Talk about a perfect day! Here we are, smack dab between the Peruvian cloud forest and the rain forest (think Amazon) up in Machu Picchu in their summer, i.e., rainy season, and every day has been bright, if not sunny. Today was no exception—our guide, Teddy, was ecstatic!
We left Ollantaytambo this morning, where we had spent the night last night (about 2 hours out of Cusco). We’d had a quaint little room with wood beam ceiling posts, and a friendly family helping us get settled. We listened to the rushing river outside our bedroom window as we drifted off into a deep sleep after all day of hiking ruins between Cusco and Ollantaytambo. Best night sleep we’ve had since arriving in Peru. Now that we’re acclimated, it’s hard to think about leaving in a few days!
This morning, we boarded the train that runs about every 2 hours between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, a small town at the foot of Machu Picchu. What a ride! The train runs for an hour and a half right on the banks of the River Urubamba, through cornfields and huge granite canyons. Teddy told us that river guides do not run that part of the river, and you can see why. One bolder, and you are fish food. An amazing journey in itself.
Once we arrived in Aguas Calientes, we consolidated our 2 backpacks to 1 day pack (with raincoats, sunglasses, extra sweaters) and boarded a bus for a half hour of hairpin turns straight up the side of Machu Picchu. I just figured if it is our time, it’s our time—I mean 2 thousand feet straight down.
As for packing for the day—sweaters and coats—NOT! It was probably 65 degrees or more, and we were hiking constantly. John got some fabulous photos, which our slow internet won’t let us post right now. We hiked with one other couple from Chicago, a great thirty-something duo, and we’ve had just a super 3 days with them.
Jill, Teresa, Teddy & the 2 Johns
The Incans built Machu Picchu over 3 generations back in the 1400’s and it actually was never “discovered” by the Spanish. The demise of the 800-population culture was probably due to syphilis, brought in by their own Quetchuan countrymen, probably from Central America. While the locals knew about a “city in the clouds”, an American by the name of Hyram Bingham brought the site to the attention of the rest of the world back in 1911. (He was actually looking for another site and was disappointed with Machu Picchu—ala, Christopher Columbus?).
View from the upper trail at Machu Picchu
Teresa Van Haalen Ventures 