Aguas Calientes

The Urubamba River flowing outside our hotel room near the base of Machu Picchu.

Hike to Waynu Picchu

 We went on a hike up to the top of Waynu Picchu. It was about 10 billion stairs that were carved into the side of the mountain. The steepness and the hike were worth the absolutely breath taking views we experienced at the top. It truly was priceless.

After we made it to the top, we decided to hike down the other side of the mountain to the Grand Cavern and the Temple of the Moon. Most of us missed the temple because it was just on the other side of the hill, but this is a photo of the Grand Cavern.

Ancient Wisdom of Machu Picchu Revealed!

Day two of Machu Picchu we had a tour guide that revealed what truly makes Machu Picchu amazing (it is not just eye candy). Here are some of the revealed ancient wisdom. 

This flower is growing strong off of trees and called the Angel's Trumpet, and is very toxic! 

This rock contained a carving matching the mountainous topography surrounding Machu Picchu.

The shadow of this stone finishes the Andean Cross, but only on the winter solstice!  

The compass set by our tour guide onto this carved compass, was EXACTLY inline with South. 

This room was acoustically animated! The boys are sort of 'mooing' and creating
 a very deep sound echoing throughout the space. 

This is a stone sundial carved from the natural rock. It is able to indicate equinoxes ,
on those days (March 21 + Sept 21) there is no shadow cast at all by the pillar. It is not
completely vertical tilting at 13 degrees to the North, which is the exact latitude of
Machu Picchu South of the Equator!  

This is the view of Machu Picchu from the Gate of the Sun, which is the original entrance
and point the hikers who do the 3 day Incan Trail Trek enter as well. 

The Incan Drawbridge was blocked off at this point because of previous Tourists
death and injuries of falling off!