Machu Picchu

After a glorious breakfast outside, we started our journey to Machu Picchu with a bus ride from Urubamba to the Ollantaytambo station, and then boarded the Vistadome for a picturesque train ride to the Machu Picchu station. From there we took a bus up the mountainside to the Sanctuary Lodge.  After a quick lunch, we entered the 15^thcentury Incan city.

Despite a little rain when we arrived, Machu Picchu lived up to our expectations.  It is awe-inspiring. Recently, the Peruvian authorities changed its policies and limited the number of visitors to 6,000 daily. We marveled how organized the crowds moved and that there were many moments when you could experience the site essentially alone.

After a delicious dinner and birthday cake, we fell sleep.

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The following morning, we woke up early to hike Huayna Picchu. After signing in at the warden’s hut, the trail followed multiple switchbacks to the rocky summit. It was a glorious way to end our visit at Machu Picchu.  We rejoined our group and started the journal back to Cusco (bus, train and bus).