For most people the trip to Machu Picchu is a pilgrimage, generally on the original Inca Trail. The Inca Trail needs to be booked in advance, about 3 months in advance, something we didn't do. As a result our options were to do the Salkantay Trek or else the Inca Jungle Trek. We opted for the Inca Jungle Trek which is more fun and less effort than the other treks. The trek is a 4 day trip but you stay in hostels, eat in restaurants and do a mixture of hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting and zip lining. More appealing that 4 days hiking and getting wet sleeping in tents.
So our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu started with a 1 and a half hour delay. We waited at the hostel for them to collect us but they didn't arrive. It being Latin America we weren't too concerned as they are always fairly relaxed with time. After an hour we decided to call, they said they'd be there soon and to stay at our hostel and not to move to another why. Strange, why would we move! Everyone else was on the bus when it arrived, they'd be driving around for an hour looking for our hostel as they had the wrong address. Interestingly we found out later from the others that they were all told that the delay was our fault as we had changed hostel.
Our driver was crazy, it must have been his first time driving ever. A few close calls on the road as we made our way to the summit to start the downhill mountain biking. As we approached the summit we encountered lots of snow and ice on the road but our driver appeared to be coping well with it. Then it happened, another car approached us on the road and he freaked out, veered to the right and hit an ice block. There were rumors that his mother was killed or injured by an ice block and he intentionally hit the ice block but the rumors are unconfirmed. Anyhow he decided to ignore the incident and continue driving until everyone started shouting at him. At which point he stopped and realised that he'd burst the tyre. So we started our downhill mountain biking from there as the bus wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Once the bikes were ready to go our guide pointed out that our bikes (us 3 and another random guy) were over to the left. There was a noticeable difference in our bikes and those used by the rest of the group. We'd all paid the same amount of money but booked through different tour companies. Obviously our company didn't care to provide decent bikes, oh they got gloves and safety vests too but we didn't get anything. So began my downhill biking on a bike that didn't have functioning brakes, gears that didn't work and a chain that kept falling off.
The views were amazing and the 5 hour cycle downhill was great despite the unusual start. Most of it was on regular roads so the low quality, badly maintained bikes weren't so bad. For the last two hours we were on a gravel path which was actually fun although we were constantly interrupted by road works.
As a result of the road works we arrived too late to go white water rafting. They offered us the option of going at 6am the next morning. We decided against it as this would be before our 8 hour hike and we would just get changed at the side of the road and start the hike carrying our wet clothes and towels.
The hike itself was great, a little challenging in parts but we were stopping regularly for drinks and rest so it wasn't quite a pilgrimage. The scenery was great, some stunning views and some of the paths were very steep, narrow and challenging.
Thankfully I'd hired out some hiking boots in Cusco as I don't think my converse would have survived. It was obviously a well traveled route, there were locals waiting along route to sell us drinks and food.
When we booked the tour we were told about the route we'd take, what we'd do, where we'd stay and what we'd eat. One of the details was that we'd take a cable car across a river near the end of the hike. The cable car wasn't quite what we were expecting although it did get us across the river safely.
After the day of hiking we spend an hour at some hot springs. A nice way to relax after a long day of walking, followed by dinner drinks and another night in a hostel. Next morning was a late start and zip lining. There were 6 lines in total, some longer and faster than others. It was my first time to do zip lining and its a nice way to see the country side flying above the trees but its not really an adrenaline rush as its all very safe and secure.
More hiking, a short train journey and we reached Agua Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu. We had to get up at 4am to catch a bus to Machu Picchu, the other option was to walk but we decided against it. Later when we met the others from our group we were glad of this decision, no one of them enjoyed the walk. We got one of the first busses so we avoided the worst of the queues to enter Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is as impressive as all of the photos I've seen. We had a guide who took us around, explaining what was what. Unfortunately we were unable to climb Wannu Picchu. The rules had changed since we booked our tour instead of queuing for a free ticket you now have to buy your ticket. We'd not paid for a ticket as it wasn't possible when we booked and the tour agency didn't pay the extra for a ticket for us.
