Peru: Cuzco & Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu (Day 225-232)

We took a night bus straight away after returning from our 3-day trek in the Colca Canyon. We slept the whole journey, I can tell you... We did well as we did not really take time to rest before heading towards the famous MACHU PICCHU - indeed a 4-day trek called 'The Inca Jungle Trail', an alternative to the traditional Inca trail (which needs to be booked well in advance and is expensive). 10 French + 2 Belgian. What a team! Our Spanish skills were not going to improve quickly at this pace! 

Day 1: Mountain Biking downhill (2000 to 3000 m) to Santa Maria. It ended to be a very luxurious trek as we ate and slept very well during 4 days! We even drunk one of the best Mojito at 'The Only Bar' in Santa Maria. 

Day 2: Jungle trek with a so so weather. The best part was actually on the traditional Inca trail - 1h - amazing views! That day I even swam or bathed I should say in the Rio (which I thought would be freezing) - results of losing at JENGA the night before. It was actually very enjoyable! A night out in Santa Theresa, 8.30 pm we were in the night club and out at 11 pm sweating... due to my upset stomach, not alcohol... which will be for the next 3 weeks...

Day 3: Walk to Aguas Calientes (the Machu Picchu town) along the railway, getting ready for the 1700 steps to climb the day after at 5 am hoping for a better weather... 

Day 4: Machu Picchu attracts 1000 visitors a day in peak season. You need to be in the 400 first to have the chance to get to the top of the Wayna Picchu. We ended to be in the first 100 (We made it!) but due to the rainy weather, we finally decided not to climb it! Despite the rainy periods, the site was exceptional and mystic... The clouds must be part of it as they made it even more dramatic. The only shame has been that we missed the chance to have our expected nap in the middle of Machu Picchu!

Back to Cuzco by train (one of the most expensive railway journeys in the world!) -so  only half way by train and the rest by bus... 

We then definitely needed some rest and thus stayed 2 extra days in Cuzco and wandering around the Sunday market in Pisac. Cuzco is a pleasant city even though very touristy. Nice market where you can taste delicious fruit juices and local dishes. We even had the chance to experience one of the street fiesta where hundreds of Peruvian danced around the Plaza de Armas in colorful costumes. 

Note: Every city, town and village in Peru do have a Plaza de Armas.

In the mercado central... nice ones!

La fiesta in Cuzco... For the 100 years of Machu Picchu - high in colors!

How the women carry their children...

Pisac market on a Sunday...

Start of our 4-day trek - Inca Jungle Trail

Day 1 - more than 2000 m down by bike! Great fun...

View from one segment of the Inca trail (the traditional one)

In the jungle

A little bath in ther Urubamba River (I lost at Jenga game on the previous day... so here was the gage!) Not so cold after all...

Dancing night in Santa Theresa...

Machu Picchu, after climbing up 1700 steps in the dark... Beautiful despite the lovely weather!!!

Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.