Cuzco Travel Forum

Hi there,

please comment if you have any info on this:

I am traveling in November and December.

Looking to travel Quito To Cuzco. Airlines online are 500$+...

Anyone ever traveled on a charter flight for cheap ? Anyone have connections with travel agents down there ?

Train: Is there a train I can take ? How long is it ? Connections ?

Bus: I heard it takes 2+ days and buses dont show up on time etc.

What is most recommended way of traveling ?

Thanks to everyone that replies.

Alex

I know there are hundreds of travel agencies/tour operators in Cuzco, but...
Which travel agency in Cuzco do you recommend for the Machu Picchu train tour?
Thanks!


Sé que hay cientos de agencias de viajes/tour operadores en Cuzco, pero... Qué agencia de viajes recomiendan para el tour en tren a Machu Pichu?
Muchas gracias!

50 years ago my father worked in the Cuzco area on a contract that lasted almost 3 years.
He was there working on the construction of a huge communication mast (tall tower) that he described as being on top of a mountain.
Me and the wife will be visiting Cuszco in January 2010 and we are wondering if anybody knows if there is a mast sitting on top of a mountain nearby? It would be nice to see this if it’s still there.
If there is more than one mast then that would complicate things a bit but 45-50 years ago was when he was there and when it would have been erected.
Can anybody help with this unusual request?
Brett

Is it a very bad idea to travel to Cuzco in February based on the weather?? I will be in Lima mid-February and plan to travel to Cuzco with my husband and two young daughters. We've been trying to make this trip for quite some time while in Lima, but something has always has come up. I have been there, but it's time for my husband to visit, he's a history teacher.

Hello,
Can anyone tell me if it is advisable to do whitewater rafting in Urubamba during the months of June/July ? I understand that it is the dry season so I'm not sure if there's enough rapids for a whitewater rafting trip...

Thanks...
Maria

Next Jan (2010) me and a friend are travelling round the world on a RTW ticket and one of our stops included in the price of the ticket we are looking at is Lima. We are wanting to do the Machu Picchu trek but obviously we need to travel to Cusco for this. Whilst we are in the region (next stop is home!) we also wanted to visit the Galapogos Islands but at the moment I am unsure as to whether we need to return to Lima to fly home.

My question is, is this workable? I have looked at flight prices and it seems to be working out rather expensive and although I would dearly love to visit the Galapogos I am wondering whether it would be better to miss this out.

If anyone who has done a similar route or has any ideas please do let me know, at the moment I am at a loss as to how we can achieve this!

Thanks for any help you can give me!

I had a question regarding the reliability/schedule of the flights between Lima and Cuzco. Lim-Cuz is not that big a problem but I have a connecting flight from Lima to SFO (USA) at 12:15pm. Could I trust Star Peru or Taca to get me to Lima airport in time to make my flight from Lima-SFO?

Thanks in advance,

Asheesh

Can you purchase a tourist pass in Yukay rather than Cusco?
I will be in Yukay before arriving in Cusco and would like to visit some sites .

For a first time visiter to Peru, what's a minimum stay to see Cuzco.....and Lima for that matter? 4 days each I'm guessing. I'm just a single guy traveling by myself.

Hi,
I've had altitude sickness before when I was climbing up Mt Kilimanjaro - I got really sick at about 12500ft high, too sick I had to descend the trail. Because of this I am really concerned about Cuzco, and also, I am taking my daughter with me who hasn't been in this kind of altitude (highest we go to when skiing is about 7000ft - which she doesn't have a problem with).

So now I am thinking we can stay in Ollantaytambo for a couple of nights before exploring Cuzco. We can go straight from Cuzco airport to Ollantaytambo, to acclimatize better (though still pretty high but at least lower than Cuzco). If we do this, are there places to buy MP tickets in Ollanntaytambo ? or I can only get it from Cuzco ? so we have to go to Cuzco to buy tickets ? I am thinking we can go to MP while staying in Ollantaytambo (possible stay a night in AC), then stay in Cuzco after we are done with MP & Sacred Valley.

Does this itinerary make sense ?

We also have about 2 weeks to spend in Peru - I would love to see the Lake Titicaca islands - but then again, the altitude concerns me. So if I cannot go to Lake Titica, what other place would you recommend for us to visit ? Arequipa maybe ?

Oh one more question, if ever we develop a bad case of altitude sickness, would there be places around for some immediate treatment (if coca tea and/or diamox doesn't help) ? I don't know, maybe oxygen tank ? I know it sounds ridiculous but having been through altitude sickness myself, I am scared for my daughter to go through the same thing. I know the sickness gets better immediately if we descend - but if we are in Ollantaytambo/Cuzco area, where can we quickly descend to ?

Thanks everyone !

queria saber horarios de buses desde la paz a cuzco así como el tiempo de trayecto. los hay directos o hay que cambiar en puno obligatoriamente?
y horarios de buses juliaca-la paz?
gracias

is their such a place in cusco?

While in Peru our tour group will be staying at 3 different Casa Andina hotels. Has anyone stayed in any of these and can you offer any reviews.

Will be touring around both cities including Machu Picchu during October 22-26th and need to know as far as clothing which would be better for day touring, shorts, jeans or lightweight pants?

