MACHU PICCHU

This is the day that made us come to Peru although Preu has certainly much more to offer. The trip is offered by two train services, Inka rail or Peru rail (pretty similar prices) and multiple operators who also organise some of the treks there.

We used the facility / package of Inca rail that includes pick up, a bus to Olentayuba and train to Agua Calientes and then final half hour bus to Machu Picchu archaeological site. We also included a guide, for less than we thought. That was for a shared tour guide but more on that later.

After some small delay on the 04:20 pickup all worked perfectly. The 1st bus goes to windy roads, passing small non descriptive villages that were still asleep. It takes about an hour 45 minutes. We were at the front and amazingly, given the sharp turns but understandably after 2 very early starts, we slept a long while in spite of the turns.

There was multiple check of our passports (they seem to like that here) and the embarking to the train happened under Andean music and drizzle.

The trip to Agua Calientes was under rain so the view was a bit suboptimal but that changed on the way back. Two of the staff of the railway performed a parody of a local play about a loving couple in the carriage.

When we arrived at Calientes we were introduced to our guide and realised he was only for us two. Very nice guy proved to be both pleasant and informative. The queues for the buses look massive but they move so quickly that you should not worry. Some excellent views on the way up of the surrounding mountain was only the start.

When we entered the site it was awesome. Fog was moving quickly so one moment you could not see and the next the most magnificent views came in front of us.

This is definitely one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world.

The guide, Jordie, explained details of the structure of the site, the type of material used, and particularly the ingenious drainage system that still functions and would put a lot of our crowded city centres into shame. (part of it in picture 5 down).

The mountain above that was sacred and used for sacrifices too was coming into and out of view depending on the tricks of cloud and fog.

The way down was impressive as it was clearer than when we ascended. Aqua Caliente is not very interesting and its restaurants quite touristic. We had a small dish of ceviche-like salmon with plenty of spice and lime. The return to Olentayuba in order to continue to Cuzco revealed the Urubamba River in all its glory and strength.

Small settlements on the way either care for walkers/ hikers or do small farming. On the return we saw some of the villages celebrating carnival by dancing and giving offers around trees a tradition held every Sunday this month.