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Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia
Entry 4 of 19 | show all | print this entry |
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Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu had been on my mind ever since I had heard about the place years and years ago. It is one of those awe inspiring places like the temples of Angkor Wat, the islands of Ha Long Bay, the clay warriors of Xian, the Great Wall in China, the architecture of Shanghai, or the dimensions of the Shwedagon Pagoda. They are fascinating for different reasons, but they are all inspirational. While I had visited the above locations already, Machu Picchu was still on my to do list (among several other places).
Vistadome Cuzco - Machu Picchu
The Vistadome train trip Cuzco - Aguas Calientes - Cuzco, the bus transfer Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes, and the actual Machu Picchu visit including a tour guide, were all part of a package deal. And this is how it worked:
The train ride was a very comfortable 4 hour trip (snacks are served) through a rugged landscape from an altitude of 3,500 m (11,500 ft) down to a more comfortable 1,800 m (6,000 ft). After the arrival of the train in Agua Calientes waiting hotel bell boys picked up the luggage, while most passengers were guided to waiting shuttle buses that took them on a 20 minute trip to the actual Machu Picchu site at an elevation of 2,400 m (8,000 ft). Here various tour guides (grupo Mario, grupo Adolfo etc) would assemble their team, and off they went on their tour.
Machu Picchu
I am not a friend of tours or groups, and I did not like this one either. Too many people were shoving their way through the sites, too many kids were bored, making a lot of noise and climbing on walls, falling down, becoming a total nuisance. It just took away from the experience, and I was very upset. (Then came this piece of information: you could also visit in the morning; shuttle buses were available as of 6 am. I was going to do just that, exploring this huge archaeological site early the next morning, with very few people around. But unfortunately, next day it was raining cats and dogs).
Here is my advice for future travelers:
After arriving in Aguas Calientes, take your luggage and go to your hotel, and then explore the town. It has lots and lots of small shops, restaurants, and internet cafes. If you feel like it, visit the hot springs (hence the name Aguas Calientes), and take it easy at night. Take the first shuttle bus in the morning and enjoy the magic of Machu Picchu. And when the tourist masses appear, take a shuttle bus and go back to your hotel, or catch the train back to Cuzco.
It was December 31 and I had expected a big party mood in town. It was quite disappointing to learn that most of the people that had arrived on the train in the morning would take the afternoon train to return to Cuzco. While walking around at Machu Picchu I had met an English/Peruvian couple and their daughter, and we arranged to meet later that evening. A very nice and spacious restaurant (Toto's House) that was to be the official party place in town turned out to be a big bummer, by midnight only 20 people had assembled, not exactly a great party. The two local discos, however, were packed. A lot of local people and a sprinkling of tourists were having a good time at Wasicha, among them the blond girl that loudly and constantly announced that she was from L.A. Oh well...
Happy New Year...
I had planned to stay for several days in Aguas Calientes, but after a mighty rain storm that night and more rain the following morning I decided to change my train ticket and return to Cuzco. I just don't like cold and rainy weather, especially not on January 1.
Aguas Calientes - Cuzco
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