Day 8 - Lucmabamba (2000 m / 6600 ft) to Aobamba Pass (2800 m / 9200 ft) to Hydroelectrica (1850 m / 6100 ft) to Aguas Calientes.
Instead of a 2 hour walk from Hydroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, we opted to catch the train instead because we would have to walk along the train tracks in any case. We got up at 4 and started hiking at 6 after breakfast. We first ascended to Aobamba pass where Edgar pointed out a closed Inca trail that led to Machu Picchu after 3 hours walk. We instead descended down to the Urubamba river where we saw a massive hydroelectric station. We stopped at Llactapata on the way down from the pass in the hope of getting a nice view of Machu Picchu, but we were foiled by the thick clouds. That night, we camped at the municipal campground near Aguas Calientes. We walked over to Aguas Calientes to soak in the hot springs and had our first hot shower of the trip.
