Cuzco Travel Forum

I am heading to Cuzco on Oct. 14th. I would really like to do the inca trail and see the Amazon forest. Should I book once there or it is better to book before I go? (I suspect the Inca trail will sell out soon) The one drawback when you book from your own country is you run the chance to overpay for services.

A second question: Is there any good value alternative to the Amazone forest? Any recommendation for companies that goes to Machu Picchu and ones to avoid? Thanks.

Kati

I am will be in Chile from mid October to mid November and would like to go to Peru for a week and do the 4-day Inca trail hike. I would like to do it in the 3rd week of October. But might need to postpone for November. Could anyone advise as to what kind of whether I should expect in October and in November? I certainly would like to minimise the chance of rain.

Also, how easy and safe travelling alone is in that area?

thanks

Does anyone have experience going by bus from Cuzco to Ayacucho? If so how long, etc ...any details welcomed. Are there any flights from Cuzco to Ayacucho - without having to fly first to Lima and then back up to Ayacucho.I can't find any. Thanks.

Any advice on preparation would be greatly appreciated. I've done quite a bit of hiking and backpacking in my life, but mainly in the Sierras of California.

What shoes should I wear? Some have told me that they've hiked the Inca Trail in sandals and running shoes.

I was planning on wearing my backpacking boots (hiking boots). Does anyone have any recommendations on that?

Any other prep advice is welcome! Thanks.

Has anybody stayed at the Casa San Blas? Any opinions?

Hi~
We literally have 1 day to see M.P. and are flying into Cuzco on the earliest flight which arrives at 7am. Will that give us enough time to catch the Hiram Bingham train out of Poroy? We're flying in from Lima where we'll have just gone through customs, do we need to allow time to do that again? And does anyone know how long a taxi ride is to the Poroy station from the airport?
Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I have a friend who is travelling on her own to Cuzco. She has her flights, hotel and tour booked. We would just like to know as to whether taxis from the airport to the hotel and in general are safe and if there is anything particularly to look out for?

Dear members,

I am flying on the 25th Feb to Santiago in Chile. On the 28th, I would like to fly from Santiago to Cuzco. Any good tips? Thanks. I have been on www.despegar.com to check tickets, it is a travel agency. Does anybody know if it is a serious travel agency, or is there any better option to book a ticket online? Alternatively, is it better to buy the ticket once in Chile at the travel agency? All answers are welcome. Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Christophe

Hi there,

Really need some help.
I finish the inca hike on 2nd march at 10pm.
I need to be at La Paz airport by 7am on Saturday 4th March

Would like to stop in Cochacabana or somewhere interesting around the lake.

What do you recommend the best way to do it? train/bus? Seems the trains don't run on a thur/fri and saturday won't arrive on time.

Thanks so much,

Tina xx

I am travelling to Peru in May, amongst other things I'm travelling from Iquitos to Pucallpa by boat, but then want to get to Cuzco a little quicker! Any ideas how this leg of my travels is best done?

How many days is a good time to see Cuzco and the main attractions around Cuzco - except from the inca trail and Macchu Pichu which count extra?

January is the wettest month in Cuzco. Has anyone done the Inca Trail during the wet season? What should I expect ... 4 days of battling rain, cold, and mud?

Has anyone taken the train to Puno from Cuzco? How does it compare to the bus ride... is it really that much more spectacular?

Thanks for any helpful hints.

Hi,

I am planning on spending a week in Cuzco in January and as it looks, won´t have the time to hike the 4 day trail (apart from january being rainy season). Has anyone done the 2 day trail starting km 104? Can you recommend it or is it just a cheap version of the 4 day trail and not worth doing?

If recommendable, any hints on an agency? I have been talking to Chaska as well as Wayki ... does anyone know them?

Cheers,

Will be in Peru from 18th Dec until 1st Jan with no real plans. Will be billy-no-mates in Lima New Year's Eve. Is anyone in the same predicament?! Where are the good places to go.....and will anyone else be there looking for a party?!!!

hi,
i know i'm kind of swamping this forum but i started researching way to late for my trip. i'm leaving on the 18th of December from the U.S and arriving in Cuzco on the 19th (plane- no time for bus).
i want to do the classic inca trail and found a few companies that look good for an okay price but i was wondering if anyone on here would recommend any particular trek provider for a reasonable price.

Thank you
p.s- anyone on here going to be in Cusco around the end of December and looking for a hang out partner?

Hi,
I would like to know the bst way to get around in Peru. I'm planning on going from Lima to Cuzco, then maybe to Puerto Maldonado. I read that the bus might take 24hours to get to Cuzco- is that true? is that what most backpackers do?
Also, is it better to go to Puerto Maldonado or Huaraz for another trek on the Huascaran?
I'm trying to do all of this in about 16days- possible?

