Machu Picchu

There is a reason why it’s one of the premier destinations on the planet, written up and photographed by thousands if not millions of tourists.

Here is a photo essay of our full-day visit to this magnificent site.

The morning mist swirled around the mountain tops, the fresh breeze making it dance about the towering spires of rock and the buildings on the Inca site.

The windows in the Temple of the Sun were constructed to line up with the exact position of the equinox and solstice sun as it rose above the horizon and blazed through notches in the surrounding mountains.

Intricately carved stone masonry work is everywhere with repeated patterns and themes evident as in this wall. Below is the Temple of the Condor; the head, neck feathers, and body in the foreground with two enormous natural stone wings rising above. Animals were sacrificed here, and the bones of the beasts hidden in the cave below the left wing.

After touring the site for a couple of hours with a knowledgeable and engaging guide, we climbed the 2000 plus steps (put in place by the Inca) to the top of Machu Picchu Montaña (Mountain). The views were spectacular, and after a short visit at the summit, we descended the stone staircase back to the main site. 

Machu Picchu has twenty-one Llamas who roam the grounds freely and trim the grass. Here is Ginette enjoying a few minutes with a pair of these loveable creatures.And here is our version of the classic Machu Picchu postcard.