Day 10 This behind me is the train station from Poroy, and the Peru Rail train departs from here to Machu Picchu. Well, to Aguas Calientes, which is also known as the "Machu Picchu Pueblo". What they recommend for Machu Picchu is to sleep in Aguas Calientes, which is very close, and then visit the ruins very early so you don't get so many people. However, I really wanted to ride this train because it also goes through some beautiful places. So, let's see what's up. There are three kinds of trains handled by Peru Rail that lead to Machu Picchu. The most economic one is the "Expedition", while the "Hiram Bingham" is the most expensive. I chose the one in between, and the most popular one. The "Vistadome" train. The trip is about three and a half hours, and all the wagons have a glass ceiling to enjoy the view. The tourists evidently love it. The modest breakfast is included, just like entertainment on board. Once I reach Aguas Calientes, you need to take a bus to the archeologic zone. If you want some energy, you can go up walking the 1,500 meters, which is about 90 minutes. Once inside, it's just about enjoying. Travelers, I'm arriving at Machu Picchu. Some friends recommended to turn left when I got there, so it is exactly what I'm doing. I'm almost there. I'm...my heart is just beating out of me. Holy s**t, holy s**t. This. I can't believe it. I don't know if it is because of its fame or the expectations, but it is very rare for me to feel the thrill I felt here. Machu Picchu was voted as one of the seven world wonders in the world. I have really liked Machu Picchu so far. I love the sights, the mountains, and the people who come visit are cool too. Talking about the history of Machu Picchu is to talk about the versions that the historians have for it, who still haven't settled on just one version. The modern world knew about this place when it appeared on the cover of National Geographic starting the last century. The credit to its discovery goes to the American "Hiram Bingham", who arrived here obsessively looking for a lost Inca city called Vilcabamba. Followed by some locals, he managed to get to this place in 1911, but there is evidence that there were people who saw this place before him, even some maps that located Machu Picchu before 1911. The true credit that goes to Hiram Bingham is that he inspired the scientific investigation of Machu Picchu, as he got the support from Yale and the National Geographic. There are versions that this place was a palace of the ninth Inca, Pachacuti. There are other versions saying someone else built them, or that it was a city which connected Cusco to the jungle. Either way, the place is impressive and there are many mysteries surrounding the place. That's what makes it special. The citadel was believed to have been inhabited by about 500 people in its peak. Going through the ruins is discovering the impressive Inca engineering. Building a city in this place and height was not an easy job, even when the quarry was located in the site. Ingenious systems of drainage that still work help so the water from rain does not mess with the buildings. In the citadel, there are many important temples, tombs, and the famous Intihuatana. A stone aligned to the sun that helped predict the solstices. Most of the visitors come to Machu Picchu in hurried guided visits. I recommend to be here independently and to stay as long as possible. I need to confess something, but please don't tell anyone. I had a reservation for that mountain, Huayna Picchu, but since the train got an hour late, and I got even more delayed because I was doing things up here, so they closed and I can't go up. But it's okay, I have a blister in one of my toes anyway. Machu Picchu is probably the most expensive archaeological site in which I've been. The entrance costs about $50, and coming here is not easy nor cheap. There are many ways; train, bus, but the bus that goes up... Anyway. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I'll explain to you something about the Machu Picchu tickets, which is a little truculent. Don't think about coming here without your Machu Picchu ticket, because Peru's government, to protect this area, has restricted the number of daily visitors between 2,000-2,500. Tickets are sold in this webpage. There are many kinds of tickets; Machu Picchu with the museum, or with Huayna Picchu, or if you just want Machu Picchu. You can pay there with your card. I tried and I couldn't pay, I don't know what was up with the page, so I contacted the agency of Raul Castelo, who helped me. However, they can run out, so if you come to the door, you probably won't find a spot. Other than the city's ruins, there are other points that can be visited. I'm in the middle of the way of what they call the Sun's gate, which is way over there. I honestly don't think I'll get there, because it's a pretty long walk. But it is now used for the people coming from the Inca path, and they come here through it. So, it's a spectacular sight, and you walk a ton until you get to the city. It must be a really cool experience, although I've been told here in Peru that the Inca path and other trekking to get here are too marketed, and there are some pretty expensive ones. They look like an expedition to Mount Everest. Alanxelmundo tip: bring hiking shoes. Don't bring normal shoes or much less sneakers. Bring a very comfortable shoe, preferably one that is for trekking. Here's why: everything around here is mountain, and the paths are mostly stone. Rocks can get slippery, especially if it rains, and I've seen many people slip, and there are some dangerous crags, so, for your safety, bring hiking shoes. I'm going to see this. It's like an adventure! I feel like a National Geographic explorer! This, the Inca Bridge, is free but you still need to register. This is the Inca Bridge. It's impressive; the Incas had a very complicated and elaborate system of trails, of many kilometers. In fact, they say that's one of the reasons as to why the Spanish were able to conquer them, they had perfectly traced paths that lead to their cities. Here you can see a part of one of the original paths, and a wooden bridge the Incas created. It's impressive to see how narrow these are; and they are on the border of tall cliff, If you get vertigo, don't do this. I've been watching Machu Picchu for an hour and I am truly impressed. I can't even think. How were they able to build something like this, so far up? Same with these ruins, you take them any other flat place and they are not as impressive, but surrounded by all of these mountains in this place so high up, I simply cannot believe it. They still didn't have the wheel, or a written language. It's... The title of world wonder is well deserved. I am amazed. Here I end my spectacular trip to Peru, which moved something inside of me, I don't know what, but I feel changed. The places were spectacular. During the whole passage, I was judging myself because I didn't know if I should have gone somewhere else, or done something else, but Peru has so many places to visit that it is impossible to see it all. I feel like they gifted me a huge, interesting book, and I only read the prologue. Peru, I'll be back. Goodbye. Special thanks:
