I think you’d find Wiñay Wayna to be one of the most beautiful places. Walk twelve kilometers from Machu Picchu along The Inca Trail. Pass the Sun Gate. Look for the subtle left turn. It is here, set against the steep granite monoliths and tropical forest, with a vista of the high Andes and countless waterfalls - you’ll find a small Incan construction nestled on an impossibly steep cliff. A few terraces, simple stone houses, with eleven sacred cascading ceremonial fountains and a temple. Wiñay Wayna means Forever Young.
Off the normal tour, only a handful of our sizable group ventured to see it. We sit together on one of the highest terraces. In awe. Our expedition guide, Big Willie Saq’ra is wise and loves to teach us about his ancestor’s. Man, Incans are so cool! All they did was chip stones, get high on psychedelic flowers, wage war against themselves, and sacrifice animals to the sun. Jealous! I’m wasting my life.
It feels wrong when we leave Wiñay Wayna and return to camp. Jaymi naps and Willie prepares dinner with our army of porters. Soon, Pavlo and I wander off alone.
The sun slowly sets as we once again enter Wiñay Wayna. Just the two of us, we stand atop the ceremonial fountains and watch the sun set. We hear only the sound of the forest; then a train comes and goes. Pitch black, we play in the ceremonial chamber with a head torch for light. I sit in the priest’s chair and command Pavlo to dance for me. He dances in the circular arena with the head light as his partner. We attempt to make a horror film. We frolic. I wash my hands and imagine eleven members of Machu Picchu's nobility simultaneously bathing in these sacred stone fountains. Then, I sacrifice a llama using only my bare hands upon the granite alter. This last detail may or may not have actually happened.
I want to stay forever. I'm not hungry, but it’s time for dinner.
Leaving, we notice a thousand fireflies which have been here the whole time. We stay a little longer to watch them light the sky. And maybe we catch one.
