The highlight of our adventure so far has been the 19-hour-long day trip to Macchu Picchu. On Saturday, October 26th, we got up at 3am. We met the local trip coordinator at our apartment at 3:30 who lead us to a stop in Cusco where we got in a van for a 90-minute ride to Ollantaytambo. We then boarded a train full of Swedes (who were very nice) for the 90-minute ride to Aguas Calientes. There we met our guide, who rode with us in a bigger bus for 30 minutes until we finally reached the entrance to Macchu Picchu.
We toured with our guide for a little over an hour until we broke off to do the optional hike up Huayna Picchu. Only 2,500 people are allowed into Macchu Picchu each day, and only 400 are allowed up Huayna Picchu. That and you must start the optional hike by 11am.
Our train home didn’t leave until 6:30pm and we were worried we wouldn’t have enough to do to fill the day. I haven’t been happy to be that wrong in a long time. We crawled back into bed just after 10pm that night. It was both exhausting and exhilarating. I highly recommend the trip to anyone who wants to see something truly historic.
We met you in Lima at the cafe where we were having lunch and pisco sours. I believe the woman traveling with us (Fran) bought you a pisco sour. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that your pictures of Macchu Picchu were incredible! We also hiked up to the Sun Gate (but not Huanya Picchu – too high and too difficult for us). I am afraid of heights so my pictures are not quite as good as yours since I was afraid to look down. Anyway, we also thought the Macchu Picchu part of our trip was amazing. We then went on the to Amazon for a boat trip along the headwaters of the rivers that form the Amazon. Keep going – you look like you are having fun.
These pictures inspire us to find new adventures. Thanks Todd.
Stunning stuff. Thanks for sharing, Todd.
And nice hat!