Cusco

sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 17:37:

Not really. I found that staying the night in the Sacred Valley, and catching an early train to Aguas Calientes, and then back to Cusco to be a very full day. I think that I did not arrive back in Cusco until about 10:00 pm.

I think is worthwhile not to try an express trip, as it is a very special experience, and I found that getting a private guide is a good value. Friends who have visited, agree.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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diobahn says on May 14, 2009, 17:39:

Highly improbable...........you need to take the train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, pass the night there (or in the expensive hotel at Machu Picchu).....then from Aguas
calientes, take the bus up to MP (or hike if you're fit). It's not a one day deal. You'll have to take the train back to
Cusco, then fly back to Lima. Since you're gonna be there, why not enjoy it at your leisure?

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offshoreadvisor2009 says on May 14, 2009, 17:39:

You can fly to Lima, then to cusco most likely the same day if you time the flights correctly. Once in cusco you should take the train through the mountains to MP, as I recall it is the only way to get there and a beautiful ride.
I would suggest to get to most from MP, that you fly to cusco then take the train to aguas calientes the same day. Spend the night there then take the bus to MP EARLY in the morning. All the normal tourist buses arrive around 9 or 10 as I recall, and you can get a solid hour there practically alone by doing this. I assure you that MP is much better alone then with 300 other people to trip over.

Good travels- viva peru!!

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sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 17:57:

I think that to experience Machu Picchu, that is much too short a time. I stayed in the Sacred Valley & took an early train to Aguas Calientes, and did not arrive back in Cisco until about 10 PM.

A very abbreviated slide show of my trip (and only a few fotos of Machu Picchu, starring in Viejo San Juan):

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 18:02:

Shit, that did't work!

That's only my terrace in VSJ!

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 18:06:

I think this should be the the slideshow:

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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houstongal (Trustee board) says on May 14, 2009, 18:10:

you also have to take the fog or weather in cusco into consideration when you're planning your flights. any delay and it would screw up other legs of your trip (i.e., the train to MP which takes hours from cusco). there's no way to do this as a day trip from lima. plus you need to spend a couple of hours at a minimum walking around the ruins.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 18:18:

I stayed the night before in the Sacred Valley, so the train to Aguas Calientes was only an hour. I was able to arrive before most of the other tourists, and I had a private guide "Johnny Walker" waiting for me.

I left my hotel in the Sacred Valley about 7AM, and arrived back in Cusco at about 9 or 10PM.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Portena1 says on May 14, 2009, 18:28:

Nice slideshow!

No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings - Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

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sloopskipper says on May 14, 2009, 18:40:

I think that anyone who thinks they can do Machu Picchu in one day fromm Lima is a "wild eyed dreamer!".

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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houstongal (Trustee board) says on May 14, 2009, 18:43:

i agree sloop! and they would miss so much in their rush to see it and get out!

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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Brian858 says on May 14, 2009, 19:37:

I was there 2 years ago and wished I had spent the night at MP. 1 day isn't enough to take it all in. Also you want to be there at sunrise or sunset which isn't possible if you take the train up and back in the same day. Here is a link to some of the photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Brian.Harrington/Peru02#

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tabla says on May 14, 2009, 20:25:

I took a tour from Cusco to MP earlier this year. The minibus picked us up from our hostels early in the morning and drove us to a point where we took a short train ride to Aguas Calientes. I think probably it would be better to take the train from Cusco, though costlier. However the restaurant stops were quite fun. In the evening I visited the thermal baths, and spent the night in a hotel. Early the second morning I took the bus to MP. My friend went by foot and found it a long and hard climb. The emphasis was on getting to MP early. We then had a few hours at MP and made it back to our Cusco hostels late at night.
So I'd say you need a night in Cusco before and after the night in AC. I can't imagine trying to do it any faster than that, even if the train is faster than the minibus. It used to be possible to go by helicopter apparently, but not anymore.

I also write for the archive.

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Man Tequila says on May 14, 2009, 23:01:

It is a full day trip from Cusco -- and this day goes from about 5am to 10pm. Although flights from Lima to Cusco can arrive at 6am, I don't think there are evening flights out of Cusco due to the fog and darkness.

