Inti Orquideas Aguas Calientes

... evening to kill so we ended up going to several of the restaurant-bars for their happy hours, mostly all the same 4 for 1, they are tiny but not bad for the price. I took it easy and had about 1 per their 4 lol. We met up with another Gap tour group having dinner, the guide of that group name is Daniella and she´s wild and crazy. We had to get up at 4:30 the next morning so didn´t plan to stay up partying but she somehow influenced us ...

... away. These taxis cost only 10 soles, half the price, with an extra 2 soles exit fee to pay when leaving the airport.<br><br>Our taxi driver offered to show us a cheap accommodation, which we accepted, we had time and it would be useful to know where to stay after we had been to Machu Picchu where we were ultimately bound today. He took us to two places where it was 60 soles a night including breakfast, he then took us to the American Explorers Club where we wanted to go ...

We awoke late at Santa Teresa and had pancakes for breakfast, along with yogurt and granola. A sustained hike of 3+ hours led us to the Hidroelectrica, a train station along a hydroelectric plant, where we had lunch and left the bags to be sent by train to Aguas Calientes, the tourist trap of a town at the base of Machu Picchu.<br><br>After lunch we set off hiking the tracks to Aguas Calientes. We were ...

... under my pants, and a long-sleeve shirt and jacket. Of course, 10 minutes after we set out, the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds, and the sky began to clear. By the time I reached the first meeting point, I'd already shed the jacket and was thoroughly hot, as the sun was the fully out. Running down a bit and behind a tree, I changed into just shorts; much more comfortable. The view from our first stop was the best of the trip so far (though it would soon be quite ...

... started to rain (which increased our run ins with hysterical people), although we had seen most of the place it was that good that we could have happily done it all again or just sat about for the afternoon taking in the view. But with the heavens open we decided to call it a day around 2ish and made our way back down for the train back to Cusco. Which is where we are now before heading of tmrow for Puno and our final days in Peru before hitting Bolivia.<br> More ...

... groceries and the odd souvenir, I bought a hat for my partner that had been hand knitted, was he ever going to wear it, who knows but I liked it.<br><br>Next to the shop we found a little bar serving coffee, now as I may have mentioned some days back I have a need for caffeine, and the more the better, the thought of a real cuppa was so exciting, sad I know but hey I had spent nights in a tent and now I wanted coffee. When we went in and we asked for coffee the bar ...

... the ´hot´ water and not just lukewarm. Felt so UBER great to soak after 2 long days of walking! <br><br>(One thing I wish I would have brought with me is one of those step counter thingies - I´m sure I walk a minimum of 1 hour per day - and that´s on a ´lazy´ day!)<br><br>GROSS OUT ALERT: So we´re sitting in the hot springs with mostly Peruvians there and I start to think about the 10 or so bug bites on my legs and all the germs that hot ...

... Picchu. In our brief before the trip we were not advised to walk up and if we did, then bring a change of shirt. I didn´t really think it through. We set off excited, at 4.15 in the pitch black. The excitement took a bit of a knock when the steep staircase came into the view of my head torch. As the walk continued I fell further behind my comrades and became more and more soaked with my own sweat. It must be said that the views were beautiful and for about ...

... es, ist 42km lang und der hoechste Pfad ist 4200 Meter.<br>Wir tragen nur einen kleine Rucksack mit Wasser, Snacks, Kamera und Regenmantel. Der Rest der Sachen, Campingausruestung und Verpflegung tragen einheimische Porter. Bis zu 26kg traegt jeder Porter auf seinen Ruecken und sie sind nur mit duennen Sandallen bekleidet. Doch huschen sie schnell und schuechtern an uns vorbei. Wir kommen uns all ganz schoen dumm vor mit unsere modernen Ausruestung ...

... it's not a good idea to go there straight from the beach in Lima. <br><br>I sleep in Cusco and get up early in the morning. I need to reorganise things in my backpack, because it has to be small to meet the requirements of the security people in Machu Picchu. I catch a bus to Ollantaytambo, and all I do is stick my nose to the window, admiring the magnificent view over the Valle Sagrado de los Inkas and the Urubamba river ...