October 24th, 2005 – Early morning train ride to Aquas Calientes – Machu Picchu
Wake up call is 4:45 a.m. this morning, most of us decide to have breakfast at the hotel. Our luggage will be put in storage as we head out on a train journey towards Machu Picchu. We'll only be packing our backpacks with essentials for one nights stay in the small town of Aguas Calientes near the base of Machu Picchu. We board our bus at 5:45 a.m. for a short ride over to the train station and this time there is no chance to upgrade to first class.
We leave at 6:15 a.m., right on time and begin the long journey out of valley of Cusco. First off the train must do many switch backs going forward and then backwards until we are high enough. From there the train goes ahead without the use of switch backs where we are actually going down in elevation about 1200 meters we'll be at 2280 Meters near the Hotel. The view along the way is spectacular and as we slowly descend the vegetation stays to resemble more of a rain forest. The train ride lasted around 3 ½ hours and we pulled into the train station greeted with clear skies.
It’s only a short walk to our hostel but it was all up hill which made it seem longer than it was.
Machu Picchu – Walk up to the Sun Gate
With the altitude being a little less now it was certainly noticeable. We all seemed to have just a little more energy. We walk through many markets and narrow streets as most of this small town is built on a hillside with not a lot of room for level building sites. Definitely a tourist town with mostly small hotels and restaurants along the main street that is only wide enough for walking and no vehicles were allowed. And, we were also told that there is no road into this town and everything must come in by rail. We will be staying at the Hotel Pachakuteq where the rooms were small but adequate. Unlike our stay at Taquile, this time we have running water and showers.
After we check in, we have a short break and then we all meet in the lobby for a walk to the bus station. Buses leave frequently for the ride up to Machu Picchu and the line up was short as most of the tourist staying here are already up at the site. It’s only about a 20 minute ride up but the road is basically one long switch back from the start until we reach the top. Unbelievably narrow roads, there is only certain spots where the road is wide enough for two buses to pass. The bus drivers are in constant radio contact with the other drivers but sometimes there is an error and one of the drivers must back up until the buses can safely pass. No guardrails but the lush vegetation along the roadside give you the false sense of security as we rode our way to the top.
As we traverse to the top along the switch back road, Machu Picchu comes into view for a short while but Gwen tells us not to look. She's hoping that some of us will avoid the view of this wonderful site until we make our way up to the Sun Gate. The buses pull right up to the ticketing counters and we are all given our passes for the day. A nice little restaurant before entering the site and a few bathrooms; there will be none on the site itself so it was a good idea to use them now if necessary.
We enter the site and immediately and start our hike up the Inca Trail to a place they call the Sun Gate. From there, we'll be able to have a view of Machu Picchu that people who hike the Inca Trail see for the first time. As it turns out I am the only one that makes it up to the Sun gate before looking down at the site.
Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
It was an inspiring view to say the least and worth the effort. But I must say, it was not easy to keep from looking when you first start up the trail. You are walking in plane view of it and all I had to do was glance over to see it. The view of this site is hard to explain and all the pictures do not do it justice.
Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
You can see the switch backs of the roadway up to Machu Picchu used by the buses.
Machu Picchu – At the Sun Gate
A view from the Sun Gate.
Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
A slightly zoomed in view from the Sun Gate.
Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate
A view from the Sun Gate.
Machu Picchu
A view from the Sun Gate.
Machu Picchu
A view from the Sun Gate. It’s more of the feeling that comes over you as you gaze upon this site that seems to be out of this world. Built so high up in these mountains and so far away from everything else. The obvious skill it took to put this all together just makes you wonder why.
Machu Picchu – Sun Gate
One last picture from a of my group members before I start to head down to the site.
Machu Picchu – Walking down from the Sun Gate.
A few of us are up at the sun gate waiting for the others. But, our patients runs out and we're not sure if the others are going to make it. We start our journey back down and find the rest of the group are just about to the top. Everyone that started the hike eventually made it to the top. Once I’m back at the site I spend a little time just wondering about the unique walls and building sites.
Machu Picchu
Walking around the site - Tomorrow we'll be back in the early morning with a guide, he'll be explaining information about the site. There are many more people here than I expected, it was a bit crowded this afternoon and it looked like some rain clouds were moving in. The weather can change quickly up here as the clouds come around the mountains and before you know it, rain starts to fall.
Machu Picchu
Walking around the site.
Machu Picchu
Llamas help keep the grasses in the area tidy.
Aquas Calientes
I catch one of the buses down to the hotel and have a much-needed shower. Gwen tells us about a great little pub just up the street called the Tree House. Many of us find our way over for a few beers and a great view from the balcony.
Aquas Calientes – Hotel
Hotel Pachakuteq
Aquas Calientes
The sun is shining again and it doesn’t take long to get sun burnt sitting along this narrow balcony, I find out later that I should of used more sunscreen. What I really found out about later was that I never used near enough insect repellent, the bites that started to show up on my legs where getting to be ridiculous. I believe there were close to 50 bites on each leg as I decided to wear shorts for visit to Machu Picchu. We were warned by Gwen but I just never listened to well; I'll know better next time when the tour leader tells us to put on “loads and loads of insect repellent”!
We all meet back at the hotel around 7:00 for another group meal at one of the better restaurants in this small town. The price for a great full course meal along with plenty of wine comes to $43.00 Soles ($15.35 CDN). Most of us go back to Tree House and drink a little more and have a good time. We probably go to bed later than we should have, we'll have time to catch up on sleep a little later.