Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Two days through the Sacred Valley and on to Machu Picchu. We left Cusco early in a van for Moray and Maras, then Ollantaytambo — breathtaking, though the altitude may have gotten me sick. The food was glorious the whole way. We drove to Santa Teresa and walked three hours along the railway to Aguas Calientes for the night. Next morning at 4–5 AM a van took us up to Machu Picchu; we stayed the day and climbed Huayna Picchu, a rewarding hike — my dad did the whole thing in jeans and office shoes. We walked back down to Aguas Calientes, took the glass-ceiling train to Cusco, and flew back to Lima.
- Historic marker
Moray
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
Arrival notes: Early van excursion from Cusco
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Breathtaking circular terraces. The altitude may have started to get to me here.
- Historic marker
Maras
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
How I got there: Car — Van from Moray
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The salt pans stepped down the hillside. Same van day as Moray — still breathtaking, still high.
- Historic marker
Ollantaytambo
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
How I got there: Car — Van from Maras
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The fortress town at the end of the valley. Glorious food all along this stretch.
- Other
Santa Teresa
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
How I got there: Car — Van from Ollantaytambo
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End of the road before the railway walk to Aguas Calientes.
- Other
Railway walk to Aguas Calientes
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
How I got there: Walk — Three-hour walk along the railway from Santa Teresa
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Three hours along the tracks from Hidroeléctrica into town.
- Lodging
Aguas Calientes
Visited: Mar 14, 2018
How I got there: Walk — Walked in along the railway
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Slept here before the early start up to Machu Picchu.
- Historic marker
Machu Picchu
Visited: Mar 15, 2018
How I got there: Car — Van up at 4–5 AM
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The whole day at the citadel after that predawn van from town.
- Historic marker
Huayna Picchu
Visited: Mar 15, 2018
How I got there: Walk — Hike from Machu Picchu
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Such a rewarding climb. My dad went all the way up in jeans and office shoes.
- Other
Glass-ceiling train to Cusco
Visited: Mar 15, 2018
How I got there: Transit — Walked down to Aguas Calientes, then the train
Back down to town, then the glass-ceiling train to Cusco.
- Other
Flight back to Lima
Visited: Mar 15, 2018
How I got there: Flight — Plane from Cusco
From Cusco, the plane back to Lima.
Route summary: Moray → Maras → Ollantaytambo → Santa Teresa → Railway walk to Aguas Calientes → Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu → Huayna Picchu