Inca2016

2016 Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu
Organized by travel agents extraordinare Lorraine and Tod Whittemore - www.planurescape.com
Itinerary1 161104 1131 56 Parade outside our hotel 161104 1131 10 Lorraine and Pamela checking out the parade 161104 1931 55 Dinner at the Inca Grill restaurant
161104 2020 18 (Made to order) chocolate mousse dessert 161105 0727 03 Renee and Denise having breakfast at the hotel 161105 0728 35 View from the hotel breakfast window 161105 0740 45 Colegio La Merced
161105 0807 52 Plaza De Armas, the main square in Cusco 161105 0807 56 Plaza De Armas, the main square in Cusco 161105 0809 20 A side street off the main square 161105 0920 26 Tour of Inca ruins above Cusco - "sexywoman"
161105 0932 31 161105 0927 52 How did they move and fit those huge rocks? 161105 0950 39 The zig-zag nature of the walls protected them from falling down during earthquakes 161105 0947 15
161105 0929 57 161105 0952 10 Image of a llama in the stones 161105 1021 06 161105 1007 16 Pukapukara - possible lookout overlooking the Cusco valley, or a royal hunting lodge
161105 1009 32 Pukapukara - overlooking the valley 161105 1010 23 Pukapukara 161105 1006 26 161105 1044 55 Ruins at Qenqo - area may have been used for animal sacrifice or for royal mummification
161105 1046 24 Exiting the Qenqo with Cusco in the distance below 161105 1150 48 Qorikancha Inca Temple to the Sun God Inti - now the Church of Santo Domingo, this Inca King's room was preserved 161105 1216 58 The dark grey wall on top is from the Incas - all others below it are pre-Incan 161105 1217 44 Our group outside the Incan Temple wall
Itinerary2b Cusco Oly Route of bus ride from Cusco to town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley 161106 0757 17 Ollantaytambo map day1 Van ride from Ollantaytambo to end of road at rail marker Km 82, where we start out hike along the river
161106 0939 27 Getting packed up to begin hiking 161106 0941 50 Denise and our guide Reuben 161106 0948 16 Off we go, heading to the trail along the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley 161106 1017 57 Lyn catching some shade along the trail
161106 1025 26 Catching some shade in a ruin along the trail 161106 1046 57 161106 1110 53 Jon in ruins (so to speak...) 161106 1221 37 A later break on carved stone steps by another ruin
161106 1357 37 Lunch stop above the river, before the checkpoint and crossing bridge 161106 1357 16 Porters packing up the meal tent after lunch 161106 1421 33 Checking our passsports and permits at our first checkpoint along the trail 161106 1419 22 Crossing the river after the checkpoint
161106 1505 46 First night camp outside the ruins at Llaqtapata 161107 0537 54 First night's camp outside the ruins at Llaqtapata 161107 0629 09 Breakfast the next morning 161107 0650 57 Support crew and hiker introductions
161107 0654 17 Group photo with Llaqtapata in the background Trail profile Trail elevation profile (in meters) map day2 Second day hike up river valleys to camp at Llulluchapampa 161107 0740 44 Ruins at Llaqtapata
161107 0744 22 Ruins at Llaqtapata 161107 0744 09 Llamas wandering around Llaqtapata 161107 0744 50 Llama wandering into Llaqtapata 161107 0745 29 ...and following his buddies into the tower
