After getting a good nights sleep and cleaning up, we started getting organised for our 2nd visit to Machu Picchu. We went into the Ministry of Culture office to buy our tickets, and since we had unfortunately missed out on a ticket for Huayna Picchu we asked if they had any tickets that included Machupicchu Mountain instead.

They did, so we purchased those. We knew the climbing times for Huayna Picchu were set, but the lady said we could climb Machupicchu anytime. After eating our sandwiches at the gate (you are not allowed to eat inside the site) we went straight to the control point for the Montana and the girl asked why we were late.

Apparently they close the climb at 11.30 as everyone has to be off the mountain by 2pm! Luckily we were only 5 minutes late and she recognised that we are super fit beings so she let us go. We moved as quickly as possible to maximise our time at the top, as the guard would start turning people around at 1.

While Huayna Picchu is a more technical climb, Machupicchu is much higher. The entire 600m vertical ascent is stone steps, in a lot of places steeper and narrower than anything we climbed on the Inca Trail. As we sped up the hill we passed several people and doubted most of them would make it in time. In the end we reached the top in an hour, leaving us with half an hour at the top to rest and take it all in.

We were now high above Machu Picchu. No matter how many times you look at it, it doesn't become any less magical. The terraces of green framed by stone walls look different from every angle. You could study it all day and keep seeing new things, though we did struggle to see how it was shaped like a condor as everyone kept telling us.

We sat up there putting up with biting insects until the guard told us it was time to make our way down. Now there was time to take photos so we snapped a few shots of the impressive path and different views as we descended. As we passed people we had overtaken on the way up we tried to encourage them to pick up the pace, even though we knew it was unlikely they would get to the top before the guard would turn them around. Perhaps some of them will learn that knee high dress boots aren't really appropriate for climbing mountains!

It was then time to explore even more of the Incan City. First stop was the Inca Bridge. The pathway, built up against the side of the mountain and into the side of a cliff, finally reached a point where a big gap had been built in. With the removal of tree trunks used to bridge the gap, outsiders would not be able to pass.

From there we ventured onto some of the "alternative circuits" marked on the visitors map. They were indeed quite alternative. Not only was the no one else there, but these paths were also less marked and less maintained. Of course for us this made it all the more fun! We explored some sketchy terraces on the western side, having to jump and climb as we went, then a similar path on the eastern side.

We revisited a lot of other areas that we had rushed past the day prior and found that with a rested brain we were able to take it all in and appreciate it all so much more. The place can be like a maze and we really enjoyed getting lost in all the corridors and buildings.

Eventually it was time to take the bus back to town so we could catch our train. We decided that Machu Picchu is every bit as interesting and intriguing and we expected, and we were so glad that we had not only arrived there via the Inca Trail, but had also taken the time to really explore every corner of the place (except Huayna Picchu Mountain!).

LAPFWT