Salkantay trek (Day 5)

We got up at 4am on Day 5 and had to rush to the bus station to catch the bus that went up to Macchu Picchu. There is a crazy rush in the morning because there is a section called Wayna Picchu in the site that only allows 400 people a day through. I think this is because Wayna Picchu is located at the top of a granite peak and numbers need to be restricted as there is absolutely no room for more than 30 people at the top. This rule was only introduced about a year and a half ago. So, with 2000 people passing through the site´s entrance each day, there is an early morning frenzy to get these 400 tickets. Well, we made it. Ingrid got ticket number 342 and I got 343 :)


Ingrid Crawford aka Spiderwoman. Clambering over rocks at Wayna Picchu.

We were completely surrounded in cloud for most of the time, hence the grey pictures. The two people at the top of the photo are Martej and Maria Luisa. They were the couple who came with us on the trek.


Inca house at Wayna Picchu, completely shrouded in cloud.


The Inka bridge.

There are many routes to enter Macchu Picchu. The Inka bridge is the back entrance to Macchu Picchu and is currently undergoing reinforcement and some degree of rebuilding. The sign reads, ¨Do not pass¨ as the bridge sits under an overhang of granite rock and drops off about 800 metres down the cliff. It is built on a natural rock ledge that sticks out from the cliff face and probably had cost hundreds of Incan lives to build.


Macchu Picchu on a grey, overcast day. Still absolutely stunning and with the Seven Wonders of the World recently reselected, Macchu Picchu has made it as one of them.


Madness at the train station at Ollantaytambo.

After a full day walking the archeological site, we hopped on a train and headed back to Cusco. The train took us to Ollantaytambo where it was absolute typical South American chaos. Bus conductors were yelling names of tourists and tourists were trying to find the right buses that would take them home. I met 2 Israeli girls the next day who said that their bus was late and they had to wait about an hour or so after being on the trail for 4 days before they could be on their way home. They did not reach their hostel till midnight. South American time eh?

At any rate, at least there were no strikes and road blocks along the way and we got to Cusco without any further incident.