Cusco and Machu Picchu

We left Hauraz at 10pm on board our first overnight bus ride. Being late we both fell asleep within half an hour and 8 hours later we woke up already entering Lima. After a painfully slow 9 hour transit at the bus terminal it was time to board the bus for Cusco. This was a 20 hour bus ride back up into the mountains from the coast. The bus was a double decker and we had front row seats on level two which was great, although at times nerve racking as we could see the chaos of South American roads unfolding in front of us.

View from front row of bus

We arrived in Cusco feeling very jaded. Fortunately the bikes survived the rough treatment from the bus luggage handlers and we loaded them up and headed into the city with 1 hour to find a hostal before night fall.

Cusco is another picturesque, ancient South American city. What immediately struck us was the number of tourists swarming the streets. This is by far the most ‘touristy’ city we’ve visited, so therefore prices are inflated for everything and the streets are lined with incredibly annoying street vendors selling anything from sunglasses to massages.

Plaza de Armas - Cusco

It took a couple of days to recover from the bus ride before we were ready to make our way to the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. There were countless agencies in Cusco selling packages to Machu Picchu but on the recommendation of a friend we decided to make our own way there at a fraction of the cost. It turned out to be quite the adventure. It took 14 hours but after 2 buses, 2 taxis, a flying fox and a 3.5 hour walk along some train tracks in the dark (with a group of other cheapskates we met along the way) we made it to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu.

Very budget bus - dogs & chickens welcomed aboard

Not the widest of roads

Flying fox - awesome!

3.5 hr walk along the train tracks

The next morning we were up by 4am and climbing the hill to the entrance of Machu Picchu in time for sunrise. We were some of the first people inside and captured some rare photos of the incredible ruins before all those who caught the buses up the road flooded in. The ruins were truly spectacular and we spent the day exploring them until our legs could not take anymore walking.

Our return trip to Cusco was by the ‘normal’ train route. The train used to run all the way to Cusco but due to rain storms earlier this year the tracks are still under repair after some sections were washed into the river. The train currently only goes about one third of the way back then the rest is covered by bus. We were back in Cusco in less than half the time of getting there albeit at over three times the cost. The money saved getting to Machu Picchu was put to good use that night catching up with a group of seven kiwi mates and experiencing some Cusco nightlife.

We have had a few more days cruising around Cusco visiting the local markets but after a couple of weeks break from the bikes we are both eager to get back on the road. Tomorrow will start riding towards the Peru/Bolivian boarder taking in the sights around Lake Titicaca along the way.