The granddaddy of posts - Machu Picchu

From Cusco, we headed to our most famous destination, Machu Picchu. We shared a taxi to the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From there, we took the Hiram Bnigham train to Aguas Calientes, a small, touristy town about 4 miles from Machu Picchu. We got up at 4:30am to catch the first round of buses up to Machu Picchu and saw the sunrise there - sort of. We wandered around the ruins with our new Uruguayan friends, Jimena and Diego, who we met on the train from Ollantaytambo. We finished our day by climbing up Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu.

Our fellow passenger from Cusco to Ollantaytambo brought some interesting cargo,
including a live chicken and her chicks in a bag.

Andean scenery

Nat's treat for the day - coca beer

Scenes from Machu Picchu

Sarah and Jimena

It's a looooonng way down!

An R.O.U.S.?

Tigers are everywhere - War Eagle!!

Jimena and Diego

The road back to Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes by day...

and night

Cusco

After Puno, we drove through the Andes to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca empire and the closest modern city to Machu Picchu. Fortunately, Nat's altitude sickness subsided so we were able to enjoy the city and the amazing scenery.

Us in the Andes

Incan ruins

Incan wildlife

Flag of the Incan Empire in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco

Plaza de Armas

Cathedral of Cusco

Hills around the city

Cusco at night

Semana Santa processional

Coca tea

Elote - traditional Peruvian snack of corn and cheese

Nat's beer

Cuy!

Nat on a grass bench outside the city