Day 19 28th November 2006 - The Sprint to the Finish - Machu Picchu

Waking at 4am and out of our sleeping bags in a flash we were ready for action, wanting to be some of the first to see Machu Picchu we had to get away early, after a very quick breakfast we were almost set to go when another group rushed past us trying to get to the final checkpoint first. Not missing a trick Nacncy, backpack loaded sprinted after them quickly overtaking a rather put out English guy, " tough" was Nacncy´s reply to his claims of unsportsman like conduct.

The rest of us managed to catch up a few minutes later and take up pole position at the enterance to the last 6km, 3km from the Sun gate. 4:30AM with an hour until the checkpoint opened, the path behind us soon filled with other hikers, right on queue the checkpoint opened, I did contemplate bribing the official to close the gate again to give us a head start, this would have been a better idea than the 4km early morning run round a slippery forest path with 200 people baring down on you.

From left to right, Christina, Siobhan, Bridge and Shelley ahead of the 200 other people trying to get to Machu Picchu first

Adding to the excitement was Frank constantly updating us on the progress of the other groups behind us, being fit as we were only a couple of trained Athletes managed to get past us, only just though with Shelley making an innocent attempt to trip them up with her walking stick.

After a final almost vertical scramble we reached the Sun Gate, the view was one that I shall probably never forget.

The group at the Sun Gate with Machu Picchu in the background

Machu Picchu

Living up to expectations Machu Picchu truly is a magical place, after touring the ruins with our guide, personally not really taking much in apart from the views we headed off to climb Wayna Picchu for the alternative view of the site. The peak being exactly the same height as the Sun gate.

Myself and Shelley at the top of Wayna Picchu with Machu Picchu in the background

Unable to really do the story of Machu Picchu any justice at all here, the wikipedia entry has a great overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_picchu In Quechua, the language of the Inca´s Machu Picchu means Old Mountain.

Of course there had to be a llama

Still a little overwhelmed by the experience we headed down to the nearby town for a soak in yet more hot thermal baths, before a sleepy train ride back to Cusco

Highlights: Machu Picchu of course ;-)