Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

Trip Start Jun 03, 2011
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Trip End Jul 26, 2011

Flag of Peru  , Sacred Valley,
Saturday, July 9, 2011

Our visit to Machu Picchu was different than we had initially anticipated but still spectacular. While we had originally intended to hike the Inca Trail
Foggy start to the train ride
Foggy start to the train ride
, due to our altitude sickness and the freezing weather we had experienced in Bolivia, we decided that the thought of spending 3 nights in tents at a high altitude was less than appealing.  However we still got up very early in the morning, to the chagrin of our neighbors at our tree house hotel, and arrived at Machu Picchu by sunrise.  As one of the most visited sites in South America, I had anticipated that it would be crowded but I don't think that I was really prepared for how many lines we would have to stand in before finally making it into the ruins
Machu Picchu 2
Machu Picchu 2
 
Comments!
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While in Machu Picchu we did a short hike to the Inca Drawbridge, a really narrow bridge that you actually used to be able to cross until a tourist fell off several years ago, and we also hiked to the top of Cerrado Picchu which provides a spectacular view over the entire site.  We were definitely happy that we got there early and were able to escape around lunchtime when all of the day-trippers were arriving from the train
The end of the hike up Cerrado Picchu
The end of the hike up Cerrado Picchu
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Since we did not hike the Inca Trail, we were able to spend some more time in the Sacred Valley, between Machu Picchu and Cusco.  The area is quite beautiful and we went on a private horseback ride to a salt mine and some more Incan ruins at Moray.  The horseback ride was amazing and my horse, Yana
Me and Yana
Me and Yana
(which means black in Quechua, a language spoken by many people in the highlands) was very fast.  When we were galloping he just took off ahead of the other horses.  I think the guide doubted that I would be able to stop him but when she called out to me I was able to bring him to a stop.  However I think that I will always be spoiled after getting to gallop on at Peruvian Paso horse, their gait is so smooth that it doesn’t even really feel like the horse is going that fast.  Overall the ride was very beautiful and I really enjoyed spending the time with the horse
Yana and a beautiful view
Yana and a beautiful view
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Slideshow

Comments

Alan Patterson on Jul 16, 2011 at 01:32PM

Cool! This is one of the places at the top of my list.

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