The thermal baths are disgusting. I think one day is enough if you do not have much interest in Machu Picchu, but I think it deserves more.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 04:51:

I did the thermal baths in a small village outside Arequipa, in the south. They were quite nice, and I seemed to be the only tourist.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 15, 2009, 04:55:

sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 05:09:

I stayed at Sonesta Posadas del Inca http://www.sonesta.com/SacredValley/ in the Sacred Valley, which is only an hour from Aguas Calientes, by train.



The next night at http://www.sonesta.com/Cusco/

Both were very nice, but not the cheapest I found in Perú.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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davidyamiga says on May 15, 2009, 05:18:

Thanks for all your comments. And SLOOP, thanks for the name of the hotel. I was going to ask you since it looks very nice. It looks like I will have to spend a couple of days.

Otra vez en casa...Cali!

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 05:48:

My pleasure, David.

Both were very nice, and I got LAN miles from Sonesta Pasada. From the property at Yucay you can be at Machu Picchu a couple hours before the tourists arrive from Cusco.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 05:57:

I found it well worth my while to engage private tour guides (requires a univeristy degree in Peruano history and culture) I think was maybe $40US in 2005:



Johnny (Walker) lives in Aguas Calientes, and I spent the day with him at Machu Picchu.

I made several trips to interesting areas around Cusco with Lenín.

Both were very nice, and extremely well informed.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 05:58:

Pisac (Pisaq), celebrating the anniversay of Departmento de Cusco. (that multicolor flag is not what you might think. Es la bandera de Cusco). ☺

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 06:18:

Brian858 says on May 14, 2009, 19:37: flag

"I was there 2 years ago and wished I had spent the night at MP. 1 day isn't enough to take it all in. Also you want to be there at sunrise or sunset which isn't possible if you take the train up and back in the same day. Here is a link to some of the photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Brian.Harrington/Peru02#"

Nice fotos, Brian. I have some at: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=cgaeflvq.c4gso30i&x=...

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 06:43:

There is a hotel actually at Machu Picchu, but is Orient Express, and quite expensive: http://machupicchu.orient-express.com/web/omac/omac_a2a_home.jsp

I think was about $250US per night, in 2005.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Man Tequila says on May 15, 2009, 10:04:

I think it is more expensive now, maybe $400 last time I checked?

And is not even that great a hotel, judging by reviews. The only reason to stay is its location, and if the business is paying.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 11:18:

I wouldn't be at all surprised, but I don't remember reading any reviews. I didn't look after I saw the price.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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nine inch nails says on May 15, 2009, 14:20:

Even though it is busted on as a tourist trap I liked Aguas Calientes due to its' lower altitude, warmer clime, at the base of MP and oh yeah the fact that I met a bricheta (sp?) there.

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sloopskipper says on May 15, 2009, 18:11:

nine inch nails says on May 15, 2009, 14:20 (today): flag

"Even though it is busted on as a tourist trap I liked Aguas Calientes due to its' lower altitude, warmer clime, at the base of MP and oh yeah the fact that I met a bricheta (sp?) there."

I would consider that on a return visit.

I only enjoyed a nice dinner in a touristy type place with my guide there, at the end of the day.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Monpirri says on May 15, 2009, 18:48:

MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO - PERÚ - NUEVA MARAVILLA DEL MUNDO -


viaje al cuzco


The Peruvian Cuisine. La Gastronomía del Perú.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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houstongal (Trustee board) says on May 16, 2009, 13:29:

I stayed in Ollantaytambo in Sacred Valley at Hotel Pakaritampu. Really lovely place and the train station is right down the hill. Plus there are other ruins in the area to see in Ollantaytambo. Check Tripadvisor.com because I've posted photos on there in 2006.

I admit that I splurged and stayed at the hotel at MP. Had a beautiful jr. suite and it cost a pretty penny ($600/night), but it included breakfast and an awesome dinner and I could get up and walk a few yards to the entrance of MP. At night it was great watching everyone leave the park as we sat on our balcony, read and watched the tourists leave. Quite a special splurge.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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