Even earlier today, we’re off to the train to Aguas Callientes at 6:30 am.
You can hike to Machu Picchu, you can take the train to Aguas Callientes, and I’m not sure how else you can get in. Pretty much everyone passes through Aguas Callientes.
We took PeruRail from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Callientes. (There’s also another operator on this route, Inca Rail) It’s an hour and a half to go 23 miles or so, but the view is good.
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Out the door at 7:30 am for the mini-bus through the Sacred Valley.
The first stop is Ccaccaccollo, a traditional Andean community where the tour operation (G Adventures) does support and outreach. Many of the men work as porters for G Adventures and porters on mountain treks. The women run a weaving co-op. We had brief demonstrations of spinning, weaving, and dying, including a talk on what materials are useful for dying. The items we can buy from the co-op are guaranteed to be the real thing because we can see them being made.
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Next to the cathedral, of course.