Machu Picchu Travel Forum

I am planning to get engaged in Machu Pichu. What recomendations would you give me? Is there a specific place I should pop the question? Can I take a Champagne Bottle with me? Please give me as much advice as possible. This will happen in 2 weeks and I don't have a plan of what to do once i get there....

Can we drive to Aguas Caliente? If not where is the closest point we can leave our vehicle. Thank you. Terry Smith

What would the "typical" weather be like in March for the Machu Picchu area?

Hi:

I am trying to buy tix for April in the perurail website from Cuszo to MP, and it's proving to be challenging. I tried about a half-dozen times. When I clicked on purchase, it claimed that my session expired.

Has anyone else had difficulty recently. Also, is it easy to buy tickets in-country?

Thanks!

What's the weather like in early July? What should I wear?

I have my train ticket already but not my bus ticket or a guide. Can I purchase the bus ticket when I get off the train? And also, can I book a guide when I reach the ruins?

Hello,

I am planning a surprise trip to machu picchu and inca trail for my husband for his 30th birthday. My budget is limited, but I want him to have time of his life. He enjoys adventure and walking.(sleeping in tents, cooking, traking...) Has anyone got any tips on travelling from UK? Flight tips, package deals better then buying flight separately? has anyone gone there with Lama travel agency? Is anyone there who went on their own?
I am sorry for so many questions, but I really need help please.
many thanks
Blanka

Hey there...
i´m going to Peru in June and was thinking to go to Machu Pichu in the beginning of July, but on the Homepage of PeruRail they say that there are no tickets available anymore from cuszco to MP.... does anybody know if its then still possibile to buy tickets once arrived in Peru or are they really sold out??? Is there any other possibility to go there?? Taxi?
Tanks a lot... Daniela

Hi There!

I am going on holidays to Peru in June with some friends. I've read in several articles that Machu Picchu in June can get really crowded...

So, do i need to make a booking to go there or something like that...? I will be travelling through the country to different locations and i was planning to go there in one of the days. Do i have to decide previously when exactly i will go there? Do i need any booking, ticket or reservation...?
Also, can i go by my own or do i have to book it with a local travel agency...?

Thanks a lot for your help!

I have seen many people say that you cannot use metal tipped walking poles because of damage to the trail, but I am not clear whether you can use rubber tipped poles. I know you can buy wooden poles cheaply there, but what do you do with them after ? I wont need it again this trip and I can't imagine the airlines would be happy about me taking it back to England, no matter how nice a souvenir it is.

Hello travelers,

We have already the Inca Trail Permits for June and would like to hear your packing advices as well about good places to buy Perunian itens - warm clothes (and others) for the treck are available? Where? For what price?
Did you used your sticks for the hike or rent special ones there?

Thanks,
Alexandra

I am going to S.A. in June. I want to spend about a week in Cuzco and get to Machu Picchu. Is this a bad time to go? Should I book a train or a hike reservation now? Is it already too late? Should I do the hike or just take the train? The train sounds lame but would it be better to travel faster and see more of Machu Picchu or do the hike? Is the hike hard? I hike year round in Colorado? Is the gear the tours provide adequate or should I bring my own? Is it cold there in June? Is it sketchy to do this alone? After you hike to Machu Picchu do you have to hike back to Cuzco? Someone help me I need to buy my tickets soon.

My son is in Peru and is traveling to Machu Picchu this weekend. Heard train/ area closed due to protests - any current info on the situation?

Anyone,

My girlfriend and I will be hitting Peru for the Machu Picchu trek sometime in late February or early March.

The thing is, we are deciding not to book with a guide company until we get there. Our feeling is that we might find more local guides there that may not be seen on the internet and that may come at a cheaper rate.

Does anyone have any information regarding whether we should book in advance or wait until we get there?

Hi, I'm going to attempt the 4 day Inca Trail Trek in September and wondered what clothing was best to take. I don't want to carry too much, so want to get the balance right. Shorts ? Long Trousers ? Rain wear ? All suggestions welcomed !
Cheers

Gary

Hello. My husband and I are doing an 11 day trip to the Sacred Valley this June. I've put our itinerary below and am welcoming comments from those of you who have been here re your positive or negative experiences. Thanks:).

We will fly to Cusco then head out immediately via taxi to Ollantaytambo via visits to Salinas, Tarabamba, Moray & Maras. Our hotel, Hotel Sauce, in Ollanta is arranging for a cab to do this for us. We'll use Ollanta as our base for three nights/two days to explore Ollanta and hike around that area (did I mention we love to hike:)?

We'll catch the morning Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes and maybe hike up Wina Waya that day, then stay in AC at the Wiracocha Inn. We'll get up early to catch the first bus to Machu Picchu and hike up Huayna Picchu and do whatever other sites we can squeeze in before busing pack to AC to catch the 3:45pm Vistadome train all the way to Cusco.

