Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu

The both of us at the most photographed point
see all photos »

From Cusco we took a train up to Aguas Calientes, a 104 km journey that took just over 4 hours. Aguas Calientes is the entry town of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a complete Inca city situated on a high mountain (2,380m) with steep terraced slopes falling away to the fast flowing Urubamba river.

For centuries it was buried in jungle, until American historian Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911 while being guided around by locals. Bingham´s search was for the lost city of Vilcabamba, the last stronghold of the Incas, and he thought he had found it at Machu Picchu. The site was initially overgrown with thick vegetation. In 1912 and 1915 he returned and cleared the thick forest, when he also discovered some of the ruins on the so-called Inca trail. Knowledge of Machu Picchu remains sketchy. Even today archaelogists are forced ro rely heavily on speculation and educated guesswork as to its function. It is obvious from the exceptionally high quality of the stonework that Machu Picchu must have been vitally important as a ceremonial center.

One of the many resident lamas living here
see all photos »

The place is truly amazing. We spent 6 hours walking around, climbing Wayna Picchu (the high mountain opposite Machu Picchu), taking pictures etc. A maximum of 2,500 people are allowed per day, but apparently we picked a quiet day according to one of the workers. After 6 hours we took the bus back to Aguas Calientes, had some food and took the train to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.