Our plan was to get to Machu Picchu via an original Inca route after a three day hike through the mountains. However, overuse of the trail made the Peruvian government to initiate regulations that limit the number of hikers on the trail and require everybody to be accompanied by a registered guide. We tried to arrange for one, but were out of luck, the trail was already full. We would have to wait three more days. We decided to get there by train.
The train stops at Aquas Calientes. It is a little jungle town, living on tourism. We arrived in the evening and set up for the 2h hike up to Machu Picchu at 4 in the morning. We reached the site just before sunrise. It looked just like at all the pictures, but none of the pictures was ever able to deliver the feeling of an awe that one gets actually standing there. It is incredible. The site, the steep mountains, the valley, the river...
We spent full day at Machu Picchu. We spent great deal of time just sitting and watching the ruins from a distance and walking among the old buildings. But we also made two hikes. We took the Inca trail backwards and hiked to the nearest ridge, which would be our first sight of the ruins, should we hiked it. The trail was really well done and in good conditions. We also went up a steep mountain peak Huayna Picchu on the other side of the ruins. From everywhere there were incredible views.
We stayed at the ruins until sunset, when we were forced to leave by the guards. We returned to Aquas Calientes in the dark. It was a very quiet day at Machu Picchu thanks to the fact that the railroad was on a strike. There were no daily visitors and we certainly enjoyed this good coincidence.