Sunday 8 April - Inca Trail 4th day to Machu Picchu, Agues Calientes to Cuzco

Up at 4am to a strong fog. Still pitch black, and with very few hours sleep behind us (probably just over 6), we eventually got moving at 5:30. Unfortunately the fog hadn't lifted by 6:30 when we reached the Sun Gate - on a clear day, from here we would have had our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. This morning, we saw only slightly more than what Ray Charles did when he completed the hike.

From 6:55 until 7:30 we walked in anticipation of arriving at MP. It was almost a surprise when, still in the fog, we found ourselves actually in Machu Picchu, for there was no real signage when coming in via the Inca Trail that the one has arrived. The fog also did not allow us to appreciate the true grandeur of the view. It would clear within the hour anyway.

Summarising the trip to MP, it's just an unforgettable experience. The ruins are just amazing and a real reward for completing the trek. When the fog cleared and the surrounding landscape unveiled itself I think everyone was quite awestruck. Although we'd passed and seen plenty of ruins along the trail, these were many times bigger and generally in better condition. I'll admit to being quite sore this morning during the final morning's hike, particularly in my left knee, however only having access to this place for such a short period of time (only half a day) somehow conjured up a sufficient amount of energy to climb Huanya Picchu, the extremely steep mountain behind MP which offers the best overall view of the lost city.

I've taken a million photos of this scene so I'll let them paint the picture.

After MP, it was onto Aguas Caliente for what would could have been a little feet-up time, however Libe wanted to haggle at the local markets for some scarves thus it was pretty much all business down there. Late in the arvo it was on the train from AC to Ollantaytambo, running along side the magnificent River Urabamba and its amazing, inhospitable rapids, where hardly a word was said amongst the Intrepid crew. The silence was either due to being enthralled by the river or due to justifiable exhaustion. This silence continued on the bus trip from Ollantaytambo to Cuzco, briefly interrupted by the maniac tendencies of our bus driver, which included the decision to overtake a tip truck (which had 6 people riding in the open air in its tray by the way) on a cliffside with a right hand turn a couple of hundred metres away. We eventually made it back to Cuzco safe and sound.

Fair to say we all hit the sack tonight; no partying for us. But certainly a satisfying day.