Travel to Cusco and Machu Picchu
In this post, I will give all the tips necessary to make your trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu, unforgettable!
I went there last January with my husband. This was the first time in Cusco for him, and the second time for me (although first time actually going to Machu Picchu).
I will describe next what to do to plan the trip step-by-step:
1. Buy plane tickets Lima - Cusco - Lima
There are a few companies flying to Cusco, however it depends of which nationality you have, to buy the cheapest tickets. Peruvians should go with LATAM, they have often the best offers. Yet for foreigners, LATAM discounts do not apply.
I'd recommend then to buy with these companies:
We paid 120$ both-ways each, but prices range from 90 - 150$ depending on the time of the year you're travelling.
2. Altitude sickness (Soroche)
At Lima airport or at Cusco airport you can find, and should buy Sorojchi pills. Cusco is located at 3400 m (11, 152ft). Soroche consists of headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, etc. Around 50% of the people get altitude sickness at 3000 m and around 70% over 4500 m. Take a pill one hour before arriving to Cusco and continue taking them every 8 hours til finished. Also, don't forget to try and constantly drink Coca Tea, rest a lot and eat light meals during your first day there. This helps a lot and then you can go and have fun!
3. Arriving to Cusco by plane
At Cusco airport you will go out and get a taxi. Prices to the city center should not be higher than 10 soles (3$), so don't pay more. If anyone offers more just ignore them and keep walking you'll find someone that takes you for the right price.
3. Arriving to Cusco by plane
At Cusco airport you will go out and get a taxi. Prices to the city center should not be higher than 10 soles (3$), so don't pay more. If anyone offers more just ignore them and keep walking you'll find someone that takes you for the right price.
4. Train to Machu Picchu
Buy the tickets online here. Perurail's Expedition train had the cheapest way to travel when I bought my tickets. But there is another company you can also check online: Incarail. Just to give you an idea, I paid 60$ both ways as a Peruvian citizen, and my husband 116$ as a foreigner. The trip lasts 2 hours and you go from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, which is the city right next to Machu Picchu.
5. Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
You can buy the tickets online here. Ciudadela Machu Picchu is the Inca city, the one you see from the normal touristic picture. If you only wanna visit it, then you buy the ticket "Ciudadela". The price for Peruvians is 64 Soles (18$) and Foreigners, 152 Soles (47$).
If you are young and adventurous, then perhaps you are also interested in trekking in high altitude. There are two mountains with beautiful views from which you can choose to climb. I chose Machu Picchu Mountain. The trekking takes around an hour and a half to go up. The other option is Huaynapicchu mountain, takes only 45 min to 1 hour to go up but mind yourself is steeper and a bit more dangerous, if it is raining you may wanna skip it.
The tickets to each of the mountains cost 112 soles ~ 35$ (Peruvians) and 200 soles ~ 60$ (Foreigners). And you have to chose whether to start the way up between 7 - 8 am or 9 - 10 am (10 - 11 am for Huaynapicchu), since they only allow 400 people in total per day to climb each mountain.
I'd recommend to do either of them, the views are amazing,and after you go down (around 12pm) you will still have plenty of time to visit the Machu Picchu Inca city.
5. Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
You can buy the tickets online here. Ciudadela Machu Picchu is the Inca city, the one you see from the normal touristic picture. If you only wanna visit it, then you buy the ticket "Ciudadela". The price for Peruvians is 64 Soles (18$) and Foreigners, 152 Soles (47$).
Machu Picchu view
The tickets to each of the mountains cost 112 soles ~ 35$ (Peruvians) and 200 soles ~ 60$ (Foreigners). And you have to chose whether to start the way up between 7 - 8 am or 9 - 10 am (10 - 11 am for Huaynapicchu), since they only allow 400 people in total per day to climb each mountain.
Walking to the Inca bridge.
I'd recommend to do either of them, the views are amazing,and after you go down (around 12pm) you will still have plenty of time to visit the Machu Picchu Inca city.
6. Getting to Ollantaytambo from Cusco
Ollantaytambo was by far my favorite town in the Cusco region, small, cosy and absolutely beautiful. The incredible views you have there are worth at least spending a night and visiting around. To get there from Cusco you can take small buses (called "Colectivos") at the corner of Pavitos street and Calle Belen (map here). Trip costs 10 soles (3$). You shouldn't pay more.
7. Airbnb hostels
The app works really nicely at getting you a good price and nice quality hostels in Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, etc. Prices depend on what you're looking for, but for a private room in Cusco for 2 (double bed and shared bathroom) we paid around 24$ per night. Check what's available and near the city center and you're done.
8. Once in Aguas Calientes
So, your train brings you from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, perhaps early in the morning if you have the same plan I did (around 7:40 am). We went from the station to our hostel to leave our bags, and then went to the bus station. Buses to Machu Picchu cost both ways 24$ (for Foreigners) and 15$ (for Peruvians). We took the bus as we wanted to save our energy for Machu Picchu Mountain, but you can also walk this distance, takes around 1.5 hours.
Notice that if buy the both-ways ticket is cheaper and you can take any bus, but the last bus from Machu Picchu leaves at around 5pm, so try to finish your visit before that.
9. What else to do
I am focusing the post on Cusco city and Machu Picchu but you have a collection of small towns around that you should consider visit, not only the other ruins. For example, take time to go around Urubamba Valley and visit Chinchero, a lovely town that every Sunday holds a handicrafts market worth visiting. Moray, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Calca, Saqsayhuaman are some of the other towns and ruins worth visiting.
You can buy a touristic ticket that will cover the fee entrance to around 14 touristic places and museums. It lasts for 7 days and costs 130 soles ~ 40$ for foreigners and 70 soles ~ 22$ for Peruvians. The ticket can be bought at the city of Cusco in this office.
So that's most of my tips!
If anything else comes to mind, will perhaps write another post. Have in mind that prices are approximate, so you must double check the current currency. These prices were for my trip in January 2017.
Oh and I know, it sucks to have different prices for foreigners, but at least they are affordable, and worth every penny I assure you!!!
Have an awesome trip.
7. Airbnb hostels
The app works really nicely at getting you a good price and nice quality hostels in Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, etc. Prices depend on what you're looking for, but for a private room in Cusco for 2 (double bed and shared bathroom) we paid around 24$ per night. Check what's available and near the city center and you're done.
8. Once in Aguas Calientes
So, your train brings you from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, perhaps early in the morning if you have the same plan I did (around 7:40 am). We went from the station to our hostel to leave our bags, and then went to the bus station. Buses to Machu Picchu cost both ways 24$ (for Foreigners) and 15$ (for Peruvians). We took the bus as we wanted to save our energy for Machu Picchu Mountain, but you can also walk this distance, takes around 1.5 hours.
Notice that if buy the both-ways ticket is cheaper and you can take any bus, but the last bus from Machu Picchu leaves at around 5pm, so try to finish your visit before that.
9. What else to do
I am focusing the post on Cusco city and Machu Picchu but you have a collection of small towns around that you should consider visit, not only the other ruins. For example, take time to go around Urubamba Valley and visit Chinchero, a lovely town that every Sunday holds a handicrafts market worth visiting. Moray, Pisaq, Tambomachay, Calca, Saqsayhuaman are some of the other towns and ruins worth visiting.
View of Chinchero ruins.
So that's most of my tips!
If anything else comes to mind, will perhaps write another post. Have in mind that prices are approximate, so you must double check the current currency. These prices were for my trip in January 2017.
Oh and I know, it sucks to have different prices for foreigners, but at least they are affordable, and worth every penny I assure you!!!
Have an awesome trip.
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