Sunrise trek at Machu Picchu

Our tour package included a 6am entrance into Machu Picchu and the opportunity to trek to Waynapicchu, the peak that dominates all the photos of Machu Picchu. It was cloudy, and we got some dramatic views of the cloud forest. Being at the site with almost no one around (and without a guide) was wonderful as well.

The trek is a steep 1+ hour hike up irregular Inca-laid steps to a military lookout station. The site has a commanding view of the main Machu Picchu complex, as well as the river and the tourist village of Aguas Caliente. From there, we got a real sense of how crazy steep the mountain site is where Machu Picchu was built.

Of the 11 who came for sunrise, five of us were up for the trek. We hiked 1,100 feet up to around an elevation of 9,000 feet. We were better acclimated than a few days ago, but it was still tough. The views at the end and along the way were well worth it!Read more