Sights in Machu Picchu
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Wayna Picchu
The most famous of several short walks around Machu Picchu, the climb up the steep mountain of Wayna (also spelled Huayna) Picchu is located at the back of the ruins. At first glance, it appears a difficult climb but, despite the steep ascent, it's not technically that hard. The scramble, which takes anything from 45 to 90 minutes, takes you through a short section of Inca tunnel.
The fabulous views from the top are definitely worth the huffing and puffing, even for trekkers just stumbling in off the Inca Trail. Take care in wet weather as the steps get dangerously slippery. Beyond the central plaza between two open-fronted buildings is a registration booth, where you hav…
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Intipunku
The Inca Trail ends after its final descent from the notch in the horizon called Intipunku (Sun Gate). Looking at the hill behind you as you enter the ruins, you can see both the trail and Intipunku. This hill, called Machu Picchu, or 'old peak', gives the site its name.
It takes about an hour to reach Intipunku and, if you can spare at least a half-day for the round-trip, it may be possible to continue as far as Wiñay Wayna.
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Intihuatana
A staircase behind the Sacristy climbs a small hill to the major shrine in Machu Picchu, the Intihuatana . This Quechua word loosely translates as the 'Hitching Post of the Sun' and refers to the carved rock pillar, often mistakenly called a sundial, which stands at the top of the Intihuatana hill. The Inca's astronomers were able to predict the solstices using the angles of this pillar. Thus, they were able to claim control over the return of the lengthening summer days.
Exactly how the pillar was used for these astronomical purposes remains unclear, but its elegant simplicity and high craftwork make it a highlight of the complex. It is recorded that there were several o…
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Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock
To get a visual fix of the whole site and snap the classic postcard photograph, climb the zigzagging staircase on the left immediately after entering the complex, which leads to a hut. Known as the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock , it is one of a few buildings that has been restored with a thatched roof, making it a good shelter in the case of rain. The Inca Trail enters the city just below this hut.
The carved rock behind the hut may have been used to mummify the nobility, hence the hut's name.
If you continue straight into the ruins instead of climbing to the hut, you pass through extensive terracing to a beautiful series of 16 connected ceremonial baths that c…
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Central Plaza
At the back of the Intihuatana is another staircase. It descends to the Central Plaza, which separates the ceremonial sector of Machu Picchu from the more mundane residential and industrial sectors, which were not as well-constructed. At the lower end of this latter area is the Prison Group, a labyrinthine complex of cells, niches and passageways both under and above the ground.
The centerpiece of the group is the Temple of the Condor, which contains a carving of the head of a condor, with the natural rocks behind it resembling the bird's outstretched wings. Behind the condor is a well-like hole and, at the bottom of this, the door to a tiny underground cell that can only…
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Temple of the Sun
Just above and to the left of the ceremonial baths is Machu Picchu's only round building, the Temple of the Sun , a curved and tapering tower that contains some of Machu Picchu's finest stonework. It appears to have been used for astronomical purposes. Inside are an altar and a curiously drilled trapezoidal window that looks onto the site.
The Temple of the Sun is cordoned off to visitors, but you can see into it from above, which is how you'll be approaching it if you take the stairs leading down and to the left from the caretaker's hut.
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Inca Drawbridge
On the other side of the ruins, a scenic but level walk from the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock takes you right past the top of the terraces and out along a narrow, cliff-clinging trail to the Inca drawbridge. In under a half hour's walk, the trail gives you a good look at cloud-forest vegetation and an entirely different view of Machu Picchu.
You'll have to be content with photographing the bridge from behind a barrier a few hundred meters above it, as someone crossed the bridge a while back and tragically fell to their death.
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Temple of the Moon
To get to the small Temple of the Moon, you take a plunging path down past Wayna Picchu. The trail is easy to follow, but involves steep sections, a ladder and an overhanging cave, where you have to bend over to get by. The spectacular trail drops and climbs steeply before plunging into the cloud forest. Suddenly, you reach a cleared area where the small, very well-made ruins are found. It's just a shame they're marred by graffiti.
The descent takes about an hour, and the ascent back to the main Wayna Picchu trail longer.
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Warmiwañusca
From Llulluchupampa, a good path (taking two to three hours) up the left-hand side of the valley climbs to the pass of Warmiwañusca, also colorfully known as 'Dead Woman's Pass'. At 4198m (13,773ft) above sea level, this is the highest point of the trek, and leaves many a seasoned hiker gasping. From Warmiwañusca, you can see the Río Pacamayo (Sunrise River) far below, as well as the ruin of Runkurakay halfway up the next hill, above the river.
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Phuyupatamarka
Towards the end of the Inca Trail, you'll reach the beautiful, well-restored ruin of Phuyupatamarka (Town Above the Clouds), about 3600m (11,811ft) above sea level, which contains a stunning series of ceremonial baths with water running through them. A ridge here also offers camping - while it's a fabulous spot to watch the sun set, it's also the place where keen trekkers leave at 03:00 in a race to reach the Sun Gate in time for sunrise.
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Principal Temple
With the Temple of the Three Windows behind you, the Principal Temple is to your right. Its name derives from the massive solidity and perfection of its construction. The damage to the rear right corner of the temple is the result of the ground settling below this corner rather than any inherent weakness in the masonry itself. Opposite the Principal Temple is what is known as the House of the High Priest.
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Sacred Plaza
Climbing the stairs above the ceremonial baths, you reach a flat area of jumbled rocks, once used as a quarry. Turn right at the top of the stairs and walk across the quarry on a short path leading to the four-sided Sacred Plaza . The far side contains a small viewing platform (with a curved wall) that offers a view of the snowy Cordillera Vilcabamba in the far distance and the Río Urubamba below.
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Sacristy
Behind and connected to the Principal Temple lies a famous small building called the Sacristy . It has many well-carved niches, perhaps used for the storage of ceremonial objects, as well as a carved stone bench. The Sacristy is especially known for the two rocks flanking its entrance; each is said to contain 32 angles, but it's easy to come up with a different number whenever you count them.
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de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón
Don't miss the new Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón by Puente Ruinas at the base of the footpath to Machu Picchu. Buses headed back from the ruins to Aguas Calientes will stop upon request at the bridge, from where you can head back to town later, usually less than a half hour's walk.
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Royal Tomb
Below the temple is an almost hidden, natural rock cave that has been carefully carved, with a steplike altar and sacred niches, by the Inca stonemasons. It is known as the Royal Tomb , though no mummies were actually ever found here.
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Temple of the Three Windows
Important buildings flank the Sacred Plaza. The Temple of the Three Windows commands an impressive view of the plaza below through the huge trapezoidal windows that give the building its name.
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