Hiking around Machu Picchu and Motorbiking in the Sacred Valley, Peru

Posted on April 26th, 2010

Tags

blogsherpa, Cusco, Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Urutamba, Wayna Picchu

After spending a few days in Cusco recovering from the previous three days riding rough roads endlessly through the Andes, we took a bus to the Piscacucho train station – where the trains now leave for Machu Picchu. The late afternoon bus ride took us down into the Sacred Valley which has gentle rolling green and brown hills with some snow covered peaks behind them.

En-route to Piscacucho, Peru

Descending into Sacred Valley en-route to Piscacucho, Peru

The bus route goes through the former Inca town of Ollyantambo which has significant ruins perched on a hill above the now very touristy town.

Ollyantambo, Peru

Our ‘Vista-dome’ train wasn’t much use as it was dark when we set out for the 35 km journey that took 1 hour and 20 minutes. We arrived in Aguas Calientes and set the alarm for 5am in order to be one of the first 400 people to be allowed to climb Huayna Picchu (the ruins perched on a steep rock above Machu Picchu. Unfortunately the phone alarm volume was low and we didn’t set out until about 6:30am. We walked from Aguas Calientes to the base of the site and hiked up about 1 hour to the site to the parking lot of minibuses disgorging hordes of tourists.

Starting hike up Machu Picchu, Peru

We walked to the Sun Gate at the start/end of the Inca trail and got some good views of the valley and Machu Picchu itself.

Machu and Huayna Picchu Seen From Hike to Sun Gate, Machu Picchu, Peru

River Valley View From Hike to Sun Gate, Machu Picchu, Peru

Then with some trepidation I agreed to hike to Cerro Machu Picchu (the highest mountain rising from the site itself). It was worth it as it gave sweeping views of the entire site as well as most of the river valley that defines Machu Picchu.

Sitting on the Peak of Cerro Machu Picchu, Peru

Hiking Up Cerro Machu Picchu, Peru

By 3:30 we finally made it into the ruins themselves and walked about the site fairly crowded with other tourists.

Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, Peru

The following day we took the motorbike and drove around the Sacred Valley stopping in Pisac – an entirely tourist driven town. Neither of us had much inclination to explore the other ruins in the valley because after the Machu Picchu site, it was quite clear that they would be disappointing and none would have the same grandiose natural setting.

Not So Inspiring Pisac, Peru

Cusco Sacred Valley Loop Elevation Profile

Cuscu and Machu Picchu, Peru

96 photos

Slideshow

Cusco to Sacred valley

2 Responses to “Hiking around Machu Picchu and Motorbiking in the Sacred Valley, Peru”

PROUD PARENT says:

April 28, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Nice photos .Looks more a trial of endurance than a rock climb to get to the top . Did you get to the summit or stop at the ruined town ?

Reply
- Gauchito Gil says:
  
  April 29, 2010 at 7:44 pm
  
  It was a good hike – hardly any other tourists were doing it. Yes, the Cerro Machu Picchu is the peak – or the original Machu Picchu. The ruins are about 1/3 of the total hike to the top – although there is nothing up there except a tattered flag and a sun-shaded bench…
  
  Reply