161107 0756 34 Hiking by Llaqtapata towards the Kusichaca river valley 161107 0814 40 Ruins at Llaqtapata 161107 0824 16 Ruins at Llaqtapata 161107 0823 48 At head of the Kusichaca valley overlooing ruins at Llaqtapata
161107 0823 56 Heading up the Kusichaca River valley 161107 0844 37 Another quick break to enjoy the view 161107 0845 50 Sign along the trail - SERNANP is an acronym for National Service of Natural Protected Areas of Peru 161107 0846 05 Lyn on the trail
161107 1009 30 Approaching the village of Wayllabamba 161107 1053 11 Where we bought water and Gatorade, and took a break 161107 1053 17 Taking a break at Wayllabamba 161107 1126 49 Checkpoint above Wayllabamba
161107 1126 35 "Historical Sanctuary of MachuPicchu" - National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Peru) 161107 1126 22 Another Inca Trail profile sign (we're travelling left to right on this one) 161107 1127 47 Flowers along the trail 161107 1128 02 Flowers along the trail
161107 1128 18 Flowers along the trail 161107 1402 02 The trail gaining elevation and becoming steeper as it heads up the valley towards Dead Woman Pass 161107 1426 51 Becoming rocky steps in the cloud forest 161107 1427 05 Tod and Lorraine in the cloud forest
161107 1430 15 In the cloud forest 161107 1438 49 In the cloud forest 161107 1503 46 161107 1514 47 In the cloud forest
161107 1631 19 Campsite at Llulluchapampa - elev. 12,589 ft. 161107 1632 30 Campsite at Llulluchapampa map day3 Map of day 3 hike 161108 0604 52 Early morning start to climb the final 800 ft. over Dead Woman Pass
161108 0605 04 Climbing up to Dead Woman Pass 161108 0639 55 Climbing up to Dead Woman Pass 161108 0647 30 Looking back towards our campsite at Llulluchapampa (it's just around the corner - you can't see it) 161108 0648 01 Climbing up to Dead Woman Pass
161108 0745 26 The footway to Dead Woman Pass 161108 0804 02 Dead Woman Pass (13,776 ft.) 161108 0805 18 Dead Woman Pass (13,776 ft.) 161108 0811 37 Dead Woman Pass (13,776 ft.)
161108 0815 38 Climbing down from Dead Woman Pass to a break at Paq'aymayo in the valley 161108 0815 50 Climbing down from Dead Woman Pass to a break at Paq'aymayo in the valley 161108 0832 27 On the trail still way above Paq'aymayo 161108 0833 06 Above Paq'aymayo in the valley
161108 0856 53 The Inca Trail heading down towards Paq'aymayo 161108 0901 02 Found on a boulder along the trail... 161108 0908 00 More descending trail going down to Paq'aymayo 161108 1059 17 Continuing on the trail out of Paq'aymayo to the next pass at Runkurakay
161108 1116 00 Looking back at Dead Woman Pass and the trail down to Paq'aymayo and then up to here 161108 1123 25 Approaching Runkurakay ruin 161108 1131 58 Runkurakay - probably just a waystation along the trail 161108 1146 09 Runkurakay - probably just a waystation along the trail
161108 1236 15 Going thru a tunnel on the descent from the 13,022 t. pass at Runkurakay 161108 1236 43 Emerging from the tunnel into the clouds 161108 1318 52 Descending through the clouds 161108 1329 47
161108 1337 45 Trail traversing the ruins at Oochamarka 161108 1451 45 Late lunch at Chaqiqocha campsite - it rained for a few minutes while we were eating in the tent and then it stopped 161108 1544 16 Continuing on the trail 161108 1616 41 In the clouds again...
