Afternoon Awe: Our First Glimpse of Machu Picchu Through the Sun Gate

We’d spent the morning hiking the seven miles up the Inca Trail (see that blog post here) in anticipation of this moment. We stayed at the Sun Gate for quite some time, just taking in the incredible view.

In a fusion of the modern world with the ancient, we received a blast of text messages on our phones just as we arrived at the Sun Gate. It must have been the only place for reception up there. We were able to tend to most of the messages later, but one was important…a message from Scott’s dad about the passing of his dear friend. Tom Bell had made a strong impression on Scott’s early childhood, and his spirit of adventure was an inspiration to Scott. Somehow, reflecting on Tom’s life as we entered this sacred space, seemed a just tribute to a life well lived.

As we made our way from the Sun Gate toward Machu Picchu, the ancient city slowly unfurled below us like a vision from another world.

At first, we were standing high above the valley, seeing the city bathed in afternoon sunlight. We could see the path from the Sun Gate to the city. It curved gently along the mountainside, carved into stone by hands long gone, and, of course, there would be many steps along the route. The lush green of the Andean jungle surrounded us, and even sharing the moment with the many people who had come to Machu Picchu that day didn’t disrupt the awe we felt.

Soon after we began making our way towards the city, we came upon an alter, carved long ago into a massive outcropping of granite. Passersby had made coca leaf offerings at the alter, and Saul explained that the sacred and ancient Andean tradition holds significant spiritual meaning and is a respectful way to connect with the mountain spirits and honor Mother Earth.

We each chose three of the freshest and most perfect-looking coca leaves from Saul’s bag, held the leaves as shown in the photo above, then raised them high toward the mountain peaks. We gently blew on the leaves three times to send our prayer to the mountains, the sun and Mother Earth. We then laid our leaves on the alter, setting a tiny stone to hold them in place.

For the full details of the coco leaf offering, see our blog post on Exploring Local Culture in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

After the offering, we continued down the trail and, as the distance began to close, all the crisp details came into view, and the lost city was truly revealed.

We ascended down towards the citadel following stone terraces that seemed to serve as ancient steps into the sacred past. The iconic peak of Huayna Picchu rises behind the city like a sentinel. The precision of the ruins, even from this distance, is striking — perfectly fitted stones forming terraces, temples, plazas, and dwellings in balance with the mountain.

The trail narrowed as we descended, each step drawing us closer. The perspective changed, and the city grew larger, more real. We finally emerged onto a wide terrace — and suddenly, we were within the world the Inca once inhabited. It was a breathtaking moment.

We were unprepared for the mixture of emotion and awe we would feel at this incredible place, which is truly a Wonder of the World. We stayed on the terrace for at least 30 minutes, reflecting on the beauty, the ingenuity, the sacredness of this place.

Looking out over the citadel, you can’t help but wonder how the people who built Machu Picchu found and then selected this particular spot.

What they achieved in its construction is a site that blends perfectly with its surroundings, reflecting the Incan philosophy of living in harmony with nature

There are llamas that live at Machu Picchu, and they often weave their way through the throngs of tourists visiting the site to graze on the terraces surrounding the citadel.

Llamas held great cultural, economic and religious significance in the Incan culture, serving as pack animals, and providing wool for blankets, clothing and ropes. The size of someone’s llama herd was an indication of their wealth. Llamas were also considered a sacred animal, and white llamas were especially sacred and symbolized purity and divine connection. We were fortunate that a sweet baby white llama had been born the morning that we arrived! This baby was still unsteady on its feet, and Mama Llama stayed close at hand, spitting at other llamas who dared invade the space of her new baby. The park rangers kept a watchful eye as well, ensuring that the tourists stayed beyond the rope lines they had placed to protect this new addition to the Machu Picchu herd

Tomorrow, we would return to Machu Picchu and explore the heart of the citadel. As we skirted the city and made our way down to the entrance, where we’d be taken by bus to Aguas Calientes, we were already anticipating our return to this sacred place!