Today we had the 110 km long bus and train journey from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu).
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Wanchaq Bus Station in Cusco
For us it was time to get up this morning, because we had chosen a train from Perurail at 7.55 a.m. We walked from the hotel with small luggage for 3 days (we had stored our suitcases in the hotel) to the bus station Wanchaq in Cusco.
Wanchaq Bus Station in Cusco
The route from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
From the Wanchaq bus station in Cusco, you can take the bus to the train station in Pachar in about 1.5 hours. Due to the rainy season, the trains do not leave Poroy as usual for safety reasons.
The bus and train route from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
The Vistadom train to Aguas Calientes
After a good 1 1/2 hours we arrived at the train station in Pachar. Here are the blue trains, which on the one hand look somehow nostalgic and yet are really comfortable. There are different price ranges on trains – from cheap backpacker trains to the luxury “Hiram Bingham” version for several hundred dollars. For the outward journey we had chosen the variant “Vistadom“. Railway line always goes along the Rio Urubamba. During the trip we even got a small snack served 🙂
Arrival in Aguas Calientes
At noon we arrived in Aguas Calientes – or as the locals prefer to say “Machupicchu Pueblo”. By the way, the train is the only connection to the small town surrounded by rock walls – there is no road connection there.
Aguas Calientes is a town in Peru. The town is located in the river valley of the Rio Urubamba at an altitude of about 2,060 meters and is surrounded by steep walls of rock and cloud forest. Aguas Calientes is located about one and a half kilometers from the ruined city of Machu Picchu and is the starting point for visiting the Unesco World Heritage Site.
Our hotel in Aguas Calientes
Our hotel Casa Andina Classic Machu Picchu was only a 5 minute walk from the train station and we could also check in right away.
Casa Andina Aguas Calientes is just a few minutes’ walk from the train station by a river. We slept two nights in the hotel in January 2015 and therefore also took a cheaper room without an outside window. The room was very small with a frosted glass window to the hallway, which could be tilted. The room was very functionally furnished. Since Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo is very small, almost everything can be reached in the immediate vicinity. Through the surrounding mountains it reminded us a bit of a small Alpine village. Everywhere you will find restaurants, bars and tourism agencies. The tickets for the bus to Machu Picchu were purchased the day before (from the afternoon possible) at an official ticket office, so that we do not have to queue in the morning. The bus stop can also be reached within walking distance of the hotel. Breakfast was included in the price. In the breakfast room you have a view of the rushing, tearing river. As everywhere in South America, breakfast was very good and very European. All in all, a good price-to-money ratio. If we are back in aguas Calientes, we would certainly stay here again (there are n°many other good alternatives at the price level).
Our room at Casa Andina Classic
The small town of Aguas Calientes
In the afternoon we got the tickets for the shuttle bus to Machu Picchu for the next day, because the queue should always be relatively long in the morning. For the 8 km long serpentine route you pay a proud 10 USD per person – one way. Afterwards we strolled a little through the village, which reminds us of a small alpine village and actually pleased us quite well. Everywhere you can see small nice restaurants, hostels, cafes and souvenir shops. We had imagined it to be somehow worse out of stories. In the end, in this small town everything gathers around the railway tracks – restaurants, souvenir shops and small shops. The Rio Urubamba is always well heard, whose water flows along the village at impressive speed.
The view of the city from Putucusi Mountain
Afterwards we tried to find the steep stairs of the Putucusi Mountains. We were told to walk the railway tracks to the last hotel and then we go straight right into the forest. And we had also found the entrance to it, but unfortunately the way was closed on the half. But at least you had a nice view of Aguas Calientes from here.
In the evening we went to a small restaurant for a bite to eat and bed early, as we set the alarm clock for Machu Picchu the next morning already for 4.45 a.m.
All travelogues from Peru
Peru was one of the countries which was set from the beginning in the planning our world trip 🙂 We had already seen so many pictures of the Inca city Machu Picchu that we definitely wanted to see it. And our route through Peru we could also connect perfectly with Bolivia and Ecuador.
» Lima – Tourist Attractions, Things to Do & Photo Spots (Peru)» From Aguas Calientes via Cusco to Lima (Peru)
» Machu Picchu – Historic Sanctuary of the Incan citadel (Peru)
» Perurail – By train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Peru)
» Cusco – Tourist Attractions, Things to Do & Photo Spots (Peru)
» Pass road La Raya – By bus from Puno to Cusco (Peru)
» Puno & the floating villages of the Uros in Lake Titikaka (Peru)
» By bus from La Paz (Bolivia) to Puno (Peru)