So instead we'll walk down that way. Alex (our guide) told us that it was an easy, relatively flat walk down. We didn't see how that was possible but Alex did not lie - it was an easy stroll from to lunch.

Woke up at 3:30 to take a place in a queue to the final checkpoint before Machu Picchu that opens at 5:30. We were 5th in the queue (pretty impressive considering that there are about 300 people at the final campsite).

Laura and I at Intipunku, the Sun Gate, with Machu Picchu behind us. The sun was just starting to rise above the mountains to the East. The ridge just behind my left ear is getting the first rays of sun.

yummy alpaca food

Katie and Tom at the Inca site of Runkuracay on day three.

The Incas constructed a trail and cleared the mountain of the all the thick forestation (like that you can see here) then built a city. That's just crazy.

Peru 2005 - Inca Trail

Rain clouds obscuring the mountains at Km82 - Yeah. It was raining when we started the hike, and we were behind schedule. Not a good start to a 4 day trek!

Inca Trail Day 1

Peru 2005 - Inca Trail