Canyons, Mountains & Vineyards

[Jacques Vert]

Regarding the train tickets purchased online through PeruRail, I forgot to mention that unlike the bus tickets, you pay online at the time of booking. PeruRail then send you an email with a confirmation number and you have to print your real tickets in Peru (and before you get on the train).

There are a number of places where you can print your tickets: there is a kiosk at Lima airport next to the lift and stairs that take you down to gates 1-7, there is a desk at Cusco airport near the baggage carousel, there's an office in the Plaza de Armas and presumably at the train stations. There are probably other places as well but we used the desk at Cusco airport while we were waiting for our bags.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Many places I will go without a guide. MP was not one of them. It's such a special site, unlikely to be visited again, so max out the experience for a few bucks. I returned the next morning ( as a hedge against bad weather the first visit) and then pleased myself.

Agreed and that's basically what we did.

It would just be nice if they told you the correct information up front.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Entrance Tickets

You do need a ticket to access the Citadel and most online searches take you to one of a number of official looking websites that you could easily assume were government sites. The give-away is that the prices vary from site to site. For example, a ticket just for the Citadel (no mountain, no museum) varies from around $US69 to nearly $80. However there is a way to buy your tickets direct from the Ministario di Cultura for 158.13 soles (about $US48 at today's rate). That's are considerable saving, especially if there is more than one of you.

Unfortunately the Ministario's site is only in Spanish so most will need step by step instructions of how to negotiate the site. Rather than reinvent the wheel and give you my instructions, may I refer you to an excellent website run by the Thrifty Nomads: How to See Machu Picchu on the Cheap: The Ultimate Guide (Updated 2018) - Thrifty Nomads

You'll find everything you need to know on their site and my thanks to them as they saved me a considerable sum of money.

We purchased two sets of tickets: afternoon tickets for the first day just for the Citadel (158.13 soles) and a morning ticket for the following day for the Citadel + Montana Picchu (208.06 soles).

Interestingly, the afternoon ticket states it is from 1200 to 1730 but you enter any time after 1100. Similarly, the morning ticket states from 0600 to 1200 but when I began to climb the mountain (more on that later) the lady at the gate told me I had to start heading down at 1200. I actually left the site at about 1330. There is no check as you leave so you could probably stay as long as you wanted.

 

[Jacques Vert]

So to some photos of our first visit on the afternoon of arrival. We actually went up early and entered just after 11-00AM. Our guide noted that it had been raining and cold all morning but the weather was clearing, just for us, and +1 was feeling OK although moving rather slowly...

 

[Jacques Vert]

And a few more:

 

[Jacques Vert]

That night we stayed at the El Mapi by Inkaterra. Inkaterra are a chain of hotels in this part of the world and they have a more expensive hotel here as well. But we picked up the El Mapi for $A221 dinner, bed and breakfast.

Our room:




Two free welcome Pisco Sours and yes @RooFlyer, this time in a real glass (pity it's a small one)




The restaurant...




Entrees:






The mains....






Dessert...






The last photo is a lemon tart, way too sweet and +1 could not eat it.

 

[RooFlyer]

I see that llama is still being a photographic tart. I stayed at El Mapi too, with the intro piscos. Did you find it noisy/ echo-y?

I booked my tickets through my travel agent, so was oblivious to the ( false/ unchecked) guide/time restrictions you have been mentioning

 

[Jacques Vert]

We had originally thought of heading up the mountain early to see the sun rise but it was wet and overcast so we decided to have a leisurely breakfast and head up the mountain about 0830. Unfortunately +1 was feeling quite unwell this morning despite the lower altitude. When we arrived at the entrance without a guide, no questions were asked.

We hadn't gone far before +1 decided that she would find a comfortable spot to sit and just watch the people for a while and take in the views. I did what any good husband would do and headed up Montana Picchu without her.

Many visitors prefer to tackle the more famous Huayna Picchu mountain but I had looked at numerous photos and decided it is way too scary for me; I am not good at heights. But there is also Montana Picchu, considerable higher than Huayna Picchu, less scary, and I should be able to get some good photos from there.

There's another gate before you head up the mountain where you sign in (including your age) but I was peased to see that I was the oldest fool to sign in so far that morning, The gatekeeper said it takes about 1.5 hours to go up and another hour to come down. But by now the sun was out, it was getting quite hot, and even the young ones were struggling. I decided that slow and steady with lots of breaks was the wise thing for me and also gave me the opportunity to take some photos....



I discovered that those Incas just loved stairs:




One of the longest stretches between stairs...




The view improves as I inch my way higher...




