Machu Picchu
The joke of getting there
The easiest way to reach Aguas Calientes, the city down the Machu Picchu, was to take a train. It looked easy and the best solution until I discovered the price: more than 100$ the round trip. This price was ridiculously expensive for the country. As I didn’t want to spend that much of money, I found another way. I took a bus to a hydroelectric plant and next I walked 9 kms in order to reach the town. Longer and less comfortable, but it cost me 15€.
An anecdote, when we arrived at the hydroelectric plant, the driver told us that the price for the last 9 kms by train. It was 31$ for the strangers and 1,50$ for the Peruvian. Even if the price was so big, I could understand the reason, the Machu Picchu is really really really touristic and the tourists have a lot of money.
An impressive place
After paying a lot, finally I could enjoy it. It was not the best thing I have done in South America, but it was amazing. The place located in the middle of the mountains, the ruins of top of one. It had lot of charms.
I didn’t book the mountain and I was glad to do this. By walking up to the Sun door, I saw a nice sunrise on one side and an gorgeous overview of the ruins on the other side. I didn’t ask for more.
I listened some guide explanations and I saw a lot. I spent almost 5 hours inside. I just missed that no information was provided by the site: plans, explanations… If you don’t book a guide, you can only see the things.
Cusco
Cusco was a beautiful city, filled with many historical buildings. Everything was clean and well kept. Walking in the different neighborhoods was always a pleasure. On top of that, the main square was everyday a place of parades. The month of June is sacred in the region of Cusco due to the Inca legacy.
However, I found Cusco too touristic for my travel. In the center, there were more strangers than locals. Thus, the city center was rich, gorgeous and amazing but mainly for tourists and local looked pushed out. I was not keen on that type of atmosphere.