Machu Picchu

After six great days in Cusco, we took the train to the highlight of the area and probably the country, Machu Picchu. To be precise, the train went to Aguas Calientes, the small tourist town in the valley below the Inca citadel. Conveniently for the train companies, there is no road to Aguas Calientes, so the only way to get there is by a four-day hike or using one of the very expensive train services. The famous Inca Trail was of course booked out many months in advance and we were not so keen to spend so much time on one of the less popular routes. We booked the Vistadome train from PeruRail which has panoramic windows. While the views were nice along the way, more or less every train ride in the Swiss Alps is more spectacular and costs significantly less.

Vistadome train to Machu Picchu

While many tourists visit Machu Picchu on a long day trip from Cusco, taking the train there in the morning and back in the evening, we decided to spend two nights in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu twice. Since we came so far to see this place, we wanted to increase our chances of good weather. It would be very disappointing to spend the day in the fog or heavy rain, so we booked tickets for two days. Also, when staying in Aguas Calientes, one can visit the Inca site in the early morning or late afternoon when it is significantly less crowded. Our first visit was in the afternoon of the day we arrived by train and the sky was completely overcast. Not the worst that could happen, but not optimal. We were much luckier on our second visit early on the following morning, when we were able to enjoy Machu Picchu with perfectly clear skies. Therefore, most of the photos here will be from the second visit.

Machu Picchu in the morning

Sam and Marta in front of Machu Picchu

What distinguishes Machu Picchu from other impressive Inca sites like Saqsaywaman is its spectacular surrounding and how well it is preserved. Machu Picchu is one of very few places that were not discovered by the Spanish and therefore it was never willfully destroyed. Only in 1911 was the site rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham. The steep mountains and valleys around Machu Picchu make it a spectacular place to see.

Machu Picchu ruins

Stone wall with windows in front of Intihuatana pyramid in Machu Picchu

Llama in Machu Picchu

Viscacha In Machu Picchu

For our second visit (the one with the good weather), we had also booked a spot to hike Montaña Machupicchu, one of the two mountains around Machu Picchu. It was a strenuous morning exercise to climb to the peak, which was about 600 meters above the ruins. The entire hike consisted of steep stairs and there was hardly any flat part along the way. The view from the top was worth it though, as not only Machu Picchu could be seen, but also many snow-capped mountains around.

Sam on top of Montaña Machupicchu (3061m)

Marta on top of Montaña Machupicchu (3061m), looking down on the Machu Picchu ruins

Marta on the steep way down from Montaña Machupicchu (3061m)

We left Aguas Calientes again by train, but this time we did not go all the way back to Cusco, but disembarked in Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, we visited Inca ruins for one last time. The Ollantaytambo ruins were thankfully not visited as heavily as Machu Picchu, which made it a relaxing visit for us. The most distinguishing feature of this site was the elaborate water distribution system. There were many fountains around the site, which still work to this day, simply by taking advantage of gravity. Some water channels were even running underground.

Marta standing in a door at the Ollantaytambo ruins

Ollantaytambo town with mountain behind, seen from the Ollantaytambo ruins

Inca-built water channel at the Ollantaytambo ruins

After Ollantaytambo, we had seen enough ruins for a while. Instead, we booked one night in a very nice spa hotel in Urubamba to relax after an intensive week of hiking and sightseeing. Before leaving for our next destination, we still went to see one small sight though. The Salinas de Maras is a salt production site built before the Incas and still operating today. Naturally occurring salty water is collected in small ponds where the water is evaporated by the sun until only the salt remains.

Salinas de Maras

Close-up of Salinas de Maras