Magical Machu Picchu!

Visiting Machu Picchu was a big deal for me.  I don't know why, but whenever I've seen the pictures I've always thought that it looks like a mystical place, with the clouds hanging around in and being flanked by enormous mountains and I've just wanted to experience it.

As we weren't going to do the Inca Trail (a lot of planning required and a lot of expense!) we decided to take a Jungle Trek.  4 days of biking, hiking, rafting and zip lining; sounded like way more fun than just trekking!  Bag packed we began our trip.

Our first day was mountain biking.  Nothing too tricky - it was downhill all the way!  We started up high in the cloud forest and biked for three hours down into the rain forest ... apparently travelling through at least 26 different eco systems!  (the bio diversity of Peru is amazing and I think underrated!)  The scenery (when not covered in clouds ... and when I could bear to take my eyes off the winding road!) was beautiful and you could feel the climate change as you went from cloud forest to rainforest, slowly getting warmer and more humid. 

The Biking Team!

The afternoon was spent white water rafting ... a pretty wet event and therefore no pics!

Day 2 was the walking day, not just any walking but hiking part of the Inca Trail.  It was pretty steep, up and down and a hot day, so we had to get into the Inca mind set with face painting!

Eventually we got on to a flat bit and walked the last few hours by the river.  And we experienced some novel river crossing techniques ... jump in a platform and get pulled across by the strongest small man ever!

After a long days walking, we had a treat in store ... thermal baths!  Just what our weary muscles needed ... that and a beer! 

Day 3 was the bit that no one really wanted to talk about ... zip lining.  It sounds like the kind of thing that I would love ... but there's a small problem with being 100m in the air and South American health and safety!  After climbing to the first of six lines I was beginning to feel my nerves, but was sure that after the first one I'd really enjoy it.  Once I was pushed off the edge and flying further away from solid ground my nerves didn't leave me ... so I closed my eyes and didn't open them again until the other side!

I did start to enjoy the lines and kept my eyes open for some of them, but the feeling of impending doom didn't leave and I was very glad when it was over.

There I am ... flying through the air!  Looking much happier than I thought I was ... or is that the grin of hysteria?

After being reckless with our lives we got back to walking.  This part was along the train tracks to Agua Calientes.

Machu Picchu in the distance.

We finally went to Machu Picchu on Day 4.  To beat the masses of other tourists we started walking at 4.30am in order to be at the gates before the opened and before the buses arrived.


Starting the walk in the dark.



Finally at Machu Picchu by 6.15am, after a hard, steep walk ... but we did beat the buses and for a short time could admire the complex without tourists.

As the sun came up over the mountains.

In amongst the ruins

Those llamas get everywhere!

Machu Picchu was amazing!  I spent most of my day there sitting on the terraces just taking it all in.  It is such a spectacular complex, but the setting amongst the clouds and mountains makes it a really magical experience.