To get to Machu Picchu, we start our journey by bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo where you catch the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes as it is also called.

On our way, through twisting and winding roads, we first make a stop at the White Christ or Jesus statue that overlooks the city of Cusco. This 8 metre white statue of Jesus was a gift from the Palestinians who sought refuge in WWII.

Then, we are off and do stops at the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op and the Tinkuy Turismo Communitario for first, a demonstration of how they spin, colour and clean the alpaca wool and then a lesson in pottery making. Both initiatives are a partnership with Planeterra and G Adventures to promote the local culture and help provide sustainable income to the women of the community. The women in both communities are colourful in their traditional costumes. We get a chance to feed alpacas and also buy some products.

We also learn that the tradition of placing bulls on the top of roofs, called Torito de Pucará, is a symbol of good luck, fertility, protection and prosperity.

On our way to our lunch stop at Parwa restaurant, a successful farm-to-table food program in partnership with G Adventures, we make an impromptu stop to buy BBQ Guinea pig to have with our lunch! The pig is cut up so we can all have a taste. There is not much meat on the portion and full of bones. The verdict is “we’ve tried it but would never get it again”. Thankfully, the food that we are served is delicious and filling.

We arrive in Ollantaytambo, which is in the Sacred Valley, to drop off our bags at the hotel, which sits right by a river, and head down the road to the ruins. It’s more climbing on uneven rock steps but the view from the top is well worth the sweat. The Ollantaytambo ruins are massive and the high stone terraces are intimidating to climb, but climb them we do! The view from above overlooks the town and the surrounding mountains are illuminated by a setting sun.

The town itself is very touristic with many tourist souvenir shops and restaurants. And many decorated tuk tuks—those three wheel covered transportation that really fits two people but our guide says the record was ten people! Not sure how they managed that.

It’s an early morning start to catch the 1.5 hour panoramic train ride to Aguas Caliente which is where we will catch the Machu Picchu bus the next day. Four women from our group had opted to do the one day hike to the top of Machu Picchu so they hopped on another train with Alex, our temporary Machu Picchu guide, and they would join us later in the evening after arriving at the Sun Gate.

Unfortunately, we had to endure a 45 minute delay for our train but thankfully, the scenic ride is worth the wait.

At arrival, we take the afternoon to relax by walking around the small town which has no vehicle traffic. It’s also a tourist town, where there are lots of restaurants, souvenir stores and massage places for tired tourists and hikers.

Aguas Caliente also has hot springs which a few of us head out to. Though they are not in the wild but rather hot spring water pumped into various pools, it’s a nice respite from the last few days. The bar above looks like Rastafarians occupied it, as it is so funky but is a relaxing place to have a beer and oversee the pools below.

We need to mention that every town we’ve stayed in, there are loose dogs everywhere! In one place, our sleep was interrupted constantly by barking dogs at night.

But it doesn’t affect our spirits, as our day to visit Machu Picchu has arrived. Read on to the next blog to learn about this spectacular place.