Hello, I;m going to be in Cuzco in the middle f July and was wondering about volunteering at an eye center for a couple days, anyone have info?

Hi everyone,

I will be in Peru in early December and I would like to fly over the Nazca Lines. My problem is that I have a fixed schedule for most of the trip. I need to be in Cuzco until 5th of December and again from 10th Dec on. So I have 4 days "off". In this time I would like to see the Nazca Lines (fly over them). But I need to be in Cuzco before and afterwards... I heard that the bus Cuzco-Nazca and back is not very reliable during this part of the year (due to floodings...).

Any ideas how I could do this Nazca side trip? It shouldn't be too expensive... Do I need to fly back to Lima and then go by bus to Nazca?

Thanks for your answers.

Kiki

Heading to Cuzco next April. Very excited but concerned about altitude and steps. I'm 66 years old and walk a mile every day. I am in good health HOWEVER I live at 7 feet above sea level (Miami, FL) and have no steps in or near my home.

I am considering having a simple set of steps built from concerete block in my back yard. Will this be helpful or am I getting carried away?

I am taking the bar exam this July and am planning to see my family in Guayaquil Ecuador in August. I wanted to go to Machu Picchu from there. I know I need to arrive in Cuzco and then I am all set. I have heard about taking a bus from Guayaquil to Tumber in Peru or Mancora in Peru but I have no idea how long it takes. Once I arrive to either of those town, where do I go from there? If you have any knowledge or any suggestions to make it to Machu Picchu in the most economical way (from Ecuador), I would really appreacite it.
Do you know anything about Peru Rail? Is it safe? Or am I just better off flying from Guayaquil to Cuzco?

Thanks.
Veronica

Hi!

I and my girlfriend are thinking about taking this nine days trek in May.

Could someone who has taken this trek give us some informations about it because we do not have any expiriences in this type of treks.

How hard is this trek? Do you need very good physical condtition. We are planning to do some mountaineering till the trip.

Which tour operator do you recommend? And price?

Thank you for answer

Greetings Uros

Hi, we are a group of friends that will be spending 2 complete days in Cuzco and another 2 Days on a trek to Machu Picchu. Do you think 2 days is enough to see Cuzco? Should we spend more time there? What should we try so see/do befor we head for Machu Picchu?

Thanks in advance,

Michael

Have anybody stayed at Hotel Ninos in Cuzco?

Has anyone stayed here? I will be visiting Cuzco for a week in September and they have apartments available which will be great, but am hoping someone may have first-hand knowledge of the place. I've been there before and stayed at the Casa Andina Koricha(sp?). This time I'm doing independent travel and don't need so many hotel services or assistance, and the price is good.

Thanks in advance.

Tracy from Canada

Hi,

Does anyone have any information on the best way to travel over land from Loja Ecuador to Cuzco in Peru ? If there is a buz or train how long is the traveling time or a website I can check out.

Thanks

Hi guys,

Im trying to decide the best way to travel from Cuzco to La Paz, like so many. I havent found exactly these questions in the forum so I´ll just shoot!

I arrive to Cuzco on the 30th august and have a flight from La Paz the 7th September. I plan to spend 3 days in Cuzco (MP), 2 night around Lake Titicia and then 3 nights in La Paz.

How is the scenery from Cuzco to Puno? Im wondering if I should take a overnight bus or if I should spend valuable day-time in a 8 hours bus/train (that is the approx. travel time, right?).

From Puno I was wondering if it was possible to visit some of the islands and then get a boat to Copacabana (maybe one night stop-over in Isla del Sol). If that is possible has anyone got a link to a website of such a company?

Also it would be great if somebody had the name/website of a bus-company that goes from Puno to Copacabana - so I can make some comparison :)

Þakka ykkur fyrir,
Bearzy.

Hi guys,

Has anyone stayed in Terra Andina Hotel (they are always top when I search hotelsides)? If not does anybody recommend a good hotelin Cuzco for a price of approx. 100 USD a night?

Is Cusco crowded in early September or should I be able to arrive without booking in advance and find a good hotel with a nice location on the spot?

Thanks,
Bearzy

Hi guys,

I will arrive to Cuzco at 10.20 the 30th August. Is it possible to catch a train the same day to Aguas Calientes?

I will be spending three days in Cuzco Area. Is it better to spend a night in Aguas Calientes to be able to arrive very early in MP or is it fine to take a very early train from Cuzco to MP and back the same day? I have a little bit of a trouble deciding which is better.

Thanks :)

Best wishes,
Bjorn

We we too late to book the Inca Trail Trek :( Does anyone have an alternative trek that they would highly recommend??? We have either 4d/3n or 3d/2n - and would love to see the sunrise at Machu Pichu. We will be traveling mid june and are not on a tight budge --- Janet

Hi All,
I am off to South America in August and was wondering about the ease of picking up internal flights one way from either cuzco to buenos aires or la paz to buenos aires?

Cheers

I was wondering if I am in Ayacucho for 6 weeks then visit Cusco/Machu Piccchu will I still possibly have a problem with altitude?

Does anyone know the entrance fee of Sacsayhuamán and Tambomachan?

Is it worth to buy tourist pass if I visit only these 2 places?