161108 1620 02 Colorful mosses on the side of the trail, extracting moisture from the clouds 161109 0605 25 Campsite at Phuyupatamarka (12,033 ft.) 161109 0411 20 Sleeping tens all set up for us 161109 0524 35 The view above the clouds
161109 0509 50 Packing up after breakfast 161109 0613 06 Farewell ceremony with crew - we won't see them again after lunch today 161109 0613 32 Farewell ceremony with crew, including passing out gratuities 161109 0629 30 Final group photo
161109 0632 27 Jon & Lyn purchasing a hand woven table runner made by his wife map day4 Day 4 route to Machu Picchu 161109 0640 31 Big descent to the ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0642 23 The ruins at Phuyupatamarka ("city in the clouds")
161109 0646 00 More careful descending 161109 0647 22 The ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0649 14 The ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0648 46 Water & irrigation control at Phuyupatamarka
161109 0651 26 Ceremonial baths at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0652 44 Ruinsl at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0653 57 161109 0655 28
161109 0703 00 Steps on the wall for climbing up the terraces 161109 0657 06 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0656 44 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0706 56 More ruins at Phuyupatamarka
161109 0707 20 Jon and the ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0707 31 Hiking thru the ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0710 47 Descending thru the ruins at Phuyupatamarka 161109 0719 49 Inca Trail through more cloud forest
161109 0800 53 MachuPicchu mountain - the ruins are not visible from here... 161109 0801 02 More slow descending 161109 0833 40 Getting passed by a porter from another crew 161109 0842 10 Another tunnel
161109 0842 34 Another tunnel 161109 1048 15 Lunch on a terrace near the Winaywayna ruins 161109 1048 37 Lunch (Lomo Saltado) on a terrace near the Winaywayna ruins 161109 1159 23
161109 1157 30 Lichen 161109 1225 22 161109 1249 27 Approaching Intipunku (the Sun Gate) 161109 1254 24 Incredibly steep stairs - hand-over-hand climbing
161109 1312 04 Final climp up to the Sun Gate 161109 1322 29 From the Sun Gate with Machu Picchu in the background 161109 1323 59 At the Sun Gate 161109 1325 08 Overlooking Machu Picchu
161109 1331 26 Descending to Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate 161109 1340 30 Machu Picchu 161109 1351 30 At Machu Picchu 161109 1439 01 At Machu Picchu
161109 1549 29 Room at the Casa del Sol in Aquas Calientes 161109 1747 11 Celebration dinner at the Casa Del Sol in Aguas Calientes 161109 1747 27 Celebration dinner at the Casa Del Sol in Aguas Calientes 161110 0619 38 Exploring Machu Picchu
161110 0620 37 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0652 49 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0654 51 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0656 47 Torreon - the Temple of the Sun
161110 0659 41 The Temple of the Sun 161110 0706 38 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0707 07 Example of Inca stone wall expertise 161110 0708 09 Exploring Machu Picchu
161110 0709 19 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0710 50 Possible stone quarry 161110 0736 27 The Prindipal Temple 161110 0741 30 The Inti Watana "Hitching Post of the Sun" astronomic clock - a sundial used for the soltices
161110 0742 15 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0743 12 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0744 12 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0744 18 Exploring Machu Picchu
161110 0753 34 Sacred rock echoing the shape of the sacred mountains behind it 161110 0758 20 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0758 40 Exploring Machu Picchu 161110 0803 24 Exploring Machu Picchu
161110 0816 41 Water mirrors for observing the sun... 161110 0817 12 For observing the sun... 161110 0823 37 The Temple of the Condor 161110 1005 33 Llamas
161110 1006 08 Llamas 161110 1007 58 Llamas 161110 1008 55 Llamas 161110 1009 43 Exploring Machu Picchu
161110 1014 23 161110 1116 53 By the trail to the Inca Bridge 161110 1115 11 Jon napping by the trail 161110 1121 47 A llama that won't take no for an answer...
161110 1220 26 Pamela in Aguas Calientes 161110 1432 48 Denise aboard the PeruRail Vista train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo 161110 1433 03 Saint and Kelly on the Vista train 161110 1433 06 Tod and Lorriane on the Vista train
161110 1433 30 Denise and Pamela 161110 1433 43 Jon and Lyn 161110 1438 28 Reme and Pamela 161110 1525 37 Performing a dance while waiting for the track to clear
161111 1039 56 Lorraine and Tod at the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1039 26 At the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1040 41 At the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1042 59 At the San Pedro market in Cusco
161111 1044 52 At the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1045 13 At the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1046 05 At the San Pedro market in Cusco 161111 1052 24 At the San Pedro market in Cusco
161111 1211 58 Outside the Inca Museum 161111 1157 57 Plaza De Armas, Cusco 161111 1202 31 Plaza De Armas, Cusco 161111 1202 44 Plaza De Armas, Cusco