Machu Picchu, Peru ~ Feb' 17

Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca citadel located in the Cusco region and situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres above sea-level ..

To actually get to Machu Picchu is a mission in itself, and there are a few ways to go about it, most web based info suggests that you book well inadvance so thats what i did ..

All booked beforehand ...

Flight from Lima to Cusco.

Train From Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.

Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Machu Picchu entry Ticket.

Train back to Ollantaytambo.

Flight from Cusco to Lima.

You can get a train from Poroy near Cusco to Aguas Calientes, I went by taxi to Ollantaytambo from Cusco so as to stop off at chosen locations on route ..  

Booked the day before at the ticket office in Aguas Calientes was the bus up to Machu Picchu ..

** Notes to Remember **

Booking your Machu Picchu entry tickets, the website only works in the spanish version !!!

Stay in Aguas Calientes to make access to Machu Picchu so much easier !!!

The first bus up is at 05:30 am be there an hour before to beat the queue !!!

So did i remeber to be there early ...

Errrr No ..

Got to the buses at 05:30 thinking about 30 or 40 people would be waiting ...

How wrong was I .. !!

Walked around and then between  couple of buses to get on the back of the queue, but the queue kept on going up and up the road, and still it kept going until i had walked past 1,000+ people !!!

It took 45 minutes to get on the bus due to the amount of people and another 20 minutes bus ride and 15 minutes to gain entry to Machu Picchu ..

The views from the top were fantastic with mountains shrouded in mist and Urubamba River far below ..

The main reason to be one of the first on the bus up in the morning is for photos with NO people in them ..

Once you come out get your Passport Stamped !!!

There is a very small wooden platform directly below the seating area of the cafe, you stamp your own passport .. 

Its not to long about 90 minutes before the crowds start to become to much with selfie sticks everywhere, that was my queue to go ..

I walked back down from Machu Picchu and went in the Botanical Gardens at the bottom and the Butterfly House ...

Is it on your Bucket List ?

Go !!