jaspertl

We were hoping to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge in MP on Oct. 18th but have now discovered that they don't have availability for the night that we wanted to stay. (we are 2 couples traveling together)

I know the hotel is really expensive but I thought we should spring for it as it would be a once in a lifetime kinda thing.

I WAS able to make reservations at the MP Pueblo which I've heard is very, very nice also, but as most of you know, not at the ruins. Their website looks really beautiful.

My question is this. If the gates at MP open at dawn and close at dusk, everyone has to leave the ruins area when they close for the day correct, even if they are staying at the Sanctuary Lodge?

If you can take the first bus up from Aguas Calientes at approx 6:30, and the gates open at M.P. at 6:00 am then you'd only be 1 hr. behind the people staying at the Sanctuary, correct?

If we purchased a one way ticket (up only) then we wouldn't have to worry about leaving when the bus left...we could walk down and stay as long as the people staying at the Sanctuary.

Are my assumptions correct?? (Please say yes ;0)

Thanks in advance for any of your opinions/information.

cmcfong

We stayed at the Pueblo and loved it. There was a tree growing right up through the middle of our room, very cool. The grounds are beautiful, the restaurant is good and we all had excellent Thai massages after our hikes around MP. One of our party got up early the next day, took the first bus up and was there in time for sunrise (our trip was in November).
IMHO the food at the Sanctuary was not good. Pueblo food was delicious and we had fun scouting out the town, doing the nature walks and there was some shopping.

Elizabeth_S

I would say your other assumptions are correct - we stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge in January and it was closed to everyone at 6pm.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I think there's only one incorrect assumption: It's a looooooong walk down and you do not want to be making that walk in the dark. If you wait to leave until the ruins close, that's what would happen. Even if you leave on the last bus down, you will have a couple of hours to enjoy the site after all the day trippers have left.

I bet you'll be very happy with the way this is turning out. I think the Sanctuary Lodge is terribly overpriced, and, yup, those guests have the same opening and closing hours as everybody else.

If you take the first bus up in the morning, you'll get there before 7, and will still have a good three hours in the cooler morning temps to enjoy the ruins before the crowds start to disembark from the mid-morning trains arriving from Cusco.

The Pueblo Hotel is wonderful, and it's a LOT less expensive than the Sanctuary Lodge. It's still pricey, but it's a much better value for the money than the Sanctuary Lodge, I think. The food is better and the staff is more attentive. It's like the old Avis commercials: They're Number 2, so they try harder. I think they succeed.

Plus if you stay at the Pueblo Hotel, you're in town (at least on the edge of town), and I like Aguas Calientes. You're not confined to your hotel after hours the way you would be if you stayed up at the Sanctuary Lodge.

jaspertl

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my question.

You've made me feel better about the unavailablity of the Sanctuary.

We are going to see if the Sanctuary has a cancellation but with all the great things I keep hearing about the Pueblo, I'll be fine if we get to stay there...and we do have rooms booked.

TC

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Pueblo Hotel takes guests on a special night entrance to MP with some kind of candlelight sacred ceremony. I think the cost was about $60, but I kind find the link just now. Maybe someone else remembers reading this too. I thought that would be a great way to get a more private viewing of the ruins even if one couldn't stay at the Sanctuary.

jaspertl

I'll go to the hotel website and check it out.......
sounds kind of interesting especially if it was a full moon.

hopefulist

Sounds wonderful, but no luck on the full moon:

http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases_10_2006_S.htm

mimipam

We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge and it was convenient. However, I think you have good and correct info from everyone here. My doctor stayed where you have reservations after hiking the trail. She said it was a wonderful hotel. I do not think you will be disappointed.

Jed

If you stay at MP Pueblo, try for #1. Some of the rooms are in a 2 story building and may be noisy.

jaspertl

Is that room number 1 or building #1??

how come it's noisy??

jaspertl

Well no moon, but think about all the stars we'll see with no big cities nearby.

It should be amazing!!!

Elizabeth_S

Here's a link to a book at Amazon.com - we took it with us to Machu Picchu - it's a self guided tour of the ruins and certainly made our trip more enjoyable. We were there for 2 days - one day with the pguide we traveled with throughout the SV and one day on our own with the book........enjoyed them both!

http://tinyurl.com/njl4r

Jed

We were first given a room in a 2 story building at the back of the complex, which was below a noisy ?party above. We asked for a change, and were given room #1, which was large cottage, with a fireplace (which no one knew how to start).

jaspertl

Thanks for that information....I'll see about asking for room #1 although we are in a "superior" room, not a suite so I'm not sure if it will apply.