Up one level Peru » Cachora-Choquequirao-Yanama-Machu Picchu » Day 8 - Lucmabamba (2000 m / 6600 ft) to Aobamba Pass (2800 m / 9200 ft) to Hydroelectrica (1850 m / 6100 ft) to Aguas Calientes.

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.

img_3582 img_3586 Early on in the trek, Edgar showed us wild strawberries and we enjoyed picking them and eating them on the days we found them. img_3590 This orchid grew a few meters off the ground and we had to look up to spot them. img_3591 img_3596 The clouds parted slightly when we were descending to the Urubamba river and we saw Huayna Picchu in the distance. img_3602 The bouncy suspension bridge across the Urumbamba river. img_3603 Waste water ejected from the hydroelectric station. img_8099-ray There was a really pretty Alaskan husky at the place we stopped at for lunch. It enjoyed chasing the trams that came along the railroad. Taken by Ray Woo. img_3615 Our tents at the Aguas Caliente campsite. img_3616 img_3617 Serene, Mihaela, Jaime, Bob, Ray, Edgar, Ihidio. img_3618 Jaime and Ihidio.