We'll stay in Cusco at the Orquidea Real for 4 nights as a base to explore the ruins/towns/hiking between Pisac and Cusco -- Pisac, Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Saqaywaman and Cusco.

I know we are trying to pack in a lot, but, we only have this amount of time:(. We probably should stay in AC one more night, so we can spend more time exploring the ruins of MP, but not enough time:(. We may or may not hire guides on an as-needed basis. We have been reading all about MP and the Sacred Valley in books by Ruth Wright/ Alfredo Zegarra as well as the Trailblazer guide by Richard Danbury. Plus, I've helped both my kids study recently for tests on the Incas:).

As I mentioned, we are going in June, and it sounds like it is sunny and cool (60s F) during the day and in the 30s (F) at night. So, we are just planning on packing light -- a zip-off lightweight hiking pants, short and long sleeved t-shirts and sweat tops and trail running shoes and a cap for daytime and jeans, long sleeved ts and fleece for night.

Thanks everyone for your comments:)

Hy guys,

We are 4 friends travelling Peru next June. We are pretending to do the Inca Trail but some of us are in doubt because of the fisic effort versus the really interest in doing it. For those who did it, please kindly give us your sincere opinion. Really worth it? No comparing with 1 day tour by train, hum? I believe must be a kind of mistic journey ...

Thanks,
Alexandra

I will be in Peru in Feb. I have heard that you can walk a trail from Agua Caliente to Machu Picchu. Can you tell me how difficult the walk is, how long it takes and if it is safe? We would like to be in Machu Picchu before sunrise. Thanks!

I will be hiking the Inca Trail starting December 24th. What type of weather should I expect? I know it's the rainy season but what should I expect for the temperature and how should I dress for it?

Thanks for your help!
Kat

I have a trip planned with friends to go to Machu Picchu in March, during the tail end of the rainy season. We will be camping on this trip. I want to know if other people have traveled to Machu Picchu during March, and, if so, did they encounter thunderstorms. I have read an account of a tourist who was killed by a lightning strike while trekking on Machu Picchu and it is making me nervous.

Thanks,
Jessie

I would like to know how does a hiking day look like.
How many hours I have to walk a day? Where do I spend
the night. Do we sleep in tent or cabin? What if somebody cant
keep up with the rest of the group?

Hello,

Is anyone familiar with this company? Is it reputable?

http://www.enjoyperu.com/peru_travel_tours_information/peru_tours/peru_tours_destination/cusco_the_lost_city_of_the_incas_tour.html

Thank you for any information,
H

Hello,

I have some questions about Peru Rail. The "backpacker" option seems well priced and some friends and I were planning to take the train from Cuzco to Puno (Lake Titicaca) but then a friend didn't think the train was a good idea.

Can anyone tell me how safe the train is. Also, can you buy at the station or must you reserve ahead of time online. Does the train usually stick to the schedule listed on the site:

http://www.orient-express.com/web/tper/journeys/4_53405.jsp

THANKS FOR ANY INFO!

H.

Hello,

Does anyone have any information on this tour provider? Are they reputable?

Thank you for any information.

H

http://www.incatrailreservations.com/inca_trail.html

I am trying to plan a trip but i got to some website that said you needed some kind of permission/pass to go. Is this true or could it just be reservations for that website. I dont have the websites name but i havent seen any further evidence of needing anything outside of a passport.

thanks

We, me (31) and my boyfriend (32), have booked a trek for MP with Llamapath leaving Cuzco 13th December. Anyone else planning to go around this time? If you do, please join our group. We are currently only us two, and even if Llamapath guarantees to do the trip with only us, more people would be much appreciated by us. Half the fun of traveling is meeting other people (the second half is eating new food :-)) See you there!

Any questions, please contact me.

We're targeting an April trip. I'm ready with my tried-and-true hiking boots. My wife has little to no experience hiking like this. Should she buy a good pair of hiking boots and start breaking them in? Or will good, sturdy walking shoes suffice for the hour or so of rocky steps?

Thanks,
c

1. How long does the bus ride take? Is a schedule available online? (If not: when does the first one leave each day?)

2. Is it feasible instead to hike up from Aguas Calientes? If so, how long should we allow to reach the entrance? (And I understand we have another hike up once inside) If that is feasible, does that part require a paid guide?

Thanks,
c

Hi folks,
I am considering visiting Cuzco and Machu Picchu in the week of November 19. Is it weather-wise a fairly suitable period to go or should I consider a different period?

Thanks for your help.
Giuseppe

Does anyone knows what is the big difference between those two trains? I know price is one of them that is is really worht it to pay the difference??