We took the Inca Rail to get to and from Machu Picchu. There are three train stations where you can get on the Inca Rail: Ollantaytambo, Poroy, and Cusco. We were instructed to bring our passport with us since we may need it to board the train - I guess to confirm our identity - but on the train to Machu Picchu and on the train heading out, we only had to show our train tickets.
Important: you can only bring a small bag with you on the train. Inca Rail doesn’t accept big luggage because they don't have luggage racks or storage space on the train. Their policy is posted on their website and it indicates that passengers can travel with only one piece of hand luggage (backpack, handbag, or briefcase) weighing no more than 8 kg/11lb and with dimensions of no more 62 inches/157 cm (height + length + width). I was actually able to get in with a small suitcase (I think my bag was the smallest standard size of a carry-on suitcase) and a backpack that contained just my cameras and sunglasses.
Inca Rail does provide a custody service for big luggage. I'm not sure how this works or how much it costs. The great thing about our tour, which was organized by Condor Travel and Journeyou, was that we didn't have to worry about this because they managed our big luggage. We left our bags with Condor Travel and Journeyou when we checked out of Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba and they took our bags to Cusco. In fact, when we arrived at our hotel in Cusco, our luggage had already been checked into our rooms. I thought that was fantastic service.
The train ride to and from Machu Picchu passes through some pretty awesome views. I am not sure what this river is that runs right alongside the train tracks - I initially thought it was the Urubamba River but it could be Vilcanota River. In any case, the river and its rapids are quite scenic so try to be on the left side of the train on the way to Machu Picchu and on the right side on the way back so you can get a better look at the river from the train. My mom and I were seated on the right side of the train both times so it was only on the train ride leaving Machu Picchu that I was able to take photos of the river. Interesting tidbit: the people sitting next to us on the train on the way there were the exact same people with whom we sat on the way to back (and I believe they were from Mexico).
Our tour guide told us we would get a good view of Veronica, one of the mountains of the Peruvian Andes, on the train. The peak is absolutely stunning.
I wasn't ready to take photos of it on the way to Machu Picchu so the first set of shots I took were blurry and you can't really see the amazing detail. Naturally, I made sure to be ready with my digital camera with its 30x zoom on the way back. As a result, I was able to take some pretty decent shots of Veronica (this next one was taken through the glass ceiling of our train).
The cool thing about the Inca Rail is that you get served free food and drinks. The snack is standard but you have a choice of a hot or cold beverage.
We stayed in Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, which is closest access point to Machu Picchu. As mentioned in my previous post, we checked into Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel for one night. It's too bad we checked into this hotel after 6pm and we checked out at around 730 to 8am the next day right before heading to Machu Picchu because I would have loved to see and experience more of it (check out this video of the hotel). The good thing about Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is that they provide a service to bring your bags to the train station. Once we checked out, we attached tags to our bags indicating what time our train was leaving and the hotel staff brought them to the station 30 minutes before train departure. True enough, when we got there, our bags were waiting for us. Once again, great service!
Aguas Calientes is also where people get on the buses to take them to Machu Picchu.
We were a bit lucky on our way to the bus. There were many people already ahead of us in line when we arrived but it got significantly longer once we were there. We waited maybe just 20 minutes for our bus which wasn't too bad. It was actually our way back down that took a while. The queue was tremendously long and we waited in line for I think an hour. Of course, because we were so euphoric about the Machu Picchu trip, waiting in line didn't feel too bad. It gave us an opportunity to chat a bit more with some of the other people who were touring with us.
We got back to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu at around 1:30 or 2pm. We had a late buffet lunch at El Mapi. I thought the food was good and nourishing, and I loved that brewed coffee was included in the buffet. At around 230pm, we headed to the Machu Picchu market where my mom bought shirts and postcards and I bought refrigerator magnets as souvenirs. We then walked back to Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel to buy a small book about Machu Picchu that my mom saw before we checked out. It was in Spanish - they didn't have an English version of the book - but it had some stunning photos so my mom decided to get it anyway.
By 4pm we were back at the station, getting ready to board our train to Machu Picchu. We were supposed to get off at Poroy which is very near Cusco but there was a bit of a snag (I'm not sure why). We had to get off at Ollantaytambo then Inca Rail provided shuttles that took us to Plaza de Armas in Cusco. It was close to 9pm when we arrived at Cusco.
