Cusco Travel Forum

We are planning to visit Sacred Valley from Cusco. I know that a private taxi can be hired for the day for around $50-$60. Is it possible to also hire a guide to go with our group of 4-5 people? If so, approximately how much does it cost and how do you go about arranging for a guide to join us? Thank you!

Hi there! Has anyone heard about a new show in Cusco??

There are 2-5 of us traveling to Cusco/Machu Picchu in mid-August. We would prefer to remain independent rather than traveling as part of a tour group. We are thinking of spending Wednesday in Cusco, Thursday in the Sacred Valley, Friday at Machu Picchu, and returning to Cusco/Lima on Saturday. We would like to spend nights in Cusco (Wednesday), Pisac or Ollantaytambo (Thursday), and Aguas Calientes (Friday). Where can I find information on buses or taxis between Cusco and the Sacred Valley?? I know we can take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Also, is it possible to hire a guide for Machu Picchu without being part of a tour?

I'm thinking of traveling from arequipa to cusco on the night bus via cruz del sur. I've read in the travel guides and some forums that it is NOT safe to travel by night. I'm alone. Can anyone advise?

Hello!
We will bein Peru in July. We are trying to book our roundtrip from Ollayantambo to M.P.on perurail and cannot get the transaction to complete.We've even tried using different credit cards. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone konw what the fix/trick is to completing the payment transaction?

¡gracias!

Hi everyone,

how can I get from Cosco to Nasca and back in early December? Is there a safe bus? How long does it take? Or is there an option of flying?

Thank you very much for your answers.

Kiki

My husband and I are taking my elderly parents (83 and 82) to Peru and are going to Cusco and Machu Picchu. I am concerned about the effects of altitude sickness for them. Can anyone advise?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I'll be in Cusco sometime in April and I'm wondering if I need to pre book the alternative treks or can I just show up in Cusco and book one there. Obviously it's too late to do the Inca Trail but do the Salkantay and Choquequirao treks sell out fast as well?
Apologies if this has been asked before, I'm accessing VT from a very slow connection in Bolivia and it's quicker to just ask the question thanread all the previous posts.
Thanks,
Barry

I am arriving in Cusco at around 6am. I was wondering what the best way was to get to Pisac. The hotel we are staying at offered to send a cab to meet us at the airport for $20. Can I get a better deal directly at the airport???

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks
MLW

Hi Friends,


We will travel from Lima To Arequipa first and stay there two days. After we fly to JUliaca and stay there two days and after we fly to Cusco for additional two days.



What is Your advice avoid the high altitude sickness?

I will be heading to Cuzco in June and been checking on airfare from CUZ - GIG (or any airport around RIO) it seems the airfare isn't very cheap and the cheapest I got is from LAN. The question is when I click on other countries the price differ from LAN Peru local site. Or are there any other airline which flies from CUZ - LIM - GIG.

Also how far is it from Cuzco to Machu Picchu and what is the best if I am travelling with my baby, 14months then.

Thanks.

Hi,

We are planning to go with a group of 10 people and are looking to find tour operators to take us on the 5d Inca Trail. Does anyone have any suggestion? Other than the quality of Guides, can anyone mention any other experience, such as "tent quality", "food", any other parameter to compare each other with? Specifically, we have seen, Peru Treks, Explore Andes, SAS, Q'ente and Enigma.

Thanks for any recommendations/tips!

Hello, my husband and I are spending 10 days in the sacred valley in June -- 4 in Ollantaytambo, 2 in Aguas Calientes and 4 in Cusco -- and will be doing lots of local hiking amongst the ruins in and between Cusco and Machu Picchu. We are not doing the Inca Trail or any other organized trek, but, just staying in hotels and hiking on our own or with locals.

Can someone who has been there in June tell me what clothes I should pack? I've heard it is chilly at night, near freezing, but temperate and sunny during the day. So, zip-off pants and t-shirts/sweat tops for day and jeans/fleece and wool hats/gloves for night time? Plus two pairs of trail runners and a sun hat.

Any advice welcome:). If there is anything you feel you should have brought but forgot,I'd love to hear that too.

Thanks a bunch!

OK.....some opinions and advice please. What do you folks think about a middle aged woman with rhuematoid arthritis and controlled hypertension taking a trip to Cusco and possibly other areas of Peru? I have traveled fairly extensively before my RA began but this would be my first trip of this kind since RA. I am able to walk due to my meds but still find I have to take things slower than I used to. Thanks.

Hi all,
I want to start the trek in Ollantaytambo and finish in Lares hot spring. I and my wife in good shape and we want to do it without guides and animals (like open itinerary, side trips) and have 4 days for that trip. My question is about transportation to/from the trek. I have read that many operators take their groups by bus from Ollantaytambo to Patacancha and start the trek from there. Is the section Ollantaytambo-Patacancha worth hiking or better to skip it and start in Patacancha? Is there any public transport from Ollantaytambo to Patacancha? How do we get back from Lares to Cusco? Bus, taxi?
Another question: I guess there is more than one route to Lares. Is it possible to navigate by yourself ? Any signs along the trail ? Is the trail obvious?
Thank you

Hi,

we will be in Cusco from the 30th of Dezember until the 2nd of January.
What are the best things to do at new year? .e.g.. partys... ?
What are the best places to stay?
Should we book for that time in the year in advance?

