We caught the 6am bus from the hotel in the valley to get us up to the ruins for sunrise. The previous night it had rained heavily and the valleys were filled with early morning mist.

As the sun crept over the ridge the mists begin to lift.

This photograph shows terracing that the inhabitants of Machu Picchu would have used for growing a wide variety of crops.

Some buildings have had their roofs restored using traditional thatching.

The first rays of sun hit the ruins.

The foreground silhouette is actually the back of an altar carved from solid stone. Its top is shaped to resemble the mountain behind.

OK, so here's the shot that every tourist gets!

Aguas Calientes, the less than salubrious town at the base of Machu Picchu. This is where all but one of the local hotels are situated.