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Other entries in Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

    OK, the classic visit, but worth it!!! here is what to do in one full day (and 2 nights in Aguas Calientes)


this is the most expensive place in Peru!!
so , the best is to make a reservation from Cusco, to make sure you get there!!
only the backpacker train is "cheap" 44usd roundtrip!!
so we took a package, train , entrance fee (38usd a day!), hotel and bus up to the site (bus is 8usd!! one way!)

take water and some food in Ollantaytambo, no time to do so in Aguas Calientes, and of course very expensive  up there!!

train is late at night (8pm - 9h30 if on time..)

FULL DAY IN MACHU PICCHU

take one of the first buses (5h30 to 6) to be on the site with some fog!!
nice view, impressive, some lamas wandering among the ruins...
then go to the other side of the site to get up to Huyana Picchu peak, sharp rock, almost vertical climb, but lots of stairs and all, not difficult, but not so easy!! (worse on the way down), but i saw a lot of tourist with sandals.. no comments

from there, best view, around 9 or 10,if no rain, the fog is going away, and you can enjoy the greatest view!

the way down, lots of other people climbing, so here is an alternate route, but more impressive!!
from the top, take a small trail going right, to the caves!
one passage is impressive, rocky stairs , kind of aerial, but there is a cable to hang on!
and then, a lader going doing (easy); lots of stairs down, another vertical lader, but among trees, so not so impressive, and you go down like 300m
peaceful caves and forests along the way (MOSQUITOES), you have to go up again to go back on the main trail, but this is worth the effort!!
and almost no tourists!

break for lunch

PM
we took the Inca trail backward t o Intipunku, like a pass , nice view on the site, but just the trail is worth the  hike!

at this place, i have my little secret to get fresh water, and for free!!
looking toward the site, look for a pipe to the left, should be at the pass level, along a wall, one part of the pipe is uncovered, and there should be a little piece of bambou , here is your tap!!
please, please, try to do this quietly, don"t show this too much, and put the tap back on !!
this is where the local workers are taking their drinks, the water is coming from a natural spring in the mountains, and is going to the luxurious lodge  of machu picchu, so this is good stuff!!
but , try to keep it low profile as possible, if not, this won't be possible anymore in the future!


more to do:

small hike to the Inca bridge, to the left of the site coming back from the Inca trail
20 mn flat trail, but somewhat aerial, to the old inca bridge, nice view!

and of course, the site itself, which we did at the end of the day, with less groups, and good lights!!


for the finish, we did hike back down to Aguas Calientes!!
trail to the right of the snack, lots of stairs, easy, you can't get lost!!
but the last part, along the dirt road in the valley, is not very enjoyable, with the dust of the buses coming down from the site! this, of course, if the  weather is dry, which is not every day!!

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