Arriving to Machu Pichu

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
The day for Machu Pichu has finally arrived. Given all the hype there is, I am crossing my fingers that it is as impressive as all the stories I have heard. We got onto a bus to Ollantaytambo around 7:30am. That is where we get on the train to Machu Pichu. Right outside the train, you can see all these vendors selling breakfast (hot corn with big kernels, sandwich with cheese and egg, and soup). Even though most of us are somewhat weary of getting stomach problems, I could not resist buying a hot corn off of a vendor for 2 sols.
On the way to Machu Pichu in the train, some of us read books while others sat close to the window to marvel at the beautiful scenery. The scenery goes from majestic mountains with few trees to luscious green jungle. One girl even made the remark that it looked like we were in Jurassic Park. The train route courses by the Urubamba River, it follows the course that Bingham took in 1911. The water in Urubamba River is very rapid. Our guide told us that water rafting is not allowed in this section because it is too dangerous. The water reflected a beautiful jade green and it became white whenever it clashed on big rocks. The river and the surrounding mountains are amazing combination of natural beauty that I cannot describe in words.
When we arrived to Machu Pichu, we had 30 minutes to check into our hotel and grab whatever we need for our hike up Putukusi Mountain. The hotel we stayed in is called Apu Majestico. It is very close to both the train station and the thermal baths. Let me tell you some background about Putukusi. It is a mountain across from Machu Pichu. From there, you can get amazing view of the surrounding mountains/valleys and priceless view of Machu Pichu that is better than the postcards.
However, it is a killer hike. It consisted of constant incline with stones steps of various sizes. On top of that, there are about 4 sets of wooden ladres that are 90 degrees against the rocks that we had to climb up. It is a little scary because some of these stone steps are so close to the edge of the cliff. You have to be very focused on where your next step is. While we were struggling to climb this crazy hill, some other tourist that were coming down would tell us that there are only a few minutes to go and the view is worth it. Strangely enough, one cannot see Machu Pichu unless you reach the very top of Putukusi.
Once I got there, I just lied down on a big rock and breathed deeply. The Cusco flag, the Putukusi sign and most important of all, the view of Machu Pichu were like trophies for all that hard work. We took group photos with Machu Pichu in the background. The top of the mountain is a beautiful spot to enjoy nature and feel peaceful inside and out. After about 45 minutes of marveling at the scenery, we headed back down the mountain. The hike down was much more dangerous than the hike up. We had to be careful not to slip when there were only dirt and gravel. The ladders are a lot scarier when you are looking down. I tried not to look down and focused on one step at a time. My arm soared and my thighs were becoming numb. It seemed like a very long descend.
When we finally walked back to the hotel, most of us want to soak ourselves in the hot thermal baths nearby. Agua Caliente is known for its restorative baths for people that just finished their long 4 day hike on the Inca trail. It has been known also for the poor hygene…just imagine all these dirty hikers soaking in a pool of hot water. I was glad I tried it, the soak made my muscles much happier. It was nice to be in the pool with 8 of my classmates and just relax in the pool. We had a traditional Peruvian dinner afterwards. Then it was bedtime because tomorrow we had to get up at 4:30am to get to Machu Pichu before the sunrise.