Machu Picchu, seen from the Sun-gate
When you come through the Sun-gate and see Machu Picchu, you know that discovering this historical place was worth all the hiking steps. After first hiking the Salkanty trek and joining in on the Inka trek, we finally arrived at the Sun-gate. We had been walking all day and arrived there in the late afternoon. I have one issue: in the afternoon, the sun is high above Machu Picchu, so you have the sun in your face, and the fantastic site is seen mainly in the mist.
The Inka Trek
When you have hiked the Salkanty trek, you join in on day two of the most extended Inka trek. Three different routes are called Inka Trek; they vary in length. On the first days of our hike, we walked on paths and bare mountains, but not too rocky. Now the rest of the hike would be on paved trails and stairs.
Inka road system
The Inka road system (Qhapaq Ñan, meaning “royal road”) was the most extensive and advanced transportation system in pre-Columbian South America. It was about 40,000 kilometres. The construction of the roads required a considerable expenditure of time and effort. The network comprised formal[routes carefully planned, engineered, built, marked and maintained, paved where necessary, with stairways to gain elevation.
Because of its popularity, the Peruvian Government instituted several controls to reduce human impact on the trek and within the ancient city. The most notable is a quota system, whereby only a set number of people (including hikers, porters, and guides) would be allowed to hike along the Inka Trek daily. As of 2016, 500 permits are issued each day. Permits sell out quickly, particularly those for the high season. The Government also mandated that a guide accompany every trekking group.
Last hiking day
The last night we spent in a camp that many other groups also used. We got up before sunset to go up and get the last glimpse of Salkanty. Now we see it from the opposite side of what we had seen before. It was a cold morning, and we were served tea while catching the sunset. The sight was fantastic, and we were excited about the day ahead. It was our last day with all the guys that had walked with us, and we were served a lovely fresh cake at breakfast.
On this last day, we passed several Inka sights, I have no numbers of how many we saw on our hike, but it was at least 10. They were all well preserved, with the terraces and structures clinging to the green mountainside. Today we were going to see the promised wonder of Machu Picchu finally.
By the entrance
The Sun Gate is a fantastic viewpoint over Machu Picchu and is located to the side of Machu Picchu Mountain. In the age of the Inkas, The Sun Gate was probably used as a control gate for anyone who wanted to enter or leave the fortress. Because of the sun, we could not see Machu Picchu so clearly, but still, the view was fantastic. We first saw the details of this magnificent Inka city when we came closer.
Machu Picchu
The afternoon we arrived at Machu Picchu, we came down from the Sun Gate, but we did not have a ticket to enter from this side, so we were standing on the upper level, looking down at the whole city. Later we took the bus to Aguas Calientes, the closest village nearby. The following day we got up early and took the bus to Machu Picchu again; now, we had tickets for parts of the ruins. We were guided around for an hour; after that, we could wander around, taking pictures along with the lamas.
Aguas Calientes
I can understand the need for this village since all the visitors to Machu Picchu must pass it at least once. It is cosy enough, but not a place of much interest. It is all built up for the tourist business, full of restaurants, hotels and souvenirs. You can not reach this village by car, so the only way in and out is by foot or train. All in all, this was the end of one of the most fantastic hikes in the world; bear in mind, it is very touristic. But, it is a memory for life.
