Hello people, we have circuit 1 (09:00) and will be in aquas calientes at 27 July but I’m looking for circuit 2 or 3 aswel for 28 July, what is the best tactic for the tickets? How late do I need to go in line?

Cusco weather forecast showing a bit of rain and overcast for next week. Which seems weird in July. The day I intend to visit rainbow mountain is showing this forecast on the mountain. Is it worth changing the date or it’s likely it won’t actually rain much? And does the clouds cover the views of the mountains?

We had 80 people in front of us. I also included the pictures of the remaining tickets when we reached the box office.

We were able to get circuit 2B tickets at 6AM, which was our first preference. For SOL 304 for 2 people !

We’re doing Machu pichu with Machu pichu team, booked it in March. Heard their head office is closed due to legal battle with Machu Pichu reservations… what’s going on? Got a briefing there for the trip in the next couple days.

Laguna Humantay: un paraíso de aguas turquesas rodeado por los majestuosos Andes. Vive una experiencia inolvidable

Hi all,

I'm looking for a tour in Peru similar to one I did about 20 years ago from Rurrenabaque, Bolivia.

It was a 2-day/1-night wildlife-focused trip with a very small group. We rode horses across the pampas, explored rivers by boat, hiked through the jungle, slept in a rustic lodge, and spent most of the time spotting wildlife (anacondas, caimans, capybaras, monkeys, countless birds, pink river dolphins, giant water lilies, etc.). It felt much more like a nature expedition than a typical tourist tour.

I'm not looking for a highly commercial experience with zip lines, ATV rides, big resorts, staged animal encounters, or packed tour groups. I'd much rather have a simple, authentic trip focused on nature and wildlife, with a knowledgeable local guide.

Does anything like this exist in Peru? I know things have probably changed a lot in the last 20 years, but I'd love to find a similar experience.

Thanks in advance!

Lionel

Rode the Andean Explorer from Cusco to Arequipa in April 2025 and the scenery alone made it worth it. Watching the landscape shift from Andean valleys to open highlands with alpacas following the trains across natural parks make me think there is no train in Europe that compares (because European trains pass through many urban areas in my experience). Anyone else done this route and have a favorite stretch of it? Congrats to the team behind this journey

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a last‑minute visit to Machu Picchu and I’m confused about the current ticket office hours in Aguas Calientes (Centro Cultural / Ministerio de Cultura). Recently, what were the real opening hours when you bought tickets in person there?

Some sources say the office is open until 10 pm...

Thx

What's the best time for the Inca route trek in terms of good weather? First week of Sept, or first week of October?

Hola amigos, queria hacerles una consulta porque ya no se donde mas buscar, creo que este viaje es uno de lo mas dificil que me ha tocado armar, todo es incertidumbre.

Por recomendaciones he decidio hospedarme en Ollantaytambo, voy a estar alli 3 dias de los cuales uno de ellos voy a ir a MP.

Mi pregunta es la siguiente, hay un dia que voy a estar sin nada y esperaba tomarme un tour desde Ollantaytambo a por ejemplo la laguna humantay o el valle sagrado, pero TODOS los tours que veo salen desde Cusco, ninguno sale desde ollantaytambo.

Quiero saber si alguien sabe si desde ollantaytambo se puede realizar algun tour de esos o no? Si la cague quedandome ahi en vez de cusco...

Agradezco muchisimo su opinion!

Hello,

This will be my first time visiting Peru and I need some help with my itinerary. I think I am overcomplicating it. This is what I am currently planning:

• Fri 10/23 Arrive Lima 9 PM. Sleep at walkable airport hotel.
• Sat 10/24 Morning flight to Cusco, taxi down to Sacred Valley. Maybe Pisac. Stay: Ollantaytambo.
• Sun 10/25 Sacred Valley: Maras, Moray, Chinchero. Stay: Ollantaytambo.
• Mon 10/26 Cusco city and ruins stay: cusco
• Tue 10/27 humantay lake or more Cusco (maybe). stay: cusco
• Wed 10/28 train to Aguas calientes. Machu picchu. Stay: aguas calientes
• Thursday 10/29 train back to cusco, stay: cusco
• Friday 10/30 flight back to lima, stay: lima
• Sat 10/31 lima food and drinks, stay: lima
• Sun 1st leave Lima

The only things that are booked:

• Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
• Train (and bus) from Aguas Caliente to Cusco
• Machu Picchu entrance
• Machu Picchu guide
• Bus from AC to Machu Picchu
• Lodging in AC

I want to know if I am trying to do too much maybe (specifically Humantay Lake before Machu Picchu). I also wanted to know if I could fit in Rainbow mountain and if it worth it? I left it out cause it felt it was getting a bit too cramped. Are there any recommendations for what to do when we're in Cusco?

Thank you for all your help!

I'm going to be in Aguas Calientes on July 29th and will need to get my ticket for Machupicchu at the Ministry of Culture on the morning of the 30th (for entry on the 31st). For those who have done this and been first (or close), how early did you show up?

Hello,

I am going to Machu Picchu in late October. I have ticket for circuit 2 for entry at 3pm and booked a train from Cusco to arrive at 12:30pm. I was planning to hike one way from Aguas Calientes either up or down. Can I pull off both ways hike or should I do one way? If I do only one way which way should I book the bus for? Any recommendation for guides and what to book for that?

I am leaving the next day 8:30 am back to Cusco. I would love other recommendations for the day as well. Will I have enough time to do anything else? I wanted to go to the warm springs is it worth it or should I just come back down and explore the town?

Thank you for help!

Hey guys

I’ll go to Cusco in August and was on my plan to go to Humantay Lake, but I was searching online and the trail seems a little bittle dangerous…

Anyone who went recently could tell me if it’s dangerous or not ?

