For those who haven't been there yet, you can't drive to Machu Picchu, you must take the train that runs from Cusco to Agua Calientes and then hop a bus that takes you 2 miles up from there. You can hike it in 4 days along the Inca Trail, which is the stone highway built by the Incas more than 500 years ago but most people take the train. This year you take the train from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas because they are doing maintenance on the tracks to repair damage done by last year's severe flooding so we stayed in Ollantaytambo at the old El Albergue Inn.
El Albergue is located right beside the train station and faces right onto the tracks, very handy when you have to get up at 5 am to catch the first train to Machu Picchu.
[attachment 190799 IMG_3526.JPG]
You ride the rails along the narrow guage track and you pass through some stunningly beautiful terrain which starts off mountainous and then turns to mountainous jungle. The only viable route lies right beside the Urubamba River which thankfully is not flooding too badly this year, even still you winding up passing through numerous tunnels that have been hand hewn through the mountains.
[attachment 190805 IMG_3640.JPG][attachment 190806 IMG_3660.JPG]
Eventually you will arrive in Aguas Calientes, a grubby little town that makes its living by charging ridiculous prices from substandard accommodations, expect to pay $200/night plus if you want to have clean sheets. The better alternative would be El Albergue in Ollantaytambo, $75/night for a suite in a beautiful setting by the river with a terrific restaurant on premises, easy hiking in the mountains and ruins around Ollantaytambo as well. If you must be close to Machu Picchu you can stay at the Sanctuary Lodge which is located right at the gates of the lost city - - - $800/night and up but they throw in dinner.
I actually considered it but my wife's commonsense kicked in an she slapped me back to reality, Machu Picchu doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to visit but the Peruvians know that they have something special and they will charge you a lot to see it if you don't keep your wits about you. The only nice thing about the town of Aguas Calientes is the raging Class 6 rapids that run through the center of town, other than that just buy your entry ticket to MP and a bus ticket up the mountain there and get out of Dodge.
[attachment 190809 IMG_3793.JPG]
Ride the bus up the winding road from Aguas Calientes in the bottom of the valley to Machu Picchu near the top, it's an interesting ride because the Peruvians always build their road 1 and 1 half lanes wide when the roads are in the mountains in order to save money, makes for interesting passing.
Eventually you will arrive at the gate to the lost city and I recommend you catch the first train to avoid the crowds. Nothing ruins the magic of an ancient Incan city like hordes of Japanese and Russian tourists being herded around by their tour guide in very loud Japanese and Russian.
What you will get to see is this:
[attachment 190810 IMG_3691.JPG]
See the sites from the lookout at the entry point and then turn left while the rest of the herd turns right, they will head down into the city proper to get lost in the maze of stone buildings searching for the sign up station for Huayan Picchu, you will head up the path to the recently opened Montana Machu Picchu trail which will take you up the mountain to a beautiful vantage point overlooking the city. This is a good hike but if you pace yourself and bring some water along, you will be just fine. You will be looking out over the lost city and down onto Huayan Picchu while the others are still waiting hopefully for one of those 400 spots assigned each day to visitors who want to climb Huayan Picchu. Huayan Picchu is the young mountain and Macchu Picchu the old mountain but it has become a rite of passage for some to climb in a crowd up Huayan Picchu to get their 5 minute glimpse of the lost city before the crowd pushes them along. Climb the Montana Machu Picchu Trail and you will have only butterflies and hummingbirds for company.
[attachment 190811 IMG_3700-1.JPG]
If you go to Machu Picchu towards the end of the offseason (March and April) you will not pay exhorbitant prices and you will be able to spend a week in the Sacred Valley which is full of interesting ruins and culture. Visiting Machu Picchu is also best when you can avoid the crowds. It's a very special place, check on one of the discount flight providers for a cheap flight and just book it, you don't need an expensive tour guide company but you do need to be a bit self reliant. Fly to Lima, spend the night at a hotel for around $50, hop another flight to Cusco 1 hr. (you can take the bus which is even cheaper but the ride is hairem scarem for folks that don't like heights), then grab a cab to the Sacred Valley from the Plaza de Armas in the center of town ($10 for an hour and a half ride). From there the rest is easy - Machu Picchu doesn't have to be a pipe dream, it could be a reality if you want it to be.
