up there!  The lessons from our hike the day before, on the Inca Trail, had not even been considered as we pulled ourselves up through the rocks and plants of Huchuy Picchu.  Lady luck had shone on us once again on the “Little Mountain”.

An image of Jean standing on top of Huchuy Picchu at Machu Picchu, Urubamba Province, Peru.

As we stood on the top of the little mountain, Huchuy Picchu, with the larger mountain of Huayna Picchu in the background, Bob and I firmed up our plans to return the next day and undertake the 90-minute climb to its peak.

An image of the top of Huayna Picchu at Machu Picchu in Urubamba Province, Peru.

Climbing to the top of Huayna Picchu would not be an easy undertaking.  It would involve ladders, tunnels, and sheer dropoffs into nothingness, plus I have a fear of heights.  I could hardly wait to put myself to the test.

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18 comments

  • amazing photos

  • Awesome trip! Is it possible to do Uyuni and Machu Picchu in 10 days? What are your thoughts? Thanks.

  • Shirley MacKenzie-Thurley

    Shirley
    I did the 4 day treck to Machu Picchu in 2010 for my 70th Birthday. All the time spent in Peru was so varied and so enjoyable. Thank you so much for the wonderful photos I shall forward to my Aussie travelling mate Sonia. A must before you die!!!!

    • Congratulations to you. I don’t know if I would be up to the hike when I am 70 years old; I can only hope that I am still in good shape by then. I agree with you. Part of what made our trip to Peru so enjoyable was the many varied experiences we had there, in as many varied settings.

  • thanks for the photos and videos, I am planning my trip to Peru, and I see these pictures fill the soul, that wonderful place!, how much history there is in those mountains!

  • WoW amazing photos !! Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list for ever, and in 2013 I will finally get to see it. I cannot wait.

    • Good for you! I suppose you might be making that trip soon. We traveled there in April ourselves, just at the end of Peru’s rainy season. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

  • Beautiful photos and descriptions! Thank you for posting this blog on our South American Travel Blog! We love Machu Picchu and we love to hear about other people experiences and interpretations of this unique “lost city” they are all slightly different and as exciting as the last! Keep up the wonderful posts!

    • Bob and I have traveled to a few countries now, but, for me, Machu Picchu had been at the top of my list of places to visit. The allure of the isolation and beauty of the Andes Mountains, plus the overwhelming obstacles that had to be conquered in order for the Aztecs to build such a place, creates in me a sense of wonder and awe.

        • Indeed, the story is about the Inca civilization. Not sure what you mean about “not Aztecs” as there is no reference to Aztecs in the story.

          • From your posting: “the overwhelming obstacles that had to be conquered in order for the Aztecs to build such a place, creates in me a sense of wonder and awe.”

            • Hi. Got it! I poured over the blog posting numerous times and couldn’t find the reference you spoke of. Then it dawned on me that perhaps I had slipped up in one of my comments, and sure enough, there it was! Thanks for pointing it out. Before we traveled to Peru, I used to always confuse the Aztecs and the Incas. I must have had a brain hiccup when I responded with that comment.

  • David M. Gascoigne

    It always amuses me, and irks me more than a little, when I read that Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. This is utter nonsense. What you mean is that a white man came upon it. The native people always knew that it was there and it didn’t need to be “rediscovered” by anyone.

    • I like a lot!!!!! your comments about the “rediscovered”…it’s very true!!!!….and i’d add America….who doesn’t discovered by Colon!!!….I was born in Argentina so all the history of south america it’s personal for me…thanks!!

    • You are absolutely right. I think that white man was quite aware of the existence of some elusive lost city, but when actually located by Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu represented only a discovery as far as white man was concerned.

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