Thursday, March 17:  Machu Picchu

I think everyone on the tour considered this day, touring Machu Picchu, as the major event of the trip.  It did not disappoint.

The bus departed the hotel at 7:20 and headed once again to the town of Ollantaytambo.  Only, instead of going to the archeological site, we headed to the train station.  This is the departure point for most of the trains to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu is located.  We found our train and were given the then required face shields, which we had to wear in addition to the face masks.

  3150 Our PeruRAIL VistaDome train

We were on one of the nicer trains, with comfortable seats and “VistaDome” windows in the top of the coaches.  You could not see much through the upper windows, but they make the coach seem lighter and more airy.

 3170  The upper windows were nice, although not very effective.

The train ride was rather slow and it took about 2.5 hours to get to Aguas Calientes and there were plenty of sights to see along the way.  At several places, we could see the ”Inca Trail” with people doing the 4 day hike to Machu Picchu. 

3195  Close to the beginning of the Inca Trail

We rode by fields that had been terraced by the Incas and even some waterfalls.  Sometimes they came together.

3250  A waterfall between terraced Inca fields.

On arrival in Aguas Calientes, Edgar and Rocia led us around some of the local sights.  One of the more significant sights is a statue/monument of an Inca warrior and what the Inca considered the sacred trilogy: the Condor, the Puma, and the snake. 

3300 Unfortunately, most of the snake is out of sight at the warrior’s feet.

As with many tourist places, there was a “set” where people could get their photo taken: we said “why not?” and Edgar clicked the shutter.

3315  Susan and I among the Incas

 We had a reservation for the bus ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu, so just wandered around a little until time to board the bus and head up.  The bus ride was quite an event in itself as we climbed the 800 feet up the mountain.  The road is mostly shell/gravel and the bus drivers do not waste any time.  I was frequently looking out the bus window and almost straight down to the river below where we had started.

3360  Beautiful, but somewhat frightening views.

We got to the top at about 12:00 and it was timed almost perfectly as that is when the restaurant at the top opened.  We had reservations and were the first customers in the restaurant for the day.  It was a nice buffet type service, with the staff dishing what you requested.  The food was OK, good for this kind of facility, but not exactly gourmet.  Our tickets to Machu Picchu had an entry time of 1:00 so we took our time in the restaurant and headed to the entrance at the appropriate time.

3350  Restaurant on the left, Machu Picchu entrance beyond

Soon after we entered the Citadel (the name for the main part of the ruins) we had a choice: we could do the longer, more difficult route, or the easier, more level route.  Four people with mobility issues wisely went with Rocia on the level route and six of us, with Edgar as our guide, tool the longer route.  The steps and climbing are very significant because of the altitude (8000 ft.) and the fact that the steps are very rough and uneven.  It is not to be taken lightly.

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