The sign to signify the entrance and arrival at Intipata.
The view from high elevation of the valleys from Intipata. The mystery question cropped up at this point “where is Machu Picchu?” (of course the beauty of the Inca Trail is you cannot and will not see even a glimpse of Picchu on the first 3 days of the Inca Trail).
Everyone wanted to stand on the edge so we had to walk across the top of the ruins, which looked down into the valleys. Once I was at the edge you could hear a pin drop and I wanted to have a little moment to myself to ponder. There were a few other groups around, but we each got our moments. Mine was a naked one in the freedom of Peru with the Northern Ireland flag.
One of the best places to be naked with a Northern Ireland flag.
Finding freedom in Intipata.
Intipata was a lot bigger than it looked at first, and probably up until this point was the second biggest Inca Ruins we saw. The biggest was Llacpapata on Day 1. The biggest of course was still to come the next day, Machu Picchu itself.
There were two ways down to the bottom of Intipata, we had entered at the top, and I chose to walk directly down, rather than on the spiral path. The main reason for this was so that I could enjoy more time in the ruins itself and marvel and the splendour of the purpose built layered lost city up in these mountains.
Roberta Regina, my Brazilian friend from the trek. Lovely lady and her and I finished this part of the trail together.
Of course the smile at the bottom of Intipata was one of pure relief and happiness. Just a short 30 minute stroll would lead us to our base for the night, and the only “bar” on the entire Inca Trail. Off I went…
Where – Intipata
What is it – Massive Inca Ruins, basically a lost city