Thank you for any help I get- I'm kinda lost
micky d.

1)I'm planning to book the loki backpacker hostel for my stay in cuzco. read a lot of good reviews online, but i know that people who have not-so-good experiences are less likely to leave feedback!! so if anyone has any reason to say i shouldn't, then he/she must speak now, or forever hold their peace!!!

2)I'm staying 3 days in cuzco. from the replies i've had so far, sounds like i will need only one of those to visit machu picchu. u think i could possibly squeeze in a visit to lake titicaca - and how? or do u think i'm nuts??!!?!? is there a lot to see in cuzco beside the big draw of machu picchu?

Hi!!

I'm travelling to cuzco on the 8th of nov. i am not an avid trekker and am going solely for the purpose of viewing this most fantastically located archeological sites.

my questions are - is it relatively easy to get a train ticket the same day this time of year - it's probably raining a little, and by no means high season!

and do i need to spend a night somewhere up in the mountains to really be able to explore the ruins or do most people find it satisfying to do the journey from cusco and back in one day?

Also i do not have hotel reservations in cusco yet - are they relatively easy to find once i get there - and how much should i expect to pay?!

thanks in advance!!!

Hello, where can I buy a digital camera in Cuzco? I am hoping for a canon, minimum 4 megapixels. Roughly how much also? Are these cameras a LOT more expensive than in the USA? Have to decide whether to buy in Arequipa or Cuzco. Does anyone know which place is cheaper? I have heard Tacna is a good place but I dont know if I can go all the way there just to find out.

Our cameras both got stolen on a bus a couple of days ago. Not many places seem to sell digitals... I dont want to pay tooo much money either.

If anyone can give me any hints, it would be great. Thanks!

hi am doing the inca trail on 26th of july and was just wondering what il be wearing? i know its meant to be very hot during the day and very cold at night. does this mean shorts for the day and trousers fleeces and thermals for night? also i have a pair of trecking shoes is it worth bringing them or are ordinary trainers enough?

It is recommended to book in advance to hike machu picchu. I have also heard of joining a group hiking a route other than the inca trail once you get into cuzco for much less. Are these groups frequent? My biggest concern is waiting to get there to join a group and that option not being available when I get there.

My boyfriend and I will be in Cuzco in the middle of July and will be making our way up to Iquitos around the 20th. We want to avoid taking a plane back to lima and would actually enjoy a longer journey through the country. Is there bus or boat transportation that would be cheaper than a plane ticket?

I am thinking about doing a course for three weeks in Cuzco. To book in England is 450 GBP (850 USD) for the lessons and full board with a family homestay+. Has anyone done this? Do they recommend it and would I be better off booking it in another (cheaper) way?

My family & I are going to Cuzco in July. The travel agent handling our reservations tried to get us booked on the train from cuzco to Machu Picchu but couldn't get confirmation so we're on waiting list. She said we would have a better idea 30 days out about getting confirmation. I can't believe they're already overbooked for the days we're willing to go. Has anyone experienced this? Any other suggestions?

Hi,

I'll by flying to Quito at the end of April and would like to spend 3-4 days in Cuzco/Machu Piccho. I am trying to find out what the airfire from Quito to Cuzco is. In the event that air tickets are too expensive, is there any other way to get to Cuzco (train/buses)? how long would it take and how much would it cost?.

Thanks.

Hello!

I'm fully aware that I need to book a reservation for hiking the 4-day Inca Trail well in advance. The problem is, how do I know which are the good (and reasonably priced) ones and how to get in contact with them?

Did anyone have a good experience with a specific agency that they can recommend? Any details (quality of food, humane treatment of porters, *contact info*) would be much appreciated. We are trying to make our money go as far as possible, so we are specifically on the lookout for reliable yet affordable agencies. We plan to be in Cuzco during the first week of June, but don't want to wait till the last minute to book places. Any input would be of great help!

Thank you!!

Hello all

I have read some information about taking a bus or taxi from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo and then taking the train from there to Machu Picchu. Can these taxis be taken directly from the airport? How are the roads there? I have driven many places in the world and am considering just renting a car and leaving it in Ollantaytambo during my MP journey. I am coming in on an early morning flight into Cuzco and am looking at taking the morning train from Ollantaytambo. How long is the drive?

THANKS!

How would I get from Ollaytaytambo to Augus Calienta (near Machu Picchu). Is train or bus the best way and how far of a ride. COuld I get to Ollaytaytambo from Cuzco and see everything I need to and get to Augus Calienta by late afternoon?

I was wondering if you can take a trrain to Ollantaytambo? I know that you have to switch buses in Urubama if you bus. Do you think it would be better to stay here on the way to MAchu Picchu or just make it a day trip from Cuzco. ALso, what about Aguas Calientes? I was thinking about staying there or Ollantaytambo before going to Machu. What do you think