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Sayaqmarka
The name means Inaccessible Town or possibly
Dominant Town. On descending the Trail from the
Second Pass and approaching the bottom of the valley
Sayaqmarka will be seen a short way up the hillside on
the left. From it there are good views of the Second and
Third Passes. Although Sayaqmarka is a much bigger ruin
than Runkuraqay the colours of the stone work seem to
blend in with the landscape so photographs of it from a
distance don't always turn out very well. Needless to say
this picture was taken inside the ruins.
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Inca Tunnel
The photo shows an Indian porter with a load on his
back disappearing into a 20 metre long tunnel that the
Incas dug through solid rock without modern tools and
equipment. The Trail passes through a forest and after
the tunnel there is a gentle climb to the Third Pass.
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Phuyupatamarka
Phuyupatamarka, or Cloud-Level Town is just
after the Third Pass. From it you can see down to the
River Urubamba and the terraces of Intipata and
Wiñawayna. The views are even better from the high
ground just to the side of the Third Pass since from
there you can also see back along the trail stretching
from Sayaqmarka as well as the snow-capped peak of
Salcantay (6,270 metres), among other mountains.
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