Machu Picchu

Getting to Machu Picchu isn’t as straightforward as I thought. I always assumed you could drive straight to the base of the mountain, but that’s not the case.

I started my journey in Cusco and set off on a two-hour ride to Ollantaytambo, where the train to Machu Picchu departs. Everything was going smoothly until I hit a massive landslide just 15 minutes from my destination. There was no way through, so I had to turn back and take a different route, adding another two hours to the trip.

When I finally rolled into Ollantaytambo, I had to figure out where to leave my motorcycle while I was away. Parking was tricky, but the hostel I planned to return to was kind enough to store it for me. After dropping it off, I made my way back to the train station and waited for my ride.

I had originally wanted to do the multi-day trek up to Machu Picchu, but with limited time, I had to settle for taking the train. An hour later, I boarded, and I was pretty excited. The ride itself was amazing two hours winding through a narrow valley with some of the best views I’d seen. At one point, they put on a performance about an ancient love story, but it wasn’t nearly as captivating as the scenery outside. We arrived in Aguas Calientes just before dusk.

Aguas Calientes is a fascinating place, tucked away in the mountains. It’s a strange mix of tourist restaurants, hotels, and the locals who live there to support them. There are no motorized vehicles except for the shuttle vans that take people up and down the mountain, so walking is the only way to get around.

That night, I found it hard to sleep. I was worried I’d sleep right through my alarm and miss my entry time. At 4:30 AM, I got up and stood in line, hoping to be one of the first people through the gates. I had heard horror stories about shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, but when the doors opened at 6:00 AM, the site was nearly empty. It was an incredible experience. I put on an audiobook about Machu Picchu’s history and wandered through the ruins for a few hours, taking in the stunning views.

Since I hadn’t been able to hike up, I decided to take the Inca Trail down through the jungle, which was still a cool experience. That afternoon, I took the train back to Ollantaytambo, picked up my bike, and called it a nightLæs mere