Blurry Red early morning at Phuyupatamarka camp site.
At sun rise, the Andes stretch out to the North with the Urubamba River one ridge ahead. (Above Phuyu Pata Marca, 12,150ft)
Attempting to watch the sun rise from above our Phuyu Pata Marca camp site (12,150ft)
Our campsite above Phuyu Pata Marca is visible below. Wayna Picchu is where the ridgeline ends in the background (the Urubamba River wraps around at that point).
Ruben prepares to acknowledge all of the porters while Leslie and Andrea discuss tips. (Phuyu Pata Marca campsite)
Cheers erupt from everybody as Anna's sleeping bag is chosen by Matt and given to a lucky porter. "I am never going to camp again", exclaimed the New Yorker as she dropped her sleeping bag on the gift tarp.
The steep (2ft/each) stairs from the camp site down to Phuyu Pata Marca.
Steph standing in front of Phuyu Pata Marca.
Red overlooking the Machu Picchu peak in the background.
Just below the Phuyu Pata Marca ruins lies another site worthy of a rest break. Wayna Picchu visible low in the background with the Urubamba River Valley all around.
Red & yellow flowers on side of Inca Trail en route to Winay Wayna.
View of Urubamba River (Sacred Valley of The Incas) from Huinay Huayna
Stickers from around the world at the Huinay Huayna Trekker's Hotel.
Steph and Red at Huinay Huayna.
Huinay Huayna ruins.
Red standing in front of cut stone walls at Huinay Huayna ruins.
View down into Urubamba River valley (Sacred valley of the Incas)
The group is taking quick break at Huinay Huayna.
Red on stairs down to lower Huinay Huayna.
Red & Steph at Intipata overlooking Machu Picchu. Red with 5 days of well earned scruff.
View from Intipata down towards Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. The switchback busroute up from Aguas Calientes is visible. Earlier that day someone was bitten by a Bushmaster on this section of the trail.
The cliffs around Intipata are steep. Sheer dropoffs from the trail down to Intipata routinely exceeded 500 feet.
Red demonstrating the use of the flying stone steps (Inca built). Notice the beat up bamboo walking stick.
Red, on terrace overlooking Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu in the background. 5 days on trail scruff.
Steph, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu in background.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu and Urubamba River.
Beautiful shadows and lighting of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
Red and Machu Picchu with beautiful lighting.
Llama, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and excellent lighting.
Llama, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and excellent lighting. The llama wanted a few Nuevo Soles for the pose.
Elizabeth, Kathy, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
Steph standing in front of the very nice (and very dark) Inca Terra of Aguas Calientes. Happy that the sleeping in tents has come to an end!