Quick facts: Launch point for Machu Picchu; GPS: -13.155137, -72.525964; GMT-5; Altitude: 6787′
Aguas Calientes – We arrived into Cusco at around 05:30 and I opted to get dropped off at their partner hostel. I waved goodbye to Peru hop as this was the last stop I would make with them. After doing some research about where I would go to breakfast I got a car and headed to this place that was highly rated. Upon arriving and waiting until it was supposed to open I cam to find out that Google had it wrong and they weren’t going to open for another hour.
So after that disappointment I was going to walk back to the hostel while doing some sightseeing but luckily only a few blocks away I found the Maytaq Wasin hotel, which had a breakfast buffet for a very reasonable price. Not only was I able to eat from a great selection of choices but I was able to charge all my devices while doing so. This turned out to be a good alternative and I felt lucky that I didn’t miss out in the end.
After breakfast, I had to make my way back to the hostel. It was only a 10 minute walk and once I got there I was able to take a shower at the hostel. I felt much better after the shower and was ready to head out to the train station. I caught a car to the Inca Rail station and checked in for the train early just in case there were any hiccups. Right next to the station is the Santo Domingo Church (Iglesia De Santo Domingo), so I went to check it out quickly as the only thing I was interested in seeing was how it was built on top of old Incan ruins (Coricancha) which are still visible.
Shortly after 10:00 they started loading us into the shuttles and after being switched around a few times I finally got one and we were off. The shuttle ride is part of the “Bimodal” version that Inca Rail offers. It is slightly nicer than the standard route and includes a shuttle ride from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. From there we transferred to the train and headed to Aguas Calientes. Each leg of this trip lasted about 2 hours. The train ride was a nice change as the windows were large and panoramic so we could easily look around at the scenery. Also lunch was served with a few options for drinks as well.
The train rolled into town on time and after unloading I found my hotel on the map and made my way there. Luckily AC is small so it only took a few minutes to walk there. After checking in I looked for a place that I could get a massage. I noted a couple and went to look for a winner. I walked around for a little bit and even though it was second on the list I chose to go to Otto’s. This place was awesome! Before starting they give you a foot bath and let you soak for a bit. Afterwards I had my massage and the girl was very attentive, asking if the pressure was ok etc. The price for the hour long massage was only S/100 or about $30 USD. Quite cheap if you ask me.
When I was done with the spa it was time for dinner and again I turned to TripAdvisor. Just down the road a bit was the highest rated place for dinner so I went there, Full House. I sat out on the deck seating near the water which was a nice setting. While I ate several times today I decided to have a lighter dinner. I ordered the pumpkin cream soup. It was pretty good. After dinner I went back to the hotel and went to bed early to catch up on some sleep.