How do I go about planning my trip to Machu Picchu?

Question

I am only 19 years old and I am trying to plan a trip to Machu Picchu for the end of July. No travel agent involved at all. I have friends from Lima that I am staying with who are coming with us to Cusco and they've never been either. My friend and I fly into Lima on July 24th. I want to spend a few days there and then go to Cusco. I'm trying to do this the least expensive way possible. Are there cheap hotels close to Machu Picchu? Even safe and CLEAN hostels would be fine. When should I buy the train tickets and how should I go about buying them (phone, internet...) I just don't want to s***w anything up so I can get the best experience possible! THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Answer 1

Ok Marjorie. The least expensive way to travel would be by bus, unfortunately during the week from 24th of July to maybe up to the 1 st of August the bus fares go up 20%. But that's if you reserve your ticket in advance, otherwise you might pay up to twice as much if you buy it in July.

To go from Lima to Cuzco is a 18 1/2 hour trip and it will cost you US $ 66.67 in VIP (Cruz del SUR). You leave at 2pm and arrive the next day at 8:30am, there's another bus that arrives at noon.

Close to Macchu Picchu is AGUAS CALIENTES a small tourist town with Hotels, Hostels and restaurants (some are cheap but I don't know wich ones). There's also a hot springs swimming pool open until 10 pm. it's a 10 minute drive from Macchu Picchu and busses go back and forth every ten minutes from 6 am. It's better to stay there for the night and visit Macchu Picchu from 6 am, that way you'll have enough time to go to Wayna Picchu (the top of the mountain next to the citadel).

Most of the tourist arrive by train from Cuzco at 10 am and then the place gets crowded, so you got from 6:30 to 10:30  for less people around and when the rest arrive you can climb the Wayna Picchu and watch them from above, the train that takes you back to Cuzco leaves around 5:30pm or 6pm so it's a good thing to take along some meatloaf sandwiches because up there there's no good place to eat (just pay someone in Aguas Calientes to make them for you).

Remember that many Prom Classes from Lima make their senior trip to Cuzco during that week, so you better start looking for places to stay in Cuzco (no so in Aguas Calientes) if you want to get cheap lodging.

Answer 2

Pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet guide for Peru. The Rough Guide is also good. It's my bible when backpacking through a new place. Also try www.lonelyplanet.com

Answer 3

go to a travel website like lonelyplanet.com or some other one that has a forum.   ask for advice.

buy a lonely planet book

know that there are many many clean and safe rooms of all price ranges in cusco.  the taxi driver will take you to many of them if you ask.

take a taxi from cusco to olyantambo....***this is important***

i reccomend this if there are 3 or 4 of you becasue you can stop at several places along the way.  it is a very very good deal becasue you split the costs.  the train ride is not all that super cheep anyway

your taxi driver should make sure you arrive in olyantambo in time to purchase the LIMITED tickets for the cheap train to aguas calientes (or you can spend the night there, but that is not necessary)  my taxi driver's name was feliciano and was super duper.

if you already have a room in aguas calientes (again lonely planet or lonelyplanet.com)...if not, there are throngs of people trying to get you to their place.  you go with one of them up the hill, but you are not obligated to take it if it looks bad.

while in cusco...you see the "s**y woman" and the other three ruins near there.....in the taxi, you see some others along the way to olyantambo....and make sure you stop at one of the markets.  a great place.

to do all of this, you start your trip super early.

super-tours is where my taxi driver feliciano worked.  he was the best.

take a plane from lima to cusco....spend the bit of extra money, and save time and your but and bones.....

you can bus it (or taxi again) to get to lake titicaca if you wish.

good luck and have fun.

Answer 4

Try kayak or delgadotravelusa.  Tickets can be bought once you get here.

Answer 5

I have used these guys for 3 trips so far... they can help

www.sunriseperu.com