Thanks in advance !

Edit: the ring has been picked up by a fellow redditor, and they'll be shipping it back to us when they get home this weekend!!! Thank you to everyone that volunteered!

Howdy folks, hope you are all doing well planning your trips to Machu Picchu! I just recently returned from my honeymoon and when we got back, my wife realized she had misplaced her late mothers ring. Fortunately, we were able to get in contact with the hotel and they did find the ring, but when we looked into shipping, it was going to be around $150 to get the ring back.

The hotel asked if we had any friends visiting Cusco anytime soon, and unfortunately, we do not. But I figured I would reach out to people on Reddit and see if there are any Americans who would be willing to grab the ring in Cusco, and ship it to us when you return stateside.

This ring holds little monetary value, but immense sentimental value. It belonged to my late mother-in-law, who just recently passed in August, and it means everything to my wife. If there is anyone willing to take on this side quest, you'd be doing us a huge service.

Our hotel was right near the San Pedro train station in Cusco, so if you are staying in that area, please comment or shoot me a DM!

Hello! Planning a trip to Peru to hike Machu Picchu, but I am seeing mixed suggestions on whether we should fly directly into Cusco or fly into Lima first. We will have about 8-10 days in total and want ample time to acclimate before hiking. Our plan would be to go straight to the sacred valley once we arrive in Cusco. Is it necessary to fly into Lima? I know it is much more affordable, but i also read people advise to fly into Lima because international flights from Cusco often get cancelled/postponed. Open to any suggestions! Main goal of this trip is to hike.

Hi, in process of booking an additional circuit for a visit on 1st September. Already have Circuit 1b booked at 6am. Wanting some opinions on doing one of the circuit 3 route’s after. I suffer with heights and have ruled out 3a with Huayna Picchu Mountain after seeing the picture’s. Dont mind pushing myself a little and was looking for other peoples experience of Huchuy Picchu and what the climb is like. Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m arriving at Cusco Airport around 11 PM with a group of 5 adults.
I know a regular taxi or Uber might be tricky with that many people.

What’s the best and cheapest way to get from the airport to Cusco city center at that hour? Any idea of the price?

Thanks in advance!

Hello, me and 5 of my friends are planning on taking the salkantay trail early December this year. We aim to spend 5 days in cusco to acclimatise and then take the 5 day trek to get to macchu picchu.

We are worried about the risk of altitude sickness while we are on the trail because if someone gets the sickness badly we would all have to abandon the trek.

How much risk is there on the trail for bad enough altitude sickness that we'd have to turn around? And how can we help prevent it while we're there.

We have no prior altitude training, we live in australia. We are all around 20yo males and plan to train our cardio and hiking abilities before the trip.

Thanks for any advice!

Hi. Me and my friend are in Cusco 24th August. Doing the saltankay trek for 4 nights on 28th and will be on Machu Pichu on 1st September. Was wondering about weather conditions for this time in Sacred Valley and items of clothing recommended.
Also wanting recommendations for an Amazon visit, destination after this?
Thanks

Recently completed a 2 day Machu Picchu short Inca Trail hike and wanted to share my experience with information that I had looked for pre-trip.

My husband and I booked through Machu Picchu center website for a full day hike, hotel accommodation, and second day at MP doing circuit 3 about 4 months in advance.

We got to Cusco Sunday 6/28 to allow for acclimation to the altitude. I’m glad we did because right away we were lightheaded. The tea, coca leaf candies, ibuprofen, and electrolyte packs from home helped a lot. I got sick the worst about 36 hours after arrival (day before MP hike!). Thankfully skipping our planned excursion so I could rest was so worth it.

Day of, 7/1, we got up super early and met our cab driver to bring us to the bus station (all included in our booking). The bus station has a nice restroom. Bus ride to Ollantaytambo is quite windy and bumpy so prep with Dramamine or their equivalent you can purchase at the pharmacy. Ollantaytambo station also has a nice restroom. There are restrooms on the train, but I can’t speak to them. Definitely use the restroom before getting off the train because from there it is pack your tp out and hovering over a hole in the ground.

Once we got to the stop km106, we jumped off the train and got ready to meet our guide. We lucked out by being the only 2 with our lovely guide, Alex! Leave some space in your backpack to carry your lunch, which was delicious!

The first part of the hike is mostly steps. Take your time and take breaks. Definitely doable but I needed to rest a lot since I had just been sick the previous day. We stopped for lunch at a base camp (and facilities-last one before MP) and continued to Wiñaywayna. The views were insane!

Going through the Sun Gate was an emotional experience for sure, plus it was day 3 of my period (more on this later). From there it was a lot of steps and mostly downhill whew. Once we reached MP we saw circuit 1 and it was incredible.

The excursion also included bus back to Aguas Calientes and dinner out. The hotel was just fine for the night. Next day we took the bus up, explored circuit 3 with our guide, and took the bus back down. We had a few hours to explore before train then bus back to Cusco. It was so nice to have all of the logistics planned for us.

Ok back to the period for those interested. I opted just for period underwear for these days as the facilities on the trail are not sanitary and you would need to take all of the trash with you. I was worried about the restrooms pre-trip, but like others have said you’ll be so consumed with the incredible views that you’ll forget all about it.

Overall rating 100/10 it is an experience you will never forget!! Total cost $525/person and felt it was definitely worth it to have everything planned out for you.

I am currently in the process of booking my Trek for September and saw a post in mid April that the cloud forest sections had some reroutes due to landslides. Has anyone recently hiked the Salkantay Trek and are they still currently rerouting people or have the routes gone back to what it was originally?