Hot water = Agua Calientes

The plan was to make it to Agua Calientes today in order to see Machu Pichu tomorrow. Anders is heading in a different direction so after breakfast we say our good-byes with the hope of crossing paths again.

Farming the hard way.

The route to Agua Calientes takes us through part of the Sacred Valley and the morning sun of Cusco is soon replaced with cloudy skies at Urubamba and rain by the time we get to the cobblestone streets of Ollyantatambo. Rain and cobblestone is always a bit nerve racking because it is never clear if the stones are slippery or not until you start sliding and by then it is too late.


Then there is a mountain pass that must be crossed and it is very high and very wet. The road goes up into the clouds and due to the time of year it is cold up there and the heavy wet season rains to deal with.

The mountain valley below the clouds. cool road.

By the time we get to Sta. Maria we are greeted with sunny skies once again and we are glad to peel off the rain gear. We are not sure about the fuel situation in Sta. Teresa so we fill our tanks at a little place that sells fuel out of 45 gallon barrels. This is a first on this trip actually a first ever as far as I can remember. The road from Sta. Maria to Sta. Teresa is 28km of dirt, with a few water crossings thrown in to keep it really interesting. The road follows the Rio Vilcanota and is very narrow in spots which is ok unless there is oncoming traffic at which point it is better to be against the rock wall than on the cliff side of the road. The deepest of the water crossings is half way up the engine and about 25 feet across, we are getting used to wet feet.


Our stop in Sta. Teresa is short and sweet, we go to Hostal Yucamann which has a good sideline business of storing motorcycles while the riders go to Machu Pichu, then when they return a large portion of them stay over night for at least one night anyway. We are no different, we drop off the bikes and grab a taxi to the hydro electric station which is where the train up to Agua Calientes is.

Five Alberta motos in Peru.

The last train of the day is at 4:20pm, and we arrive with about a half hour to spare. The part of our research that was not accurate was the price of the train, $90USD for a 45 minute train ride seemed excessive, so we joined all the packpackers who hike the 12km from the train station up to Agua. We were glad we did, the hike was easy as there is a gentle incline and for the most part it follows right beside the train tracks.

The $90 tourist train.

We were surprised to see a restaurant about half way, and we wondered how there was enough business to support it. The town of Agua Calientes itself is really not much more than a few hundred restaurants and a mixture of hotels, hostals, souvenir shops and Bodegas. We find our way to the bus ticket and Machu Pichu offices, thanks to a helpful tourist fella, and we are all set for tomorrow. Now to get some sleep, the first bus is at 5:30am and the lineup starts at 5ish.