Many thanks!

Cheers, Frank

Im a 19 year old from Texas flying into Santiago on September 26th.. after that i have no plans. PLEASE give me any advice that you have to offer... where to go, what hostels to stay in, how to get from Santiago to Cusco, Argentina, Easter Island... anything at all would be helpful.. i have just realized that i am ridiculously unprepared... PLEASE offer any insight that you might have.

-thank you.

samuel h.

I'm traveling to Peru in late November till mid December. Anyone know what kind of weather i'll encounter? I want to get to Machu Picchu before December. Any thoughts would be helpful. Also a small list of what i would need to hike up(ie shoes, boots? poncho? shorts, pants?).

I am planning to fly to Lima 21Aug and then on to Cusco and Lake Titicaca and surrounding areas. I am concerned about any problems that might be encountered due to the earthquake...ie communications down, delays in transportation, social upheaval....there are 600 prisoners on the loose! I know this isn't close to where the quake was but I'm wondering if the whole country is being affected. I'm considering cancelling my trip thinking that it might be disappointing due to frustrations encountered...and may want to reschedule when things are more normal. Anyone in these areas please tell me how it is. Thanks.

femaletravelor

I am going to Peru for 2 months commencing October and have arranged a language school and a volunteer project for the 2nd month. I have 2 questions:

1. I am a keen cyclist and do not want to lose my fitness during the stay. last year I took my mountain bike to Panajachel, Guatemala and this was fine but it proved to be quite expensive. This year I aim to either buy or hire a cycle for the duration and hopefully find a group with whom to ride. Any comments or ideas on this would be appreciated.

2. I am in a quandary about whether to take a lap top. I realise there are plenty of internet cafes but ideally I would like to hook into wireless connection. Is this achievable?

thanks

So Ive been here in Lima with my mom for about a week and a half so far and Im leaving on saturday. We were talking about going to cusco together except she told me that she didnt really care to go and would only go because I wanted to. I told her its a waste of money if she doesn't really want to go and that I would just go bye myself.


So now Im doin a solo last minute trip to cusco and Im basically winging it.

Im writing this posting just to see if any other friendly people are gonna be their the next few days.
I know its this is super last minute but I figured it was worth a shot.

-Rob

Our family will be in Cusco and the Sacred Valley region for the week of Aug 4 - Aug 11. My husband has cystic fibrosis and a hard time breathing with exertion and high altitude. As you can imagine, he's worried about being able to enjoy his time in Cusco!

His doctors have written him a prescription for supplemental oxygen. Does anyone know the best way to get portable oxygen in Cusco? Is it readily available or do we need to contact someone ahead of time to make arrangements? He'd like something portable enough to be able to tour the local ruins and bring on and off buses.

thanks for any ideas!

I have a chance to go to Cusco at the end of this year. (around late Dec..) Anyone been there around that time ? I'm told its rainy season then, wondering if its worth visiting at that time, or the waiting till dry sesaon....

Am considering buying Boleto Turisticos when in Cusco next month and noticed that there were student prices with an ISIC card. Would my children, ages 14 and 17, be able to buy student tickets without any special identification? Thanks.

I am looking into volunteering for United Planets in Cusco and I am curious to hear of others experiences in this area- What is the town like? Would 3-4 months be too long to stay in peru? What are some of the wonderful experiences there? thx

I am planning to say six nights in Cusco and visit the Sacred Valley from there. Does that make sense or should I stay a few nights in the sacred valley?

I'm traveling to Cusco in one week. I found a really good deal in the Hostel Los Aticos Pardo. In the pics, seems ok, but i´m worried i cant find any review in the tourist webpages.

If anybody knows this hostel, i would appreciate your comments. Is it good, nice and clean hostel? Thanks

Is it necessary to buy tickets for the train to MP in advance or can I just get them when I arrive in Cuzco? I'll be buying a ticket from Ollantaytambo and then a return ticket back to Cuzco.

I'll be there May 9-14.

I only have about 5 days in Cusco area....thinking of 3 in Cusco and 2 in Aguas Calientes to be close to MP. Now the latest guide book says there isn't a whole lot to AC except heat and humidty.

Would you suggest 4 days in Cusco & 1 in AC, or will I find enough things to to for 2 in AC (& 3 in Cusco)? I'd like to see around the area a bit in AC, and catch MP at sunrise and after the tourists go home. I'd take the train to and from AC.

Nightlife in Cusco doesn't interest me, seeing the city and area does, Pisac market on sunday, maybe a hike or two if I can handle the thin air, or dare I say a mountain bike ride???...

I'm looking for a hotel/hostel/B&B in the Sacred Valley that is less than $50/night, but has rooms with private bathrooms. I would like to stay in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba. I have contacted several that are already booked, so if there are any that may be less well known but are still good, clean places to stay, please let me know!! My family and I will be staying for one night at the Kuychi Rumi, but would like to stay somewhere less spendy for the other two days in the SV.

THANKS!