Aquas Calientes

This is a small little town that the train takes you to from Ollantaytambo(2 hours).

You then take a 25 minute bus ride to get to Machu Picchu. All trekkers other than the folks on the Inca Trail MUST take the bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu.

Aquas Calientes is full of tourists.

Very expensive place with loads of restaurants, bars,hotels, massage spots, shopping spots and the hot springs.

The Lares trekkers from our group met up with our Intrepid Leader and took the train in the night before us going to Machu Picchu. The reason we stayed overnight is so that we could take the first bus up to Machu Picchu (5 am).

I decided to not take this bus as you had to be up at 4 am to line up for it.....folks on this bus wanted to get their tickets stamped so they could climb Huayna Picchu mountain in Machu Picchu. The first 400 people are allowed to do this (they allow this split between 7 to 8 am time period or 10 to 11 am time period).

To be continued...........