Sacha Lodge, EcuadorWe awake in Ollantaytambo at 6 am, still without power. After a simple breakfast, we board two little 3-wheeled motorcycles with a bench seat and covered cabin. We have just a couple of backpacks with our overnight essentials as we are restricted from bringing more on the train. Even those hiking the Inca trail have to pass a weigh station. After short and somewhat entertaining ride on our little 3-wheeler, we arrive at the train station. The station is surprisingly modern, clean and charming. It obviously caters to tourists. The 1.5 hr train ride is stunning, we are in the ''A'' coach with large seats and windows all around. We arrive into Aquas Calientes, the small town just outside Machu Picchu. The town is very touristy with mainly restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops. We check into our hotel (El Mapi) (we walk because there are no cars in this town, everything is by foot except the buses up to Machu Picchu). The hotel is surprisingly ultra-modern and very cool with big, graphic signs everywhere. There are plenty of European and Japanese tourists. We meet up again with Ayul and walk to the bus line-up to MP, everything is very controlled and orderly, tickets and passports are required in advance for entry. The 20 min bus ride up the mountain is breathtaking (literally) as we scale the side of the mountain zigzagging all the way up ! We arrive up to the site of Machu Picchu and spend the rest of the afternoon taking in the glorious and stunning history of this true world wonder.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
