May 14 2025
Made it to Aguas Calientes today. Decided to take a taxi from Santa Teresa to Hydroelectrica, and from there I hiked up the railroad tracks.
Just outside of Hydroelectrica there’s a spot where you have to sign in and provide them with your passport number. I’m not sure what that’s for, but I was the only person there, so it was a quick process. My taxi driver stopped for me to take car of that, then we continued on down the road to Hydroelectrica proper.
I guess there’s enough people who come this way and don’t hike to warrant a twice daily train to Aguas Calientes. It’s not a hard or long hike though, so the train doesn’t seem worth the cost.
Was a beautiful and easy hike. And to my surprise I saw no one the entire time.
Was actually disappointed when I rounded the last turn and walked into Aquas Calientes. The best way I can describe this town is if someone adapted Disneyland’s Main Street USA for Peru. It’s packed with tourists, and to someone who’s spent weeks traveling through Peru in a way few tourists do and seeing the “real Peru” as a result this whole town feels fake as hell.
Advice for future visitors. Stay in Santa Teresa, get early afternoon tickets to Machu Picchu. Taxi/hike up in the morning. See Machu Picchu. Hike/taxi back in the late afternoon. You’ll save money, and all you’ll miss is a tourist trap.