That's Huayna Picchu; look closely and you can see the structures and some people near the top...




Higher still and the people are getting shorter...










Looking down on Huayna Picchu....




Just short of the summit.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I stayed at El Mapi too, with the intro piscos. Did you find it noisy/ echo-y?

We were on the second floor in block 3, towards the back a little so I didn't notice any noise. Then again, after a couple of busy days, two Pisco Sours and two glasses of red, I don't think I would have noticed

 

[Jacques Vert]

Heading back down the mountain and some sections are more difficult than coming up. About now I realise that I will have to get my skates on or I won't make the train back to Cusco. Later I realised that I was thinking of the boarding time, rather than the departure time and I had an extra half hour up my sleeve. It started to rain again just as I reached the shelter to board the bus. We made it with enough time to have a quick lunch before boarding.

I was far too tired to think about taking photos on the train back to Cusco so here's a couple of extras from the previous journey...










.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next day back in Cusco and +1 is not feeling any better so we ring the Doctor who asks us to come to the clinic. Following some blood tests, X'rays, and a thorough examination, she is given a diagnosis: acute bronchitis and acute asthma, and the altitude is not helping.

So she was admitted and has now been in the Clinic for three nights with IV antibiotics, puffers, drips, and lots of other things.

We had planned to go to Puno yesterday, then Copacabana and La Paz, but I have cancelled that part of our trip. From here we will be heading to sea level for her to rest and recover.

 

[tgh]

Sorry to read this, best wishes for a quick recovery.

 

[Boca68]

Next day back in Cusco and +1 is not feeling any better so we ring the Doctor who asks us to come to the clinic. Following some blood tests, X'rays, and a thorough examination, she is given a diagnosis: acute bronchitis and acute asthma, and the altitude is not helping.

So she was admitted and has now been in the Clinic for three nights with IV antibiotics, puffers, drips, and lots of other things.

We had planned to go to Puno yesterday, then Copacabana and La Paz, but I have cancelled that part of our trip. From here we will be heading to sea level for her to rest and recover.

So sorry to hear that @Jacques Vert
I hope she feels better soon. Are you going back to Lima now? If so, can recommend a doctor if its needed. Let me know.

Loved the photos of MP. I have been twice and seen thousands of photos, but it still blows me away. Also, with the actual getting of the train tickets, there is an office in the Plaza de Armas of Aguas Caliente as well as the others you mentioned. Not well signposted, but available. Maybe a 5 minute walk from the station. (uphill of course )

 

[drron]

Any lung problems will basically be more severe as to symptoms if at altitude so you are doing the right thing.As you did at MP-I left mrsdrron when she felt more tired and I visited the higher levels.

 

[Jacques Vert]

So sorry to hear that @Jacques Vert
I hope she feels better soon. Are you going back to Lima now? If so, can recommend a doctor if its needed. Let me know.

Thanks @Boca68 . Looks like our Travel Insurance is going to cover the cost of flying us back to Lima where she will go into a hospital/clinic until she recovers. Not signed off yet but highly likely.

I'll come back to you if I need that Doctor's name.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Any lung problems will basically be more severe as to symptoms if at altitude so you are doing the right thing.As you did at MP-I left mrsdrron when she felt more tired and I visited the higher levels.

Thanks @drron I've passed your comments on to +1.

 

[RooFlyer]

Best wishes to Mrs JV and speedy recovery.

 

[Boca68]

Thanks @Boca68 . Looks like our Travel Insurance is going to cover the cost of flying us back to Lima where she will go into a hospital/clinic until she recovers. Not signed off yet but highly likely.

I'll come back to you if I need that Doctor's name.

Great! I hope they do sign off on it. They damn well should.

All the best to both of you and message me if you need something.

 

[love_the_life]

Hope she is feeling better soon and that the transfer to Lima goes smoothly. Not how you want to spend time on holiday.

 

[Fifa]

Next day back in Cusco and +1 is not feeling any better so we ring the Doctor who asks us to come to the clinic. Following some blood tests, X'rays, and a thorough examination, she is given a diagnosis: acute bronchitis and acute asthma, and the altitude is not helping.

So she was admitted and has now been in the Clinic for three nights with IV antibiotics, puffers, drips, and lots of other things.

We had planned to go to Puno yesterday, then Copacabana and La Paz, but I have cancelled that part of our trip. From here we will be heading to sea level for her to rest and recover.

Oh no!!!
I am so sorry to hear that your high altitude adventures have been cut short but pleased you are heading to a safer place.
All the best to @Gem56 for a speedy recovery. I hope she has a sim card to make translations in hospital a little easier!
Take care...