Tag 117: Machu Picchu

It's 4 o'clock. Unlovingly, we are awakened by our alarm clock. Today is the last day of our 'Inka Jungle Trail', which means we will finally visit Machu Picchu today. We leave the hostel and walk through the dark but already lively village. All the tourists are awake and running hectically through the streets. There are two options to get to Machu Picchu. Option A is to take the bus up. If you want to save money for the bus and are relatively fit, you choose Option B: the nearly 2,000 Inca steps. Sabrina decides to take the bus and I choose the stairs. It's now 4:15 a.m., I say goodbye to Sabrina for now at the seemingly endless line of people in front of the bus stop and walk with Tobias through the darkness to the bridge at the foot of the mountain. The bridge and thus the way to the stairs opens at 5 o'clock. Although we still have over 30 minutes, there are already many people in front of the bridge. Of course, the question arises why we are doing all this at such an inhumane hour. The answer is simple: everyone wants to be at Machu Picchu at sunrise. 5 o'clock, the bridge opens. The passports are quickly checked and off we go. Armed with flashlights, we fight our way up the steep stairs through the forest to Machu Picchu along with hundreds of other tourists. We were told that it would take about 1.5 hours. At the edge of the stairs, there are repeatedly panting, sweaty people on the verge of collapse. We started in the darkness and after 45 minutes we finally reach the summit and entrance to Machu Picchu in the daylight. Sabrina is already waiting, but only for five minutes. Her advantage: she is not sitting in front of the entrance soaking wet with sweat, coughing her lungs out of her chest. We wait until the group is complete and everyone has made their way up. Our guide puts pressure on us. We pass the control and find ourselves in Machu Picchu. It is big, it is green. Machu Picchu is located in the middle of a very high circular green mountain range. Fog moves like thick smoke through the mountain peaks, the first rays of sun fight their way through the thick clouds. Our visit starts with a guided tour. We learn some things about the Inca architecture and social customs. However, not much, because many details about the short existence of the Incas do not exist. After the tour, we have a few hours to explore freely. We walk around a bit, take the obligatory photos and look at everything. While we are on our way to the Sun Gate to get a view of the entire Inca site, two girls from our group observe a llama birth among the ruins of the Incas. The whole stay is unique. It's now 11:30 a.m. Speechless from the impressions, we make our way down, because in four hours our bus will drive back to Cuzco and the way to Hidroeléctrica is still long. Going down the almost 2,000 stairs is almost as exhausting as going up. After 30 minutes, we arrive with trembling legs at the bottom. In a good pace and in a good mood, we walk back along the train tracks from yesterday for two to three hours. Exhausted, hungry, and with sore feet, we arrive just in time at the meeting point. We get on the way too cramped bus and drive 7 hours back to Cuzco. We are back at the hostel. Off to bed.