Machu Picchu

So I decided when I booked to go to South America that I didn’t want to do the Inca Trail. There is only a certain amount of passes allowed each day for travellers to protect the trail so you can’t just turn up and decide to do the trail, which meant I had to decide about 4 or 5 months ago. I’m not much of a hiker and I just kinda thought why hike for 4 days when you can just get the bus! Lazy I know but this also meant when packing I didn’t need to carry around a sleeping bag, thermals and hiking boots etc with me for the sake of a 4 day hike. 

The rest of my group set off to do the Inca trail and I spent an extra few days in Cusco before heading to Ollantaytambo to get the train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu town. I spent the night in Aguas Calientes, which is a small place but possibly the most expensive town I’ve visited so far. Pretty much English prices. They know they can charge what they like because you are literally in the middle of nowhere with no other options! Anyway after an expensive pizza for dinner I headed to bed early with an alarm set for 4am ready to get in the queue for the bus to Machu Picchu. Sadly I didn’t get much sleep as outside my hostel there was a funeral taking place, something I learnt about Peru is that nearly all funerals take place at night with very loud music!

Thankfully I’d brought the bus tickets the night before - a girl I know got up at 4am and checked out of her hostel only to be told the morning tickets were sold out and she couldn’t get the bus until 11am, killer! Anyway after waiting in the queue I arrived in Machu Picchu around 6am, ready to meet the rest of my group as they finished the Inca trail. The mornings are the best time to visit before the rain and cloud comes in in the afternoon, again I was so lucky with the weather. The sun was shining to start with even though the weather forecast scheduled rain. 

I was slightly shocked how many people are actually allowed into the Machu Picchu site given that it is UNESCO protected. Apparently in peak season up to 6,000 people visit every day - Mad! It felt like a slight repeat of Rainbow Mountain, tourists everywhere.. of course me being one of them! I walked (hiked!!) up to the sun gate which took around 40 minutes uphill, this is the first point you see Machu Picchu mountain from the end of the Inca trail and because the walk is quite hard most people don’t bother which meant it was quite quiet. 

Visiting Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list ever since I was little, like many people I’m sure but it really was so amazing to finally visit it. It almost didn’t feel real! I even got a stamp in my passport as a reminder of my visit - I’ve heard this can apparently make my passport invalid but I’ll wait and see! Anyway there are rumours that in years to come they will stop allowing people on the actual Machu Picchu site to preserve it so I am so glad I have been able to visit if this does happen. For anyone who has Machu Picchu on their bucket list - I’d highly recommend a visit!