Monday, June 18, 2012

Machu Picchu

(June 1)

View from Montana Machu Picchu.

We slept one night in Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. This is more or less the only option you have unless you are doing the Inca Trail (if you want to do the Inca Trail you have to book it before February, for June). The other trails do not end in Machu Picchu. Even the Salcantay Trail, does not really end in Machu Picchu, it actually ends in Agua Caliente, from where you will reach Machu Picchu with all the other tourists. On the other hand, a trail might be a good thing to do regardless of where it ends. We did not have much time and preferred to visit the surrounding of Cuzco (see previous post). 

To reach Machu Picchu, from Aguas Calientes, we could either take a bus (8$ for 15 minutes) or walk up one hour and a half. We decided to wake up early and walk up. It is not easy, but not that hard either. Harder, but totally rewarding, is instead the two hours walking up to Montana Machu Picchu. As we did not buy the tickets in time, we could not buy the entrance to Huyana Picchu, so we decided to go for the newly open Montana. I cannot compare, because I did not see Huyana Picchu, but I found our hike splendid. The view is fantastic, but the hike is quite tough (2 hours only going up the stairs). Another advantage, is that this second route is not-so-popular-yet. The day before we went only 77 people registered to go up. I suspect this will change soon, especially because Lonely Planet decided (rightly) to recommend this hike. Anyhow, go up early in the morning, less people and less heat. At the end, this was the best part of the day, for me. 

Masonry and carving.

Machu Picchu is a great place. I personally think that most of it charm comes from the ruins location (ie surrounding mountains), rather than the city alone. The best example of the incredibly skilled Inca masonry are to be found in the surrounding of Cuzco, rather than here. Do not keep your hopes up for a mystic experience. Machu Picchu is a fabulous place, but everybody knows it. And all it takes to reach it is money, so there is no endurance filter here. So you will constantly have tourists around you, yelling and asking you to move to another place to free the view for a picture. Yet, I recommend this place, even with all it costs.

People, instructed by their guide, feeling the energy.
Numbers: bring water, we had in our bag and nobody complained about it. You can buy it there for 8 soles for half a liter (for comparison, 2 liters of water in Aguas Calientes is 5 soles, and in Cuzco is 3.5 soles). I had one liter with me and it was slightly too little. Drink plenty of water before going up.




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