The Sun Gate

Alarm call at 2.30am, breakfast at 3am, depart at 3.30am, all in the pouring rain and pitch black. We descended almost a kilometre over steep, slippy steps by torchlight...my knees were in agony by the end.

We passed through the checkpoint into the Machu Picchu national park around 5.30am and began the final approach - 1 hour undulating, 20 mins steep stairs (the 'Gringo-killers') to the Sun Gate (and our first glimpse of Machu Picchu), then 40 mins downhill was the brief. In actuality, the terrain remained fairly constant - uneven, undulating stones with frequent stairs...murder on already-aching legs.

The anticipated view from the Sun Gate was sadly obscured by rolling cloud although there were tantalising glimpses. So, we steadied ourselves for the final push...Read more