To be honest organizing to do Machu Picchu was a bit of hassle.  They only allow 500 people total a day on the trail, so we were trying to book the trip in July for September.  Should have been trying to do it more like in May.  In the end, because it seemed like this could be one of the highlights of our entire trip, we booked it for the third week in October rather than mid-Sept when we wanted.  Had to re-arrange our travel plans a bit for it, which kind of bugs you.  You go in thinking that this trek better be worth it.  Boy did it not dissapoint. 

The Machu Picchu sanctuary itself is amazing.  We hiked for three days over two mountain passes, one 4215m tall, through jungle and sub alpine terrain.  Some of the area is inhabited and we walked with horses and donkeys, watched as they ploughed fields with bulls, and brought llamas in from the highlands.  Religious and strategic Inca ruins dotted the landscape as we hiked.  We found out during the trip that the reason why the Inca trail is the Inca trail is because that it was the path that nobles and religious people took through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu, a religous pilgrimage.  So we were walking in the footsteps of Inca nobles. 

The hiking was fairly straightforward, nothing too challenging.  Got a little tired after three days, but only the first two days were of any length.  Camping was made easy by eight porters (including a cook) that carried all the common stuff, including our tents, and everything was laid out for us when we were ready to eat.  Definitely felt like we were getting spoiled compared to other camping trips we have done.  All we had to do was walk and take pictures. 

I tried my hand at carrying the 50lbs porter bag for about a twenty minute up hill stretch.  The weight was not too bad, but the pace the porters set was grueling.  I was definitely sweating when we reached the break stop, but it was fun. 

Our final camping location was only two hours away from Machu Picchu on the other side of the mountain.  The plan was to get up a 4am the next day, and to see the sunrise at the Sun Gate where we could get our first look at the site.  The three days before had been great, the weather had totally cooperated, with only one night of rain.  Our Machu Picchu day was not going to be the same.  Light rain and heavy fog were in order for the morning.  As well for most of the trail it was not crowded, and the campsites only had maybe 20 to 30 people in them.  This morning it was a bit of a cattle drive with about a hundred cueing up for the 530am trail gate opening.  Kind of felt like the opening of the first ski chair of the morning, everyone wanting to get freshtracks in the powder. 

We made it to the Sun Gate after about an hour of walking and all we saw was a lot of fog.  We walked down closer to Machu Picchu and still nothing.  We arrived at the site and our guide took us on a tour, but there was so much fog around that we never got a view of the entire site.  Rosanna and I were pretty bummed.  All this build up and we could not even take the whole site in at once.  Could not see any towering peaks nearby.  This can not be it!  We did not come all this way for fog. 

We climbed up Wayna Picchu to hope for a better look (it is the mountain in all those pictures).  By this point we were getting a good look at the site about every 10 minutes.  We climbed back down and all the fog started to clear.  After a few hours, Machu Picchu was totally visible, along with the mountain peaks and rivers that surrounded the site.  Finally what we came to see! 

The place was awesome!  A massive, well preserved stone village built into on the top of a mountain with towering peaks and rivers standing guard.  Watching people's reaction to being there was probably like it had been for the Inca's before, religious.  People were very emotional, some crying.  It kind of made me think that Machu Picchu is such a unique place that it could be considered a universal religious site.  You just wanted to try and soak everything in and absorb its immense beauty when you were there.  So cool. 

Reluctantly Rosanna and I left we when had to catch our train back to Cusco.  What an experience it was, definitely will be a huge highlight of the whole trip.  Kind of felt like after our wedding this summer, so much build up to it, things went so well, and after you find ourself asking, ok what now.  More travels...