Peru25

transport

Boston to Lima

Lima to Cusco Cusco to Aguas Calientes

google map

machu pichu

Day 1 25th Tues

• arrive in Lima
• travel from Lima to Cusco
• travel from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
• stay in Aguas Calientes

Day 2 26th Wed

• macha pichu
• stay 2nd night

Day3 27th Thu

• train back to Cusco
• hotel in Cusco

Day 4 28th Fri

• tour Cusco
• travel to lima

Classic 2 $152/ea

reddit agcamalionte

This seems like a very tight schedule, and, most worrysome is the ticket to Machu Picchu. They usually sell out months in advance. If you haven't purchased the ticket yet, I highly recommend prioritizing this

It is advised to arrive in Aguas Calientes one day before you're going to MP. MP has two entry periods: morning and afternoon. If you arrive in Aguas Calientes in the afternoon (which you probably will), you will miss out. I'm not sure what is the latest time you can enter MP with an afternoon ticket, so it's better to check their official website. (Also it's been a few years since I've been thwre and idk if they changed something due to covid. Definitely check their website)

google map aguas calientes Once in Aguas Calientes, there are two ways to get to the entrance of MP:

• a bus from the village to the site. Long lines and need to get up early. I woke up at 4 am in the village to get the bus.
• you can hike there. It's a bit challenging, but I wouldn't call it very difficult. I didn't hike up, but I hiked down on my way back to the village. Upwards is a lot tougher, imo, though.

I did the morning visit and was back in Aguas Calientes by late afternoon. There I took a train in the evening to Cusco and the next day I got a flight to Lima.

I definitely recommend 3 days for the whole thing: first day in Cusco and Valle Sagrado + travel to Aguas Calientes; second day Machu Picchu and travel bacj to Cusco; third day Cusco and travel to Lima.

first timers guide

Where to stay in Machu Picchu

I’d highly recommend an overnight stay at Machu Picchu or Aguas Calientes if you want to get up to experience the ruins early the next morning.

Aguas Calientes has a good range of hotels. The buses start to roll out of town up to Machu Picchu early enough for you to arrive just after the gates open, and well ahead of visitors coming by train. Staying locally also is helpful if you want to visit the site more than once. Mist clinging to the peaks can be completely bewitching, but visibility can be changeable 2,450 m above sea level. A second visit can give you a completely different set of conditions to enjoy as you explore the architecture, and time to climb Huayna Picchu.

bookings.com

</> ministry of culture tickets

aguas calientes

Aguas Calientes has a plentiful selection of restaurants to suit your tastes and wallet. One of our current favorites is Indio Feliz, an award-winning restaurant serving Peruvian dishes with a French twist tucked away in a side street.

You can also try Peruvian street food if you time it right. Every Sunday, slow cooked chicharrones (hog roast) is sold until it’s all gone. I tried it on a recent trip and the meat was amazingly succulent, with the best crackling I’ve ever tasted.

It should be noted that the Inca Trail is closed to walkers during the month of February so restoration work can take place.

cusco

Lima