Having hiked to Machu Picchu we caught the bus down the winding road to the modern town in the valley. Known as Machu Picchu Pueblo or as Aguas Caluentes (because of the nearby hotsprings) the town is a literal & charming tourist trap.
The only way to the town is by walking or by train. The main "street" of the town is the railway line, around which hotels, hostels, cafes and handicraft shops are gathered.
There are roads in the town and buses but all vehicles have to be brought in by train.
Our hotel was comfy and overlooked the main Street. Luckily trains don' t run at night so our sleep wasn't disturbed by the big diesel engines that run the trains.
Despite its dominance by tourism and the famous ruins hanging above the town, it had a quirky charm. We inevitably bumped into people we had met on the trail and we were also found by an enterprising woman who had snapped photos of our group back at Kilometre 82 and had printed and laminated them for sale.
The highlight for the kids was a Peruvian hairless dog dressed as a prisoner, who wandered around town.
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