Day 6 – Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes

This was the morning I have been waiting for. This was the day when I will be in Machu Picchu. With all the excitement and enthusiasm, I looked down the window of my hotel room, which was located on the main street, to see this long line leading up to the bus station! In a bit of panicky mode, I rushed to the rooftop of the hotel for an early breakfast and head out at the back of the line.

[Line to catch the bus going to Machu Picchu]

Fortunately, they have multiple buses running at the same time so the line moved fast and within 15 minutes, I was on the bus that takes about 20 minutes through a winding road, up to the entrance of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu Also read: Visiting Machu Picchu will be more difficult starting July 1, 2017 There are a lot of online resources on how to get Machu Picchu tickets, so I will not cover that here. But it is important to get your tickets well in advance considering the fact that only a certain number of people are allowed in a single day. Print two copies of your tickets before entering and do not lose your tickets. Bring your passports along. You will be denied entry if you don’t have your passports. The gates open at 6 a.m. and the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu starts at 5:30am and run every 5 minutes. Long lines at the bus station and at entrance gate means it is recommended you start early… way early! Weather is unpredictable in Machu Picchu, so bring sunscreen and umbrellas. Lots of water is recommended as you won’t find it inside. Use of toilets is recommended before entering the archaeological site. MAKE SURE to stamp your passport with the collector’s stamp next to the entrance gate. This is a free souvenir and can be stamped on your passport.

With the seamless process of entry, you will be in the site in no time.

It was a sunny day with rains predicted later in the afternoon, so we spent about 5 hours walking around the entire structure – The Sun Gate (Inti Punku), Sun Dial, the actual village. We did not walk up to Huana Picchu (Wayna Picchu). And started to walk out by about 2pm.

A promotion going on the Peru Rail train ticket (from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes) included a free snack at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge restaurant, located right outside the entrance of Machu Picchu, so we stopped by for some sandwiches and drinks (which are not included in the free snacks promotion).

[The guard huts at the entrance]

[Machu Picchu]

[Panorama of Machu Picchu]

[Farming terraces]

[View of Machu Picchu from Inti Punku or Sun Gate, with the winding road from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu]

[At Inti Punku or Sun Gate]

[Machu Picchu]

[Machu Picchu]

[Selfie with a Llama!]

Right when we were heading down in the bus to Aguas Calientes, it started to rain heavily!

And upon reaching the town of Aguas Calientes, we heard a band playing local music around the bus station. Upon inquiry, we were told that it was the 105th anniversary of finding of Machu Picchu and there will be celebrations and parades in the central square beginning 7pm.

So after some afternoon siesta, we were out in the evening for the celebrations. All the local tribes form teams and line up at the school’s playground to start the parade, from where they walk over to the central square (Plaza de Armas) where the tribe’s king performs the ceremonies.

[Children performers]

[Teams gather and line up in the school’s playground before heading to the central square]

[Other teams line up on the street to parade through to the central square]

[Teams parading through the streets of Aguas Calientes leading up to the central square]

[Tribal King performing the ceremonies]

[Teams dance in front of the king]

[We got a photo opportunity at the end of the ceremony]

 
After the ceremony ending at around 9:30pm, we stopped by a restaurant for dinner and headed to the bus station for some more dancing with the locals on the main street.

This day couldn’t have been better – an amazing experience visiting the ‘top of the world archaeological site’ and then celebrating the founding of one of the most visited and most sought after places in the world.

Note: All values in USD, unless otherwise mentioned, are approximate and based on the exchange rate of USD 1 = PEN 3.30 at the time of publishing. Each cost is for one adult.