Plaque at the entrance to Machu Picchu

Cusco to Aguas Calientes - Majesty & Mountains

---

October 19th 2008
Up at 0545 to drop our packs into left luggage and then down to Plaza de Armas to catch a S4 (NZ$2) taxi to the train station. We hadn’t even gotten out of the cab when we were literally surrounded by people selling ponchos, water, coca lollies and the like. We barged through saying “no, no, no”. The cafe at the station was selling water for S4 - the same stuff that across the road was S1 ... read more

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu

---

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1... ... read more