Cheers,
BDA
El Albergue is located right beside the train station and faces right onto the tracks, very handy when you have to get up at 5 am to catch the first train to Machu Picchu.
[attachment 190799 IMG_3526.JPG]
You ride the rails along the narrow guage track and you pass through some stunningly beautiful terrain which starts off mountainous and then turns to mountainous jungle. The only viable route lies right beside the Urubamba River which thankfully is not flooding too badly this year, even still you winding up passing through numerous tunnels that have been hand hewn through the mountains.
[attachment 190805 IMG_3640.JPG][attachment 190806 IMG_3660.JPG]
Eventually you will arrive in Aguas Calientes, a grubby little town that makes its living by charging ridiculous prices from substandard accommodations, expect to pay $200/night plus if you want to have clean sheets. The better alternative would be El Albergue in Ollantaytambo, $75/night for a suite in a beautiful setting by the river with a terrific restaurant on premises, easy hiking in the mountains and ruins around Ollantaytambo as well. If you must be close to Machu Picchu you can stay at the Sanctuary Lodge which is located right at the gates of the lost city - - - $800/night and up but they throw in dinner.
I actually considered it but my wife's commonsense kicked in an she slapped me back to reality, Machu Picchu doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to visit but the Peruvians know that they have something special and they will charge you a lot to see it if you don't keep your wits about you. The only nice thing about the town of Aguas Calientes is the raging Class 6 rapids that run through the center of town, other than that just buy your entry ticket to MP and a bus ticket up the mountain there and get out of Dodge.[attachment 190809 IMG_3793.JPG]
Ride the bus up the winding road from Aguas Calientes in the bottom of the valley to Machu Picchu near the top, it's an interesting ride because the Peruvians always build their road 1 and 1 half lanes wide when the roads are in the mountains in order to save money, makes for interesting passing.
Eventually you will arrive at the gate to the lost city and I recommend you catch the first train to avoid the crowds. Nothing ruins the magic of an ancient Incan city like hordes of Japanese and Russian tourists being herded around by their tour guide in very loud Japanese and Russian.What you will get to see is this:
[attachment 190810 IMG_3691.JPG]
See the sites from the lookout at the entry point and then turn left while the rest of the herd turns right, they will head down into the city proper to get lost in the maze of stone buildings searching for the sign up station for Huayan Picchu, you will head up the path to the recently opened Montana Machu Picchu trail which will take you up the mountain to a beautiful vantage point overlooking the city. This is a good hike but if you pace yourself and bring some water along, you will be just fine. You will be looking out over the lost city and down onto Huayan Picchu while the others are still waiting hopefully for one of those 400 spots assigned each day to visitors who want to climb Huayan Picchu. Huayan Picchu is the young mountain and Macchu Picchu the old mountain but it has become a rite of passage for some to climb in a crowd up Huayan Picchu to get their 5 minute glimpse of the lost city before the crowd pushes them along. Climb the Montana Machu Picchu Trail and you will have only butterflies and hummingbirds for company.
[attachment 190811 IMG_3700-1.JPG]
If you go to Machu Picchu towards the end of the offseason (March and April) you will not pay exhorbitant prices and you will be able to spend a week in the Sacred Valley which is full of interesting ruins and culture. Visiting Machu Picchu is also best when you can avoid the crowds. It's a very special place, check on one of the discount flight providers for a cheap flight and just book it, you don't need an expensive tour guide company but you do need to be a bit self reliant. Fly to Lima, spend the night at a hotel for around $50, hop another flight to Cusco 1 hr. (you can take the bus which is even cheaper but the ride is hairem scarem for folks that don't like heights), then grab a cab to the Sacred Valley from the Plaza de Armas in the center of town ($10 for an hour and a half ride). From there the rest is easy - Machu Picchu doesn't have to be a pipe dream, it could be a reality if you want it to be.
Cheers,
BDA
We try to always have a backup plan, just in case things go pearshaped on us.