Part 2

FYI, before the trip I was concerned about charging my camera batts and Nook ereader
On various Peruvian web sites there are conflicting answers. I was able to charge them at all locations w/out any type of converter or plug.
Also in Cuzco , at Hotel Rumi Punku there are 4 free fast computers for the guests. At Ollantaytambo - Hotel Pakaritampu there was one computer in the lobby, but we did not use it. I think there is a small charge???

We arrived in Aguas Calientes via Perurail and had an easy check in at Hotel Inkaterra, it was fantastic. It is the most expensive place we have ever stayed, but food is included and quite a few tours on the grounds are also included.

The hotel has a lot of small buildings each housing several rooms. Our room was next to our daughter and son in laws room. Each with it's own private balcony or patio.
The rooms are large and very comfortable. The common areas are great. Big fireplace, lots of areas off of the main room. Large dining room. The grounds are truly beautiful. Flowers,orchids, birds everywhere. We enjoyed sitting in the garden by the pool (small, not really a swimming pool by the way) on the lounges watching and listening to the birds.

The next AM, Hubby and I are up at 4:30 AM to get to MP before the sun is fully up.
Quick breakfast and off we go to the bus station, lots of people and lots of buses. We have a fast switchback ride up , (14USD pp RT ) the ride up is amazing as you are getting closer to the mtns.
There is a large crowd going thru the gate into the park. The sun is coming up , but still behind the mountains. We arrive and there it is in all of it's magical splendor. The sun just coming up.... I was quite emotional for several hours. A culmination of a life's dream. Hubby just let me blubber. I never dreamed I would be so lucky to see it in person.

But truly can anyone describe the place in words? Are there words to do it justice?
Not only is it amazing, engineering, history etc, but the setting is unbelievable. We loved it. We had 3 hours to explore, sit, take 100000000 pictures hahahaha... until the rest of the family joined us. They were taking their time after the trek to MP the day before. Hubby and I met them and Inkanatura Guide Juan Carlos near the entrance.
He gave us a great informative tour of the ruins. We had the usual lunch at The Sanctuary Lodge . (36 USD pp ) It was very good but also very pricy. Juan Carlos left at that point , he was wonderful and we highly recommend Inkanatura Travel.
The 5 of us spent the day continuing to explore the ruins. There is not a bad view anywhere, and there is not a bad picture to be taken, it's all beautiful.
We spent all day, it was very hot , we did use repellant , but the bugs were not as bad as we thought they might be . We did use our sunscreen. We used our rubber tipped walking stix, we did have back packs with snax and water. No one checked our bags etc. The place is spotless, only saw a few cig. butts. I liked that there are no big roped off areas, you are pretty much free to see everything. There are workers who blow loud whistles if you walk where you shouldn't or sit where you shouldn't. Of course I did have the whistle blown a few times. It was not always clear where you could or couldn't be???

We stayed all day.... at the end of the day I was sitting and enjoying the last breathtaking views and I was joined by Ephrahim, one of the workers. He was so proud of MP and had me laughing at how fast he can get up to Huayna Picchu and Machu Pic. Mtn.
He was a delight as were all of the Peruvians we had contact with.

Alas, it was time to leave, fast trip back to A.C. Spent the evening at the hotel, enjoying the fire, Pisco sours , wine and Cusquena beer, we all loved the Cusquena beer. The food is great, be sure and order the Quinoa Chowder, excellent!

The next AM, we signed up for several of the tours on the grounds. The birding tour was great, I never dreamed we would be lucky enough to see a Cock of the Rock, we saw 3!
No pics turned out though. Saw parrots, hummers and more, the grounds are so beautiful. We did several tours, all were informative.

I debated whether or not to stay at Inkaterra or Sanctuary Lodge, we all decided that I did make the right choice. When I saw the SL, all of those buses belching people all day, motors running, I was relieved that I made the correct choice. Whew!

Walked to the shopping areas in Aguas Calientes and to the town square, it is a small town, along the river.

The computers at Inkaterra are not real fast but there are about 4 or 5 I think. All free and in the lobby. We had to ck out at 11 AM, but our return PeruRail wasn't until 5.
The hotel holds all of your luggage and takes it to the train for you. We enjoyed the day at the hotel. Daughter Kristen and friend Becky had massages, they said that is was very good, I just kept walking the grounds, loved it.

Off to return to Hotel Pakaritampu via the train. We had the usual techno music/fashion show on the return trip. The woolen sweaters/shawls were beautiful.
Back to Olly for one night, retrieve our saved luggage , back to Cuzco tomorrow.
Next up Pisac and Sacsayhuaman. Then off to the Amazon Basin.

Here is the link to our MP pics, as usual there are quite a few.

http://tinyurl.com/23knhj5

Fantastic, parrmt, I am getting a little teary eyed for you. I know what you mean when you finally get to your dream place! Did you get that little tingle in the back of your neck?

I agree that if I would ever spend that much on a hotel it would be the Inkaterra.

Can I ask what kind of camera you had?

mlgb, yes I did get the tingles, I just could not believe how spectacular it was. I was actually a little surprised at how other seemed to just breeze through it! hahahaah

The pics were taken by 2 cameras -both Panasonic Lumix , mine is the FZ-18, my daughter has a newer one the FZ-35. They are wonderful cameras,Super Zooms. We love them.

And if the Inkaterra happened to be in the US, I would try and splurge for a visit once in awhile!

Thanks

I might have to splurge for the Inkaterra if I ever make it back to MP The florals and birds at the compound look fantastic. When I hiked the Inca Trail, one guy in my group saw and took a picture of a toucan in the jungle; The rest of us were so envious that we didn't see it.

Panasonic Lumix...I should have listened to the camera salesman at our local independent store in Long Beach...he was right! Shout out to Tuttle's!

Great report and even better pics!! We're heading there in April and I'm even more excited now. I've heard others here say the sunrise expedition is not worth it because it can be cloudy, it's a bit of a hassle due to folks trying to get on the first bus, and it's a very early wakeup call. The naysayers suggest catching a bus shortly after sunrise. I take it you have a contrary view? If MP had been fogged in, would you still have thought it was worth it?

I had hoped to celebrate my birthday (in April 2009) with sunrise at MP; didn't happen. Still took an early bus up, the site was socked in for the duration of our hike to the Sun Gate. We spent an hour at the top waiting for it to clear, getting glimpses occasionally as lifting clouds teased us. Our patience was rewarded with the most fantastic view of the sanctuary when the fog finally cleared and the sun broke through to spotlight the ruins. Despite the fog, it was worth the early trip up.

Thanks all
Axel2DP, we saw some beautiful Toucans while we were in the Amazon, but the birding was pretty good at Inkaterra

mlgb, At one time I had 3 Panny Lumix, they are really great cameras. I am not sure why they get so little exposure here in the US.

dcd, we were up at 4AM, in the dining room at 4:45, to the buses shortly after 5, the buses were already heading up to MP, we must have been on bus #12 I was shocked, thought for sure we would be one of the first. Raining, fog etc, I still would have been there. I have seen some wonderful pics of the fog lifting as eenusa says....breathtaking. So yes it is worth it and go for it!

eenusa I did so enjoy your report last year