To MP: Day 3 Part 2: Hike to Aguas Calientes

This is a continuation of the last post, taking place just after zip lining.

"We got on a bus and endured some more cliff driving (although not as bad as the previous day), the got off at a hydroelectric plant to begin a three hour hike. Our destination was Aguas Calientes, the town at the bottom of the hill from Machu Picchu.

I would like to say that the hike was not so bad, but there were some steep places where I was ready to be carried, ha. We mostly followed some train tracks and a river, so the walk was mostly flat with great views and all kinds of jungle-y plants.

Some ancient agricultural terraces across the river

About halfway there we stopped for lunch at a restaurant. [I forgot to mention, we were carrying our packs on this three hour hike, so I was well ready for a break!] The restaurant looked pretty shabby with outdoor seating in the middle of jungle plants with a tin roof. The food spoke otherwise. The chef used to work at a 5-star restaurant in Lima, so all the food was incredible. Salad, semolina soup, beef cordon bleu in red wine sauce with rice and vegetables, and lemony cake for dessert. Even the tea was notable.

Our five star meal in the middle of the jungle.

The restaurant has hammocks for resting after lunch. Typically people lay for 30-45 minutes before hiking. We got in them, and after two minutes Travis got up and said he was leaving, so everyone else followed suit. *sigh*

This is nothing compared to the jungle we would see the next week!

We hiked another (what felt like) two hours and got to Aguas Calientes ("water hot"- they have hot springs here), dropped off out bags at the hotel and rested for a few hours.

I tried to capture the height and girth of this giant cliff face, but mostly just captured my sweaty face instead.

I think that's Aguas Calientes in the distance...

Aguas Calientes is a very touristy place, designed to cater to visitors of Machu Picchu. People are able to ride the train in from Cuzco in the morning, hike/ride the bus to Machu Picchu, then take the train back to Cuzco that very night if it is their pleasure. We took the long (4-day) way.

We got dinner at a place that serves pizza and spaghetti, which shows just how un-Peruvian the town is. We then went to bed early, up at 4:30 am the next day to see Machu Picchu.