Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 . At an altitude of about 3600m, the trail crosses
the river over a small footbridge and climbs toward Runkurakay Offline map (3750m;
Egg-Shaped Building), a round ruin with superb views. It's about an hour's walk away.
Above Runkurakay, the trail 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 snow-laden Cor-
dillera 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 trail descends to the ruin of Sayaqmarka Offline map (Dominant Town), a tightly
constructed complex perched on a small mountain spur, which offers incredible views.
The trail continues downward and crosses an upper tributary of the Río Aobamba (Wavy
Plain).
The trail then leads on across an Inca causeway and up a gentle climb through some
beautiful cloud forest and an Inca tunnel carved from the rock. This is a relatively flat sec-
tion and you'll soon arrive at the third pass at almost 3600m, which has grand views of
the Río Urubamba Valley, and campsites where some groups spend their final night, with
the advantage of watching the sun set over a truly spectacular view, but with the disad-
vantage of having to leave at 3am in the race to reach the Sun Gate in time for sunrise. If
you are camping here, be careful in the early morning as the steep incline makes the fol-
lowing steps slippery.
Just below the pass is the beautiful and well-restored ruin of Phuyupatamarka
Offline map (City Above the Clouds), about 3570m above sea level. 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-en-
gineered 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 col-
lapsed red-roofed white building that marks the final night's campsite.
A 500m trail behind the old, out of use, pub leads to the exquisite little Inca site of
Wiñay Wayna Offline map (also spelled Huiñay Huayna), which is variously translated as
'Forever Young,' 'To Plant the Earth Young' and 'Growing Young' (as opposed to 'grow-
ing old'). Peter Frost writes that the Quechua name refers to an orchid ( Epidendrum
secundum ) that blooms here year-round. The semitropical campsite at Wiñay Wayna
boasts one of the most stunning views on the whole trail, especially at sunrise. For better
or worse, the famous pub located here is now deteriorated and no longer functioning. A
rough trail leads from this site to another spectacular terraced ruin, called Intipata
 
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