Day 14: Free Day at Machu Picchu and Huana Picchu
Today is our chance to watch the sunrise at Machu Picchu, and to listen to the spirits of the city's past inhabitants before the hikers from the Inca Trail arrive. The day is yours to enjoy these magnificent ruins. In the late afternoon we return to Cusco.
I climbed Huana Picchu 
,
and back down, by foot, to the valley floor. Descending the alternative
steep slippery narrow "steps" from the rear at the crest of Huana
Picchu 
required extreme effort even with a hiking stick in hand, and while exercising
constant caution. Each step down was concentrated effort. I almost
decided to ditch my too heavy backpack half way down in order to make the
descent safely. It was the most scary situation that I can remember being
in. About twenty minutes earlier I had stumbled in making way for another
hiker near the peak, and in the process, came within inches of falling
completely off the top, so my state of mind was not confident.
,
and back down, by foot, to the valley floor. Descending the alternative
steep slippery narrow "steps" from the rear at the crest of Huana
Picchu 
required extreme effort even with a hiking stick in hand, and while exercising
constant caution. Each step down was concentrated effort. I almost
decided to ditch my too heavy backpack half way down in order to make the
descent safely. It was the most scary situation that I can remember being
in. About twenty minutes earlier I had stumbled in making way for another
hiker near the peak, and in the process, came within inches of falling
completely off the top, so my state of mind was not confident.