Aguas Calientes, Peru 🇵🇪 

We meet our tour guide at 4am outside the cathedral, and discover there are only two others on our trip, an American couple – Natalie and Ed.  Our bus trip is almost 2hours before getting on the train at Ollantaytambo. Despite the early time you can feel the excitement as people chatter about their adventure ahead.  We are part of a group of about thirty people who disembark as the train stops at the 104km mark.  The rest of the people continue on the train to Aguas Calientes, about 15minutes further on, whilst we set off on our 6hr hike on the Inka trail.

A slightly overcast day makes the hike easier and the low mist adds to the atmosphere.  We stop briefly at a set of ruins called Chachabamba just over the river that are being restored.  The route then begins it’s assent through lush vegetation that includes Orchids and other flowering shrubs.  The single file path winds its way around the hills, with great views of the Urabamba river below.  

We round a section to spot Inka terraces clinging to a slope on the other side.  Peaking out through the mist is Wiñayhuana.  This would have been farming terraces to support the noble population of Machu Picchu, but they have a great location in the valley with a Sun Temple sat on top. There is also a stepped system of fountains that people would have used to wash in prio to worshiping in the temple.  It’s quite magnificent.

Our lunch spot is just past these ruins, where we can consume Some of the weight in our bags.  Rosa has been really good explaining the flora and Inka history to us, although she clearly has knee problems from all her hiking treks.  We all manage the ‘gringo killer’ steps before our final climb up and through the Sun Gate.  This is the way into Machu Picchu any Inka pilgrimage would have taken and it’s great to have this as our first view of the site.

We clamber down to the main terraces, stopping to reflect on how Hiram Bingham would have felt seeing the vegetation covered site as part of his 1911 expedition.  We find it relatively uncrowded as we pose for the classic pictures on a terrace above the main buildings.  Today is not our exploration day, so we climb down and exit through the main gates to catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes.  We are all tuckered out and opt for a early dinner before a hot shower and bed.