Next: Cusco
Inca Rail station at Ollantaytambo
Important: you can only bring a small bag with you on the train. Inca Rail doesn’t accept big luggage because they don't have luggage racks or storage space on the train. Their policy is posted on their website and it indicates that passengers can travel with only one piece of hand luggage (backpack, handbag, or briefcase) weighing no more than 8 kg/11lb and with dimensions of no more 62 inches/157 cm (height + length + width). I was actually able to get in with a small suitcase (I think my bag was the smallest standard size of a carry-on suitcase) and a backpack that contained just my cameras and sunglasses.
On the train heading to Machu Picchu
Inca Rail does provide a custody service for big luggage. I'm not sure how this works or how much it costs. The great thing about our tour, which was organized by Condor Travel and Journeyou, was that we didn't have to worry about this because they managed our big luggage. We left our bags with Condor Travel and Journeyou when we checked out of Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba and they took our bags to Cusco. In fact, when we arrived at our hotel in Cusco, our luggage had already been checked into our rooms. I thought that was fantastic service.
The train station in Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes
The train ride to and from Machu Picchu passes through some pretty awesome views. I am not sure what this river is that runs right alongside the train tracks - I initially thought it was the Urubamba River but it could be Vilcanota River. In any case, the river and its rapids are quite scenic so try to be on the left side of the train on the way to Machu Picchu and on the right side on the way back so you can get a better look at the river from the train. My mom and I were seated on the right side of the train both times so it was only on the train ride leaving Machu Picchu that I was able to take photos of the river. Interesting tidbit: the people sitting next to us on the train on the way there were the exact same people with whom we sat on the way to back (and I believe they were from Mexico).
Great view of rapids on the train
Our tour guide told us we would get a good view of Veronica, one of the mountains of the Peruvian Andes, on the train. The peak is absolutely stunning.
Peak of Veronica, as seem from our train
I wasn't ready to take photos of it on the way to Machu Picchu so the first set of shots I took were blurry and you can't really see the amazing detail. Naturally, I made sure to be ready with my digital camera with its 30x zoom on the way back. As a result, I was able to take some pretty decent shots of Veronica (this next one was taken through the glass ceiling of our train).
The cool thing about the Inca Rail is that you get served free food and drinks. The snack is standard but you have a choice of a hot or cold beverage.
Inca Rail train service includes a free snack and drink
We stayed in Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, which is closest access point to Machu Picchu. As mentioned in my previous post, we checked into Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel for one night. It's too bad we checked into this hotel after 6pm and we checked out at around 730 to 8am the next day right before heading to Machu Picchu because I would have loved to see and experience more of it (check out this video of the hotel). The good thing about Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is that they provide a service to bring your bags to the train station. Once we checked out, we attached tags to our bags indicating what time our train was leaving and the hotel staff brought them to the station 30 minutes before train departure. True enough, when we got there, our bags were waiting for us. Once again, great service!
The lobby of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Aguas Calientes is also where people get on the buses to take them to Machu Picchu.
Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo
We were a bit lucky on our way to the bus. There were many people already ahead of us in line when we arrived but it got significantly longer once we were there. We waited maybe just 20 minutes for our bus which wasn't too bad. It was actually our way back down that took a while. The queue was tremendously long and we waited in line for I think an hour. Of course, because we were so euphoric about the Machu Picchu trip, waiting in line didn't feel too bad. It gave us an opportunity to chat a bit more with some of the other people who were touring with us.
The queue of people waiting to get on the bus that would take us to Machu Picchu
We got back to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu at around 1:30 or 2pm. We had a late buffet lunch at El Mapi. I thought the food was good and nourishing, and I loved that brewed coffee was included in the buffet. At around 230pm, we headed to the Machu Picchu market where my mom bought shirts and postcards and I bought refrigerator magnets as souvenirs. We then walked back to Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel to buy a small book about Machu Picchu that my mom saw before we checked out. It was in Spanish - they didn't have an English version of the book - but it had some stunning photos so my mom decided to get it anyway.
A nice place to relax at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
By 4pm we were back at the station, getting ready to board our train to Machu Picchu. We were supposed to get off at Poroy which is very near Cusco but there was a bit of a snag (I'm not sure why). We had to get off at Ollantaytambo then Inca Rail provided shuttles that took us to Plaza de Armas in Cusco. It was close to 9pm when we arrived at Cusco.
Next: Cusco
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