Cuzco & Machu Picchu - Discover Peru: Experience the Best of Peru - page 454

where there is water available and the flats are dotted with campsites. This is as far as you
can reasonably expect to get on your first day, though many groups will actually spend
their second night here.
From Llulluchupampa, the trail then ascends to Warmiwañusca Pass - also colorfully
known as 'Dead Woman's Pass.' At about 4200m above sea level, this is the highest point
of the trek - leaving many a seasoned hiker gasping. From Warmiwañusca, you can see
the Río Pacamayo (Río Escondido) far below, as well as the ruin of Runkurakay halfway
up the next hill, above the river.
The trail continues down a long and knee-jarringly steep descent to the river, where
there are large campsites at Paq'amayo (3600m). The trail then crosses the river over a
small footbridge and climbs toward Runkurakay Offline map , a round ruin with superb
views.
Day Three
Above Runkurakay the path then climbs to a false summit before continuing past two
small lakes, to the top of the second pass at 3950m, which has views of the snowcapped
Cordillera Vilcabamba. You'll notice a change in ecology as you descend from this pass -
you're now on the eastern, Amazon slope of the Andes and things immediately get green-
er. The path then descends to the ruin of Sayaqmarka , a tightly constructed complex on
a mountain spur with incredible views, and then continues downward, crossing a tributary
of the Río Aobamba.
From here, the walk continues across an Inca causeway and up a gentle climb through
some beautiful cloud forest and an Inca tunnel Offline map carved from rock. This is a rel-
atively flat section and you'll soon arrive at the third pass , at almost 3600m. This spot
has grand views of the Río Urubamba valley, as well as campsites where some groups
spend their final night. While the sunsets are beautiful, the disadvantage of camping here
is having to leave at 3am in the race to reach the Sun Gate in time for sunrise. Be careful
in the early morning as the steep incline makes the following steps slippery.
Just below the pass is the well-restored ruin of Phuyupatamarka Offline map (3570m).
The site contains six beautiful ceremonial baths with water running through them. From
Phuyupatamarka, the trail makes a dizzying dive into the cloud forest below, following an
incredibly well-engineered flight of many hundreds of Inca steps. (It's nerve-racking in
the early hours, use a headlamp.) After two or three hours, the trail eventually zigzags its
way down to a collapsed red-roofed white building that marks the final night's campsite,
which contains a series of ceremonial baths.