Machu Picchu

It´s been a punishing couple of days; of sorts. We caught the train to Aguas Calientes (aka Machu Picchu peublo) on Saturday which meant rising at 5.30am for a 5 hour journey. It´s OK whilst concentrating on the fact that the destination is the world famous Inca mountain city but it´s never quite that easy when you´re locking legs with someone opposite, trying desperately to avoid a staring competition. Thankfully it´s only 88km from Cuzco, otherwise the journey may well have been interminable!


Just one of the many ladders to be scaled.

Decision made not to go up to Machu Picchu itself on Saturday since a good portion of the morning had passed already, Phileas determined to make use of the day with another walk. You might say a little warm-up for the hike up to the ruins the next day.


Pleased to have made it. Machu Picchu in the distance.

Not quite a warm-up rather than a run-down. Higher than the Machu Picchu site, Phileas made it to the top of the mountain across the valley for our first views of the ancient Inca site. Some may have given up but not the diminutive Phileas. She made her husband very proud, even more so knowing that she could do the same the next day up to the ruins and save $28 bus fare!


The one and only. How great it is to see postcard views for yourself.

And so we made it to the top, to Machu Picchu itself in honour of our fathers! Jelly legged and worn out but justified and righteous in the knowledge that we´d done it the Inca way!


Llamatastic! Don´t worry - we have plenty more llama photos for you to see when we return. Phileas seemed particularly fascinated by them.






Yes, you have to walk down as well.