Aguas Calientes 2

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Day 100 on The Big Trip. “Rest Up...In The Rain!”

HOSTEL HOPPING in Aguas Calientes, we are. Now, instead of paying $30/night (S/.90.00), we’re paying S/.40.00/night. That’s less than half! And the room is more comfortable. Wandering the town during the day we walk across bridges and up and down the steep and narrow main corridor! There’s a large artisan market in which we hunt for a gift for my dad, to no avail. Nothing seems to fit what I think he’s like! Oh well! Let’s just walk around. It’s probably just as well that we aren’t going to Machupicchu today since it’s been drizzling and raining all morning.

TICKETS for Machupicchu are what we bought this morning! Without going to a BCP bank ATM in this out of the way town, we have a limited amount of money to make it back to Cusco. So we do a money count, hoping to make it back to Cusco without withdrawing, and hoping to be frugral!

THE TALLY is this: after S/122 for non-international-student-card-carrying-me; after S/61 for international-student-card-carrying-Alisa; after the cost for each of us to return via a bus, a train, a taxi, and a combi; after two nights in our new hostel, we have S/200 left for food.

INGREDIENTS for breakfast today and tomorrow so that it won’t be as expensive as going out. Here’s what we purchased: Yogurt (S/5), Four pieces of plain bread (S/1), Three pieces of sweet bread (S/1), Granola with honey (S/3), Two bananas (S/.50), and a chocolate cereal (S/2.50) for a grand total of S/13 or $4.33.

LUNCH was sopas y saladas, jugo de piñas, y spaghettis. This cost us S/13 each plus S/3 tax for a total of S/29 or $9.66. Hence, total money spent today on food has been S/42 or $14.00. As long as our dinner is under S/58 I think we’ll be OK! And look: the sun! No more rain for now! Hopefully this will remain the case through tomorrow morning when we plan to hike up to Machu Picchu!

PANCHOS are everywhere here in Aguas Calientes, and I found the cheapest one for two soles.

EARLY BEDTIME: 6:27pm. We’re waking up at 3am to eat and leave by 4am for Machu Picchu!

TRAVELING IN PERU:

Chiclayo – 5.8. This northern city in Peru had bands playing in the plaza at night and very cheap hostels. Otherwise, it was just a stopping point before heading south.

Huanchaco – 5.6 ***. The coast is here and surfers and fish-lovers know it. Relax and find a new pace here.

Trujillo – 5.8. Colonial buildings lining packed streets mark this city.

Casma – 5.7. You might just be the only tourist in this town. Hop a bike 5k for some exercise to some ruins that won’t impress.

Lima – 5.9. If you miss home for the wrong reasons you might like the capitol. Think money, food, and citylife.

Paracas – 5.6 *. Back to the coast! Unfortunately, you’re not the only one looking for the cheap Galapagos and the gateway south to more fun! Claustrophobia may be triggered when choosing hostels and restaurants!

Huacachina – 5.5 ***. Sand dunes and fun abide here, as does the laguna from the S/50 bill, which doesn’t smell as badly as they say. Grab a buggy and hold on!

Nazca – 5.8 *. If you like spending money, see the Nazca lines from a plane. If you only just need to see them, grab a cab. Unless you also want to sandboard the meanest, largest dune in the world after hiking for hours up it, head out of this town.

Cusco – 5.6 **. This town has its share of tourists and for good reason. Cusco makes a great base to return to for many adventures, so find a hostel you agree with and trust.

Aguas Calientes – 5.5. The different price given tourists is more visible here, so smile and find the best price you can. Only stay here if you're doing Machu Picchu**** more than once or want to be the first one up, meaning you'll leave early the next morning! Also, enjoy Machu Picchu and the views from its unreal surrounding mountains (e.g. Waynapicchu****, Huchuypicchu***, Montaña Macchupicchu**).

More to come from your landescaper, n8 (Expect reviews for Puno, Arequipa, and anything else in the south that catches our eyes!)