wylie

Please help us decide. We arrive from early am train from Cusco at AC around 10AM. We are booked in at the Inkaterra that night. Next day we leave on the 3:30 train back to Cusco. What day would all of you vetern travellers reccommend that we do Machu Piccu. On the first day, or do we spend that day leisurly enjoying the Inkaterra and then go up first thing the next day and back to Cusco that afternoon. Our family is split, some say why wake up early both days, lets go to MP in the afternoon when not a lot of travellers are there and hand out at the Inkaterra then next day till train time. Please help

taitai

I think it depends on what else you are seeing during your trip. We just got back from a week in Peru last week. We spent our first several days in the Sacred Valley getting acclimated and touring the little villages and all their ruins. Then we took the train to km104 and did the Inca Trail to MP (the so called "two day hike&quot. So, the first time we saw MP was through the Sun Gate at about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. There absolutely were not a lot of people there then and seeing it from the Sun Gate for the first time was really amazing. It takes another 30-45 minutes to hike into the ruins from the Sun Gate and then we stayed for about another hour. We then went to the Inkaterra. The Inkaterra was amazing (although perhaps more so to us as we somehow were upgraded to the Inkaterra Suite which was a bit over the top). We loved it there and didn't want to leave. We had originally planned on getting up early for sunrise but having already spent time there we were not sure what that was going to add. Plus, the Inkaterra had yoga at 7, a nature walk at 8 and viewing the spectacled bears at 9 and we wanted to do ALL of those. We did go up for another couple hours later that day before catching the 3:30 to Cusco and, truthfully, I didn't need it. I had pretty much been "ruined" out by then as sacriligious as that sounds. I am not sure what it added.

So, my advice is to only go once. If you can handle it, try to do the km104 hike to MP...seeing the ruins for the first time from the Sun Gate is really special...much more so than slowly getting a glimpse of them during the endless switchbacks on the bus. Spend a couple more hours then go to the Inkaterra and relax. Spend the morning there and if you feel compelled to go up later in the morning or early afternoon, do so. Buses won't be hard to get then. The Inkaterra will deliver your luggage right to the station and a bellman will be waiting on the platform for the 3:30 ready to hand it off to you. The only thing is that you need permits for the km104 hike and they sell out quickly. So, if you are going to do it, make plans asap otherwise it won't be an option for you.

Enjoy your trip.
taitai

Philbill

I think you need to go to MP both days. We had the same itinerary as you with regard to train times and stayed in AC. We had a guided tour the first day with a buffet lunch at Sanctuary Lodge and went back ourselves the next day. If that is your focus for your vacation (seeing MP) then IMO why just go for a few hours? As I recall, there was no bus going up to the ruins until 8am, and taxis were not in existence. Maybe someone will correct me on that! The morning was deserted until the buses got up from the train and likewise the afternoon had many fewer people after tourists left for the train about 1:30pm. We did not stay at a hotel with facilities like you are describing, however, so maybe you should spend two nights!! I think admission is about $20, but I am not sure and it was at least 3 years' years ago. BTW there is a large open air market in AC.

caligirl56

taitai,

What can you tell me about the spectacled bears tour? Do you have to be a guest at the Inkaterra to do it? Sounds like something my husband and I would really enjoy!!

taitai

Philbill: There are early morning buses....I think the first leaves at 5:30 or 6am. Definitely pre-sunrise if that is what you want.

Caligirl56: I do think you need to be a guest to see the bears but I would contact the Inkaterra to see. It certainly is free for guests, maybe if you offer a donation or something. The Inkaterra has a small little reserve at which they are rehabilitating specatacled bears and trying to reintroduce them to the wild. It was intriguing to us for lots of reasons, not the least of which that we have 3 preschoolers who love Diego and spectacled bears are often a highlight of the cartoon. On our little walk to see the bears there was a nice couple from Canada who were going in order to take a picture for their granddaughter who was also a Diego fan.

Have a great trip whatever you decide.
Taitai

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The big crowds are at MP from 10-2 each day. The trains begin to arrive mid-morning and then everybody has to be back down the hill to catch their late-afternoon trains back to Cusco. Anytime outside those times always seems more manageable to me. I like early mornings up there. It's a little cooler. (By late morning, you do start to notice the heat.) Late afternoon is nice too. The light is starting to fade a bit. (You have to leave by dark.)

I don't think you can't go wrong either way. Do both, and come back and tell us which you liked more.