Machu Picchu: 2,400 m [7,872 ft]

This day was the climax of the entire trip - the ruins of Machu Picchu. Due to large numbers of tourists (in 2017 they had over 1.4 million, they limit how many people can come into the site in I believe three different time slots with even fewer allowed to hike up any of the two peaks overlooking the Inca citadel. Also, they only way up is by one of the buses with a prepaid ticket.

We were at the bus stop around 7 am where we found out that there were issues with walking sticks. Mine had metal tips which could have damaged stones. Our guide did a last minute scramble and found for me a couple of rubber tips to go over the metal pieces. But be aware, some gate monitors were stopping even wooden hiking poles. Best if you can to leave your hiking poles back in your hotel until you are done with the citadel.

Loading of the buses (there were many) was very organized and they were quite comfortable. As you can see on the map, the road up to the citadel is a lot of switchbacks as it literally goes right up the side of the mountain. Thanks goodness the bus drivers are good at what they do!

Our guide was planning to meet us a bit later for a formal tour of the citadel but first, the four of us were planning to hike up one of the peaks. But here goes another twist to the adventure. In addition to having to put up with toe problems, my stomach suddenly decided to make some noises. I figured that I might have eaten too fast so started through the gate with the others. But then I discovered it was more than just that - major stomach cramps. So I broke off from the group to head back to the entrance (no toilets past the entry gates). I asked one of the security people for the quickest way back out and he pointed me forward. Hint - be very careful on how you ask questions and ensure that they are understood. I should have just backtracked but instead I ended up walking through a major part of the complex along a marked path. I made it - but barely. Now I realize why I have always refused to get diarrhea when traveling - until this one time.

But of course, the was Machu Picchu so with some effort (will hold the details), I got my self somewhat stable and went out front to wait for the group to return and for our guide to join us. I proceeded through the tour (our guide was good here giving us some good background as we went) even though I wasn’t as ‘active’ as normal. But I made it, enjoyed seeing it in person (the pictures don’t do it justice - you have to see it for yourself). To heck with sore feet and stomach cramps! And I have pictures to prove it - and made it back to the entrance and its toilets in time - again :)

At the end of the morning we headed back into town. We had a bite and more Pisco Sours (including more mixing ourselves) and then stopped to get our passports stamped at Machu Picchu (actually was a free service). We had then lunch at a nice place along the river before we headed for the train to leave town. In the train down to Ollantaytambo we were entertained with some local music and fashions - a nice touch.

At Ollantaytambo, we transferred to our van that would take us back to Cusco for an evening arrival. On the way out we did get a quick glance at some monuments on the canyon walls above the Sacred Valley. Luckily also I has some pills to ‘help’ with my stomach compliments of one our group (turns out he was also having problems) which was good as the van ride was another 1.5 hours.

By the way, Cusco has traffic jams. Discovered this right as we got to town. It seemed, even with the heavy traffic, that it was taking a long time to get to the hotel (two of us really needed some more time on the toilets). Turns out our guide was planning to take us to an ATM first in case we needed money for his tip. We explained to him that it wasn’t needed and to get us to our hotel fast (same one we stayed in when we first arrived in Cusco)!

We also found out that our guide had no information on our transfer to the airport for the next morning nor anything about a dinner (this group normally has a farewell dinner on the last day). Neither did the hotel. So we all sent messages and called both Mountain Company Lodges (the local vendor) plus the vendor who put this together for us. I must say that I was impressed with their responses. Once they got the word of the problems, we all got a call from our guide (only one got through) who offered to meet us for dinner in a while (even though he was planning to spend the evening with his wife and kids) which we passed on as two of us were still not well and the other two were very tired. We also all got responses from both companies about the airport transfer and additional information on our flights and tickets - very well done!

One more full and interesting day full of adventure!

Oh yes, I found some Imodium AD - by morning I was ready to fly :)

Please note that I did not caption most of the photos on this page. More information about each (they should be all fully recognizable), please check out the links supplied.

For a map of the trip between Aquas Calientes and Cusco, please see the map on the next page (Day 12).