So our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu started with a 1 and a half hour delay. We waited at the hostel for them to collect us but they didn't arrive. It being Latin America we weren't too concerned as they are always fairly relaxed with time. After an hour we decided to call, they said they'd be there soon and to stay at our hostel and not to move to another why. Strange, why would we move! Everyone else was on the bus when it arrived, they'd be driving around for an hour looking for our hostel as they had the wrong address. Interestingly we found out later from the others that they were all told that the delay was our fault as we had changed hostel.
Our driver was crazy, it must have been his first time driving ever. A few close calls on the road as we made our way to the summit to start the downhill mountain biking. As we approached the summit we encountered lots of snow and ice on the road but our driver appeared to be coping well with it. Then it happened, another car approached us on the road and he freaked out, veered to the right and hit an ice block. There were rumors that his mother was killed or injured by an ice block and he intentionally hit the ice block but the rumors are unconfirmed. Anyhow he decided to ignore the incident and continue driving until everyone started shouting at him. At which point he stopped and realised that he'd burst the tyre. So we started our downhill mountain biking from there as the bus wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Burst tyre |
Once the bikes were ready to go our guide pointed out that our bikes (us 3 and another random guy) were over to the left. There was a noticeable difference in our bikes and those used by the rest of the group. We'd all paid the same amount of money but booked through different tour companies. Obviously our company didn't care to provide decent bikes, oh they got gloves and safety vests too but we didn't get anything. So began my downhill biking on a bike that didn't have functioning brakes, gears that didn't work and a chain that kept falling off.
Luckily someone gave me a spare pair of gloves. Niall is freezing! |
Bored waiting for a bike repair |
The views were amazing and the 5 hour cycle downhill was great despite the unusual start. Most of it was on regular roads so the low quality, badly maintained bikes weren't so bad. For the last two hours we were on a gravel path which was actually fun although we were constantly interrupted by road works.
Road works ahead |
As a result of the road works we arrived too late to go white water rafting. They offered us the option of going at 6am the next morning. We decided against it as this would be before our 8 hour hike and we would just get changed at the side of the road and start the hike carrying our wet clothes and towels.
The hike itself was great, a little challenging in parts but we were stopping regularly for drinks and rest so it wasn't quite a pilgrimage. The scenery was great, some stunning views and some of the paths were very steep, narrow and challenging.
Some parts of the trek were quite steep |
Single file only |
nice view |
Shaky unstable bridge especially when you jump on it! |
Thankfully I'd hired out some hiking boots in Cusco as I don't think my converse would have survived. It was obviously a well traveled route, there were locals waiting along route to sell us drinks and food.
A family selling drinks and snacks at the end of the bridge |
When we booked the tour we were told about the route we'd take, what we'd do, where we'd stay and what we'd eat. One of the details was that we'd take a cable car across a river near the end of the hike. The cable car wasn't quite what we were expecting although it did get us across the river safely.
Peruvian cable car! |
After the day of hiking we spend an hour at some hot springs. A nice way to relax after a long day of walking, followed by dinner drinks and another night in a hostel. Next morning was a late start and zip lining. There were 6 lines in total, some longer and faster than others. It was my first time to do zip lining and its a nice way to see the country side flying above the trees but its not really an adrenaline rush as its all very safe and secure.
zip lining above the trees! |
Morning Queue to get into Machu Picchu |
Machu Picchu is as impressive as all of the photos I've seen. We had a guide who took us around, explaining what was what. Unfortunately we were unable to climb Wannu Picchu. The rules had changed since we booked our tour instead of queuing for a free ticket you now have to buy your ticket. We'd not paid for a ticket as it wasn't possible when we booked and the tour agency didn't pay the extra for a ticket for us.
Machu Picchu |
My attempt at the classic Machu Picchu Llama shot |
hey dave,
ReplyDeletethat looks savage, something i would love to do sometime, not the trek, but see machu picchu! tell me, can ya rent a chopper to get straight to the summit :)
diarmuid