Jan 02, 2011 | Written by Patricia Murphy

Day 8 Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu

Our 3:30 am wake-up call came quite soon, and everyone was in motion. The porters wanted us out of those tents so that they could pack up all the gear that they would then take back to Peru Treks in Cusco, while we all went down to Machu Picchu.

We had a quick breakfast, then rushed down with headlamps to the checkpoint, where we were third in line so that we could make it to the Sun Gate before the crowds hit. Although you used to be able to hike the Inca Trail without a guide, regulations now allow only 500 people a day on the trail. 200 of those are usually trekkers and 300 are porters. So we stood at the checkpoint with 200 other people who would all converge on Machu Picchu at the same time. We decided we wanted to be there before the others.

So as soon as the checkpoint opened, we started sprint-hiking. The guide said the hike to the Sun Gate would take 1.5 hours, but we got there in 30 minutes. We had a good 20 minutes there taking pictures before the rest of the Trekkers started streaming in. The first view of Machu Picchu was spectacular. We had just a bit of clear weather but could see puffy clouds beneath the site. Ruth brought Christmas hats so we snapped some photos and got ready to descend.

From the Sun Gate we hiked down through Machu Picchu to drop our bags and poles, which are not allowed in the area. Then Freddy gave us a tour of the site, explaining some of the construction and customs of the Incas. After that we were on our own for a while. John and I had three goals: climb Wayna Picchu (the classic steep summit you see in the background of all the pictures), take a photograph from the Traveler’s Hut, and find a final resting place for Dad.

The trail up Wayna Picchu was slick and steep and stunning. It afforded some amazing views of Machu Picchu, and also a bit of an adrenaline rush. I’m glad I climbed it.

From there, we toured the site some more and took some photos from the famous Traveler’s Hut, which turned out so beautiful they look photoshopped.

From there, we headed to the spot that our guide told us was the cemetery and I found some beautiful lupines. I spread a pinch of Dad’s ashes there and told him how much I love him. I felt very happy to give him that beautiful view of the Urubamba Valley.

From there, we took the bus to Aguas Calientas and checked into the Sumaq Hotel. Our room was fine, with a jacuzzi tub that I used, but it was not nearly as nice as our other 2 hotels so far on the trip. We unpacked and spread out our clothes to dry, then went to town for a drink with the rest of the family, who were leaving on a 7:30 pm train. After saying our goodbyes, we returned to our hotel and had a nap, then had a 3-course dinner that was included in our room rate. It was good, but the portions were huge and we could barely eat a third of each plate. Plus we were tired, so we soon retired upstairs and went to sleep.