Machu Picchu

[keweenawlove]

I'm just back from our big trip this year and already to plan the next trip I've heard about climbing to Machu Picchu and have always wanted to go. I really don't know much about it though. I suggested it to DH but he thinks you just hike there, and there's not much else to do in Peru. I know there's a lot more to do, I just don't know what. Does anyone have any itineraries or travel blogs about trips there?

Or I'm open to other suggestions We loved our trip to Kauai for the awesome hiking and beautiful beaches. We'd be looking for a trip we could do it ~10 days from the midwest.

[emilyinchile]

The trek takes 4-5 days. You'll want a couple days in Cuzco to acclimate before starting the hike, and Cuzco is fun with plenty to do. So that's already 6-7 days. You could do a quick side trip to Lake Titicaca to see the floating islands by flying or taking an overnight bus to Puno (if you fly, you fly into Juliaca), since that can be done in a day or two. Or you could spend a few days in Lima, since you'll have to fly through there anyway, although I didn't love Lima (but would give it another chance).

There are also chilled-out backpacker style beaches along the north coast - Mancora and surrounding areas - as well as desert areas and the Amazon with cruises departing from Iquitos, so there's way more to do than "just hiking." But I wouldn't go north with only 10 days.

[Deleted]

Check out my blog - it's awsome do it aroundtheworldwithrebecca.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Inca%20Trail
On Peru there is heaps to do and it always amazes me when people go to Cuzco and that's it. I would recommend - Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Amazon, Paracas, Lima

[marshian85]

There is a TON to do in Peru. Husband and I just spent three weeks there in May and didn't see it all.

There are three popular options to get to Machu Picchu:
1 - Take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
2 - Do the traditional 4-day Inca Trail hike
3 - Do the shortened 2-day Inca Trail hike

We did the 4-day Inca Trail. It was amazing. Not easy, but do-able for anyone in okay shape. (We're not athletes or anything.)

Other things to see:
- Puno / Lake Titicaca -- You can take a day tour of the islands or do an overnight on Amantani. We did the overnight - highly recommend! If you do an overnight, make sure you do it through a company which has you pay the family directly at least a portion of the money.
- Nasca -- You can see the Nasca lines via flight (35 minutes in a small plane) or you can see a couple from a lookout tower. We did the flight - amazing. There are also sand dunes nearby (from Nasca or Ica). Sandboarding is super fun. There are also more archaeological sites nearby which are cool.
- Paracas -- Take a boat tour of the Islas Ballestas.
- Arequipa -- We didn't make it here due to a strike not allowing buses to travel, but heard many good things. You can also take a tour to the Colca Canyon.
- Cusco / Sacred Valley -- So many things to see and do in the Sacred Valley. We spent 5 days here alone.

Highly suggest looking at the Fodors.com Peru forum. I got much advice and itinerary suggestions from them.

[aurora]

Marshian - I've heard that the full Inca Trail has gotten kind of trashed in recent years. Did you find that to be the case?

[scout8]

There is definitely more to do than Machu Picchu. We went a few years ago. In addition to doing the 2 day hike, we went to Lima, Nazca, Huacachina, Arequipa, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca (although we were on the Bolivian side on Isla del Sol). We loved Arequipa & Isla del Sol.

[keweenawlove]

Thanks for all the input! I loved reading your blog Maggie. I knew there was more to do. Now I can show DH more. We'll just have to figure out if 10 days will be enough time to make it worth doing. Next year is DH's last year with only 2 weeks of vacation so we'll have more flexibility after that.

[marshian85]

Jun 18, 2012 19:03:09 GMT -5 aurora said:

Marshian - I've heard that the full Inca Trail has gotten kind of trashed in recent years. Did you find that to be the case?

Not at all! I wonder why people are saying that. It was really amazing. Most of the time our group was alone on the trail (except for the passing porters, of course) even though there are about 400 people on it at the same time. We didn't see any trash or any issues.

[jjsbride]

We just spent last night looking at my aunt pictures from her trip to Peru a week ago. She loved it and did so much.
We now want to go.
She said the cook that was with them on the hike up to Machu Picchu was worth the trip alone! She raved about the food he made.

She noticed a lot of people rushing the hike just wanting to get to their resting points each day...and they missed so much because of it.
She took her time and saw thing and experienced things others in her group did not even notice.

[aurora]

Jun 19, 2012 15:57:02 GMT -5 marshian85 said:

Jun 18, 2012 19:03:09 GMT -5 aurora said:

Marshian - I've heard that the full Inca Trail has gotten kind of trashed in recent years. Did you find that to be the case?

Not at all! I wonder why people are saying that. It was really amazing. Most of the time our group was alone on the trail (except for the passing porters, of course) even though there are about 400 people on it at the same time. We didn't see any trash or any issues.

This is great to hear - I'll keep it on my travel list, then.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2012 19:02:07 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Jun 17, 2012 1:10:55 GMT -5 @maggie78 said:

Check out my blog - it's awsome do it aroundtheworldwithrebecca.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Inca%20Trail
On Peru there is heaps to do and it always amazes me when people go to Cuzco and that's it. I would recommend - Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Amazon, Paracas, Lima

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I love your blog. I'm currently trying to plan our itinerary for New Zealand and I can't wait to read over all your stuff! And I am hitting one of your "wish list" spots (Qualia in the Whitsundays), so I will let you know how it is after we stay there in September.

Glad it's helpful!
I would also ditto the PP who said the trail is in good condition. They shut it every Feb for the month to restore and clean, and the reason they limit the number of hikers is to try and minimise the damage. There are a couple of other walks in the area that are meant to be more challenging, but I think the Inca Trail is on most peoples bucket list (and no other trail ends at MP as far as I know)

[carifly]

I just got back from 12 days in Peru and it was absolutely amazing - I definitely recommend it. I took my 4 year old so we didn't hike the Inca Trail, but I did smaller hikes (down from Machu Picchu into Aguas Calientes, and up Huaynu Picchu) and loved it all.

We spent two days in Lima at the start, then 2 nights at an amazing resort in the Amazon near Puerto Maldonado (Hacienda Concepcion - it was affordable and I would LOVE to go back). After the Amazon we spent a night in Cuzco, then did a tour of the Sacred Valley and spent a night there before taking the train to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. We spent two days at Machu Picchu and I am glad we did. The second day we caught the bus at 6:30 AM to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu. Unfortunately it was cloudy and drizzly, but being able to wander through Machu Picchu without seeing another soul was absolutely amazing.

After Machu Picchu we spent another two nights in Cusco before taking a bus to Puno and Lake Titicaca. The eight hour bus ride wasn't that fun, but it is some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen. After a day out on Lake Titicaca we flew back to Lima, spent another day there, and then went home.

There is so much to do, we could have easily spent another week or two. This is probably my favorite vacation I've taken so far.

[Deleted]

My sister just went her pics are amazing. SHe did a white water rafting trip too.

[SJ]

Hiking the Inca Trail to MP is one of my favorite travel memories. I did it with a girlfriend in December 2005, so my info is dated. I will say that it's totally worth it to hire the extra porter to carry your stuff.

We also went white water rafting out of Cusco before starting the hike.

We didn't do much in Lima- at the time everyone said to skip it- but I have heard recently it is really up-and-coming in the food area- they have some very excellent restaurants and the scene seems to be much better than it was several years ago.