julebarbara

We enjoy market days on our travels. Is the Pisca market significantly different on Sunday as we might consider Macchu Picchu on a Sunday as it might be less crowed (we will travel in Oct.)? Are there other not to miss markets in other places in Peru?
Planning to base in Ollytantambo for 3 nights, Pisca 1-2, and cusco 3 nights. Would it be advisable to use 1 night for Agua Calientes in order to see MP at dawn or is fog usually ot worth the expense of overnight in AC?
How does one handle food and water for the day at MP?

mlgb

First it is Pisac, not Pisca. Another Sunday market well worth visiting is Chinchero.

So you might take Sunday to visit Pisac and Chinchero markets, as well as the Pisac ruins.

Photos from Pisac market a few years ago
https://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann/PeruPisac

There is a daily limit on entrances to MP but the best thing to do to is to go early, it reallys starts to build after 10 am. It doesn't take more than a few hundred people for MP to feel "crowded" since the center of the site is such a people magnet. For Pisac on Sunday see if you can find out if there is a mayor's procession to the church. I missed it and I'm not sure if it has been re-established.

waylluy

The Pisac market is okay and full of stalls with basically the same items. Chinchero is a nicer town and the market is authentic. For your MP/HP tickets you will need to purchase ahead of time by going to http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/ or have your hotel or agency purchase them. Also, your train tickets can be purchased by going to www.perurail.com

crellston

Pisac market IS different on a Sunday than other days. There are more stalls and a lot more tourists. As waylluy says the stalls are basically full of the same produce and it is probably the most expensive place in Peru to buy stuff. Very picturesque and colourful though. Chinchero is smaller and a little more "local" and authentic but still largely aimed at the tourist on a Sunday best time to visit is at sunset. Dont miss the inside to the church there - it is spectacular.

The market in the corner of the square in Olly is worth a visit just for the fruit and vegetables. Also, the market in Urumbamba is where we did our daily shopping. The variety of vegetables available is breathtaking - never realised there were so many varieties of potatoes and corn!

Some photos and more info of one day in the SV http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...8980/tpod.html

Molino market in Cusco is where the city does its shopping and you can buy almost anything. 15 mins by bus or taxi form plaza del Armas. We enjoyed the best ceviche ever at a stall there.

qwovadis

Pisac Sunday has the biggest market in the entire area better than all the others. Beautiful handcrafted items like flutes which I bought at great prices lots of other artisan quality stuff. So that would be a must for me. www.apulodge.com was great for me there last for SV and to set up train/MP visit.

I stayed at Presidente Hotel inAC had a nice river view room got up at 5AM and went up to MP for the sunrise. It was very mystical the fog was not bad made it even more so, It was
very quiet I watched the sunrise next to a baby llama that was
grazing among the ruins. A treasured travel memory.

So over nite always best for sunrise
and to beat the crowds for me.

Happy Trails!

Jero28

I got a tour with www.mythicaltrailsperu.com last year and Pisaq town was our first stop. We explored the town and Market on sunday afternnon. The market is nice without the crowds of tourists.

Good luck

crellston

You really need to spend the night in Aquas Calientes to make the best of MP (which is a shame really beacause we found it to be a bit of a dump). We went in August and took the first bus up from AC - it was foggy for the first couple of hours but I guess that is just a matter of luck. I would take food and water with you for the day preferably from outside of AC which is renowned for poor food hygeine issues. We were working with Hearts Cafe in Olly at the time and the owner, who has written a number of books on food hygeine, did warn me but I foolishly ignored her advice and boy did I suffer the consequences! pretty much ruined my day at MP. Be very careful where and what you eat in AC I was not the only one to suffer..

geetika

IMHO the Chinchero market is anyday more authentic than Pisac, though the ruins at P absolutely rate a visit. We stayed overnight at AC and went up to MP the first afternoon and again the next morning, got quite different views of MP and the surrounding hills, we loved the experience. Yes, it was rather misty when we got there in the morning, but that had a beauty of its own and it soon cleared up. Also this way we got to beat the crowds both days. As for food, there is a cafeteria at the entrance to MP, but you can take in your water and a sandwich to eat in the ruins. As crellston says AC is not interesting at all, with rather pricey hotels, but all the same well worth the extra time at MP.

emd3

Another vote for Chinchero market instead of Pisac. Chinchero on a Sunady morning. The sellers have their wares spread on blankets on the ground, or under a covered open air structure. Most of the sellers are women in indigenous dress. At pisac the sellers on in stalls and the 3 people I bought from were in Western-style dress. Big difference. Chinchero is a cultural experience, IMO, as well as a great place to buy.

julebarbara

Thank you for all the input - this forum is great!!