Aguas Calientes

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We woke up this morning bright and early. We left our bigger backpacks (wrapped in garbage bags and packaging tape so that we will be able to tell if someone tampered with them) and took our little bags (packed only with what we'll need for 1 night and 2 days) and set off for the train station.

We were only about a 5 minute walk to the station. We arrived 30 mins before our "train" as our ticket told us, and were surprised how quickly we were loaded onto a 20 seater van/minibus. The reason for this (instead of the train) is that due to the overabundance of rain that they experienced this year during their rainy season, Peru experienced many landslides, as well as roads (and train tracks) being completely whiped out. Because of this, Machu Picchu was actually closed for a few months while they built new/alternate roads. Soooo... we took a minibus down a partly paved/nonpaved road. This was about 30 minutes.

We then arrived at another train station where we had to wait about 40 mins or so for our train to arrive. Once it did, we boarded and were on our way to Aguas Calientes.

Once we arrived in A.C. we walked around to see if we could find a hostel at a better price than the one we had reserved. We had made reservations at Hotel Machu Picchu for $20 pp/night. Instead we found a place just down the street, near where we need to catch our bus tomorrow morning to Machu Picchu. The hostel is called Kcuychi Hostal Internet. We got a room with two beds and private bathroom for only S50 (about $18 TOTAL). This is a great deal considering our other was $40 total. We unloaded our bags and checked out the rest of the small city (plus bought our Machu Picchu ticket for tomorrow). We found a market and bought some fruit for breakfast.

Aguas Calientes is definitely an interesting city. It's built around the tracks. There are restaurants and hotels lining the tracks, and then winding (walking only) cobblestone roads through a small town littered with tons of hostels, souvenir stores, and massage places. It's cute, but definitely small.

For lunch we found a restaurant that gave us a discounted meal because we said we found cheaper prices elsewhere. haha.

After lunch we headed to the aguas calientes (literal translation "waters hot" or hot springs). It's S10 to enter (about $3) and then you get to enjoy multiple pools. The pools actually weren't all that hot and they looked kind of dirty but we later discovered this was due to the fact that there was sand and stones purposely put into the bottoms of the pools. Not the nicest hot springs I've been to, (think I've been to about 5 now?) but we found hot showers that made us happy.

For dinner we were hoping to meet up with the guys we met in Arequipa but we haven't heard back from them yet so maybe we'll run into them tomorrow at Machu Picchu.

So tomorrow is Machu Picchu. We're super excited. We bought our bus ticket and intend on getting an early bus (apparently people line up to get the first bus as early as 3:30am even though the first bus doesn't go until 5:30). We don't think we'll line up that early but we do want to get there to see the sunrise which apparently peaks over the mountain around 7am. We're debating climbing Hyuanupicchu (spelling?) which they only allow 400 people to climb per day. We'll see. It all sounds very exciting. I know adventure awaits us tomorrow!

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Photos

Aguas Calientes
Park

Hot Springs
Not super hot but with a GREAT view!!!

View From Our Hotel Room
We were right on the tracks for the train. This part of the city was ugly but the shops and restaurants up in the area where cars can't go was super cute!

Comments

[corinne]

jealous
Hey sarah Sounds like you are having a great time in my hood! When you get back to Cuzco go to Jack's it's on Choquechaka and Cuesta San Blas, good food big portions and not too expensive they have the best pancakes !!! You must also hit a local restaurant usually only open for lunch and have chicharrones( the best) or lomo saltado or aji de gallina. If you want a location or name of one let me know and try the cui it is pretty good ! If you need any help in Cuzco let me know, i'll hook you up with my contacts there. Corinne