Machu Picchu

Once we'd made it to the viewpoint, we took off our packs and watched as the sunlight crept down the mountainside to eventually light up the ruins.

Our next stop was the "postcard pic" location, where we of course took copious amounts of photos (in the perfect morning light) and tried to soak up the incredible fact that we were finally at Machu Picchu.

Then we set off to explore the city itself:

Sun temple in the foreground and terraces stacking the mountainside

Three windows temple

Main plaza, with awesome acoustics that let you hear someone talking from the center without a microphone

We'd heard the climb up Huayna Picchu (the little mountain you see in pics of MP) was steep but worth it - so true on both counts

Buildings perched on the side of Huayna Picchu's peak

View of Machu Picchu from the top

As Cusco was designed in the shape of a puma, Machu Picchu was laid out in the shape of a condor (use your imagination)

Structures incredibly intact after 500+ years

Temple of the condor with the city above it

Sporting our matching chullos (typical sierra hats) at lunch later that afternoon

And thus ends the Meghan-Dad Peruvian adventure saga - an experience neither of us will soon forget.