Blogs from Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 15

Had just finished reading An Idiot Abroad where Karl Pilkington visits the seven wonders of the world. Machu Picchu had been the only seventh wonder of the world that he had been remotely enthusiastic about my expectation was high. Maybe my trip was tainted somewhat before it started because I was unable to do the trek I wanted due to poor health and opted instead for a two day tour. However having the company of Jane and knowing that we were arriving at Machu Picchu before sunrise still filled me with excitment. The first day of the tour; started with seven hours sitting on the back seat of a mini bus with three others on some of the bumpest roads I have ever encountered (and that is saying something). Dust and dirt stuck to my skin ... read more

We had unfortunately left our Machu Picchu planning a bit late, so were running around like a couple of headless chickens the first day in Cusco. We had also idiotically decided to go to a major international tourist attraction, slap bang during the time that all the travel guides advise you NOT to go! That is, during mid high season and right around the time of Peru’s Independence Day – 28 July! Oh well... Machu Picchu only allows 2500 people a day and tickets have to be reserved online then paid at the Cusco municipal office within 6 hours. Tickets also book out at least 2 days prior. There is also no vehicular access to the town of Aguas Caliente, the tourist town below Machu Picchu, so you either have to book a train in, or ... read more

dear friends and family, last night we returned from our andes adventure. i should mention that i´m on very little sleep and left my travel book in the room, so spelling of cities and such will be suspect, also cuzco, as i was spelling it previously, will be now spelled as cusco. it seems to switch back and forth -- like my brother, teehee. we took a train from aguas caliente to ollytambambo and then a taxi to cusco, dropped our bags and head out (late!) to see the virgenes de cameron festival and hook up with two of our team members/friends from the trek, neal and finlay from scottland, for proper beers and cider. so let´s back up. this will be hard to describe and may take a few posts. maybe even a little bit ... read more

Day 3 We slept in a little bit, avoiding the alarms as much as possible. The walk to get breakfast was met with lots of Buenos Dias from everyone but no one actually meaning that it was a good morning. The hangover heads were visible from well across the valley I’d say! Luckily for us we opted to do a zip lining morning rather than trekking for the morning so I was glad of that! A small group opted to trek so we were divided for the first half of the day. We arrived at the zip lining and to be honest I hadn’t really thought about it, just that I wanted to try it cos we hadn’t done it this far. We got geared up in our very attractive harnesses, braking gloves and helmets and ... read more

The first part of our journey to Aguas Calientes, which means hot water, was aboard a bus which stopped at historic sites through the "Sacred Valley". After our 8 am pick up, we made our first stop at a very ordinary market to stock up on coca products and drinks. It was best described as a useful toilet stop. Then it was on to Complejo Arqueologico Pisaq which is an historic hill top settlement. The road went through a series of switchbacks and as we rose high above the valley we could see impressive Inca terraces and the remains of a village. After exploring the Pisaq site, we decended to the Pisaq market where we viewed a silver jewellery manufacturing operation before travelling to our lunch stop. Everyone on the bus had paid different prices for ... read more