Machu Picchu Travel Forum

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??

Hi,

Just booked flights to Lima for Christmas/New year's holidays. I'm trying to form an itinerary, and wondering if the evening train from Ollyantaytambo to MP runs during that time - I'm aiming for December 27-29, so that I can have a full day in MP. Perurail indicates that there is no backpacker train service in December. Since evening train isn't even on Perurail's website, is it possible to make reservation?

Thanks in advance.

hi friend and i wanting to do 3-5 day machu picchu tour which is also cost effective, we are goin in end of november(end high season) should we book ahead or be fine to book in cusco,

also additional info on affordable transport from lima to cusco and their pros and cons

any info would be much appreciated

thankyou

Hi, Is December a bad time to visit Machu Picchu? My husband and I can only go during this time, but don't want to schedule the trip if it's going to be rainy and cloudy the whole time.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I am going to MP in September, i have a train booked and will arrive in the morning, I then pay to go into MP ($40 I understand). I also want to go in the following morning as 6 am does anyone know if I have to pay again thanks.

Can't you use the same water purifiers and purification methods that we use here in the states in Colorado (Rocky Mtn Natl.Park) and in Montana (Glacier Natl. Park)?

I would like to visit Machu Picchu next April - June, when is the best time? Also I have heard that you can travel the trail and arrive before the majority of the tourists on the buses that come to Machu Picchu mid-morning, what is the best way to do this? Does anyone recommend the 3, 4, or 5 day trails? If we are a group that is ready for more strenuous hikes can we cover more ground than a typical 4 day tour for beginners? Basically I need help figuring out what to do and where to go? Thanks!!

Apologies as want to make sure of facts.

We will be making our own way to Cusco around middle of september and would like to see machu picchu and then get across to Lima.

What is the situation like regarding to the passes and how long do we need to allow, we are on a very tight schedule. Would 3? 5? days be enough to see Machu Picchu and then get to Lima?

Are there tour operators in Cusco that we can turn up to and go next day? Or will you always be able to get the train up and see everything you would want to?

Thanks for the replies

What is the distance between San Pedro de Atacama Chile to Machu Picchu Peru and what is the least expensive transportation between these two places?

Does anyone know how long it takes to ride the Huayana? I have very fews days in MP and Cusco, and won´t have two days in MP. What tarcks do you recomend?
Thanks!

What is the average temperature in Machu Picchu in July? Tks

I am thinking about going to Machu Picchu in November. Is it a good time to go? I heard that it is the raining season. Also, I will be traveling solo. Any advice I can use? Thanks!

We've already reserved our train from Cusco. Do we need to
buy M.P. tickets and bus tickets in advance, or on the spot.
Also, just how crowded is it at M.P. We are taking the 6:00 AM
train from Cusco.

hi,
i was just wondering if the inca trail was the only trail that requires a licensed guide. is it possible to do other hikes around cuzco by yourself, without a guide? even if so, would a guide be recommened anyway?
thanks for any help!

We are going to be staying AC for the night. Planning to head to MP early in the morning for the sunrise and then continue to Huayna for the climb. A couple of questions:
1. What is the earliest bus up to MP from AC? I've heard different times. We are heading there in the beginning of October. I've heard 6:30 to as early as 6:15.
2. What time is the sunrise?
3. Once we see MP and then continue to Huayna, are we technically out of the MP area? Can we roam around MP after our climb or do we need another ticket in again. I'm not too clear about this. I'm hoping that we can see MP, climb HP, and then continue to look around MP after the day tours return to Cusco. Possible?
4. Any recommendations where we can get food/lunch without having to return to AC? If we need to pack a lunch (which I heard we can't bring food up there), are there food services right there in MP for the whole day plan?

Thanks again for your insight.

Hi,

I was thinking of going to Peru in August, and it's too late to book the classic 4-day Inca trail tour. There are a bunch of alternative routes available, but I'm not sure which one to pick. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

-Alex

Please help me find a really memorable hotel in the Sacred Valley. We have decided based on recommendations, not to stay in Cuzco, but rather a quieter, more serene location in Sacred Valley, we are open as to which town there. Then a great splurge in MP at the Pueblo in Aguas Caliente. Has anyone had a really great stay somewhere?Also, once in Sacred Valley for a base to explore surrounding villages, how to get around, bus service? cab, should we rent a car?
Thanks for your help!