We made it to Machu Picchu! - June 2, 2011

Ugh, waking up at 3:30am was not fun.  It was still dark outside and we needed our headlamps to navigate to the restroom.  We had a quick pancake breakfast while the porters packed up the campsite.  One porter remained with us to carry our duffel bag.  Babe and I sat around in the restaurant until it was time to line up at the Winaywayna checkpoint, which opened at 5:30am.  Some people had already started lining up much earlier; Jimmy told us that some run the trail to the Sun Gate to grab a good seat for the sunrise.  He advised us that we didn't need to rush.  While waiting in the restaurant, we saw the same couple who had started with us from the Libertador hotel!  Little after 5am, we went to add ourselves to the checkpoint line.  It was still dark and chilly.  Our porter was wearing only a thin T-shirt, shorts and sandals.  I don't know how he kept warm.  I did notice him huddle as close as he could to other people.

checkpoint area

5:30am came and the line started moving slowly.  Jimmy asked us for our hotel vouchers.  We didn't have any and told him that Martha, our tour arranger, said that we didn't need vouchers.  When we got to the checkpoint window, Jimmy was in a long discussion with the officer, and I think it may have been related to us staying at the hotel, but needed to see the voucher.  To save time, Jimmy told us to keep hiking and that he'd work everything out.  People weren't exactly running, but were moving quite fast.  We had no problems keeping up, even with some steep stairs along the way.  There was a man who had been resting on the side of the trail and decided to cut us off right when we were approaching him.  He was huffing and puffing, moving slowly.  There was no one behind us, so no idea why he did that.  The trail was rather narrow so it wasn't prudent to pass him, so we followed him until he decided to take another break.

The sun was coming up fast, and we were hurrying our steps to make it to the Sun Gate.  Jimmy eventually caught up with us, having worked the situation out with the officials.  Maybe they called the hotel to verify our stay.

sunrise coming!

There was a very steep set of stairs, and then we made it to the Sun Gate (Intipunku)!  There were plenty of good spots to view the sunrise sweeping over Machu Picchu.

wooden ledges and steep stairs await

made it to the Sun Gate!

Machu Picchu in the shadow of dawn

The sun was coming up behind us, as we were at the "gate"...so the sunrise was sweeping into Machu Picchu:

waiting for the sun to sweep in

plenty of fellow hikers

Machu Picchu in shadows

here comes the sun

more and more

sunrise-kissed

the shadow of the mountain giving way

Machu Picchu bathed in light

After taking a bunch of pictures, we then hiked the rest of the way into Machu Picchu.

what an awesome sight from the trail

I made it!

plaques from olden days

Jimmy gave us a tour of Machu Picchu, explaining the purpose of different buildings, how and why they were constructed, and so forth.  It definitely was a retreat fit for a king.

roofs were rebuilt to show how it would have looked in Inca times

roof structural details

water still flows!

Temple of the Sun

stones so smooth and precise

more temple area (plastic roof not Incan ;) )

nice views

doorways galore

verdant grounds

circles and water used for the observatory; a llama decided it was a water fountain

Temple of the Three Windows

terraced grounds

altar and sundial

more altars

Temple of the Condor

tight squeeze in that temple

lofty stonework

After the tour was over, we invited Jimmy to have some refreshment with us at the snack bar next to the entrance.  Then Jimmy took us to our hotel for the night, the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.  We gave him his gratuity and bade him goodbye.  What a great guide!

Our room was not yet ready, so we went to have brunch at the hotel buffet restaurant (included in our tour, not a part of the hotel all-inclusive).  It was so-so, the best food being the trout ceviche. (no appetizing food pictures!)  A band was playing traditional Andean music and were selling CD's of their works, so Babe bought one for his dad for Christmas, since he appreciated pan flutes.  After brunch, our room was ready, so we took a much deserved shower and nap.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh!  Before dinner, we took a stroll around the small property.

the only hotel on site

a view of the hotel building

crisp white embroidered linens decorated with indigenous textiles

they really didn't want anyone to lose the key...

simple sink set-up

free mini-bar

ultra plush robes and slippers

I loved the toiletries, no idea where to buy this stuff!

there was a sign that said in short "please don't steal these ceramics"

hotel grounds; the rooms opening up to this were much more expensive

relaxing waterfall

beautiful orchids growing on property

We found a day room here (which guests can use if checking out but flight is later in the day), which was a nice amenity.  We were able to get in to take some pictures.  Turned out that it was normally locked; someone was using it, but they didn't lock it. (they were in the hot tub)

day room

can freshen up in the bath

refreshments and entertainment

There was a hot tub which had beautiful views of Machu Picchu.  We made ourselves comfortable on the lounge chairs to watch the sunset until it was time for dinner.

huge hot tub, though the water was lukewarm

filtered view of MP

clouds kissing the Andes

sunset in the Andes

We made reservations for 6:30pm at the hotel sit-down restaurant, but there was no need as no one was there!  Eventually people started trickling in at 7pm onwards, including a young couple who had what looked to be a 9 month old baby in tow!  While they were eating, the waitress would take the baby and walk around the restaurant, how nice. :)   Dinner was so good.  The food was prepared well and of gourmet caliber.  Drinks were included, but we didn't drink a lot.  If you drink a lot of liquor, you'd definitely get your money's worth here.  The prices were listed on the menu, and what we ate would have amounted to $150 plus tax and tip!  But it was $0...all included in the price of the hotel room, which softened the expense...

had a Pisco Sour, national drink of Peru

smoked trout, yum

cream of asparagus soup

cream of tomato soup

sea bass, so good

duck breast done perfectly

flourless chocolate cake

yummy cobbler-like dessert called "texturas"

a gift of gourmandises from the chef

$0.00 balance, woohoo!

it was nice that they offered stevia as a sweetener

I couldn't wait to go to sleep tonight...the linens were so heavenly and everything was so comfortable!  However, we had to wake up around 5am the next day to get in line to receive our stamp to hike Huayna Picchu, the mountain behind Machu Picchu.  The adventure's not over yet!