SOF

Hi,

My husband and I are planning a quick trip for our 10th anniversary courtesy of the grandparents and we'd appreciate some advice in planning it. We will arrive in Lima late in the evening on Sunday, April 8, and were thinking of flying out to Cuzco early in the morning and transferring directly to Ollantayambo. We'll have about 6 days on the ground in all, and we were thinking about starting in Ollanta and spending a night there, then spending a night in Macchu Picchu/Aguas Callientes so we can see MP at sunrise and spend a full day, and then making our way back to Cuzco for a few nights and touring Cuzco and the immediate area. We're used to traveling independently and I I've done a bunch of reading and looked at some of the posts here - and I have a few starter questions - I'm sure I'll have more as I get into planning:

1) Is is best to simply take a taxi from CUZ to Ollanta or to arrange with a hotel for pickup. How much does it cost to take a taxi vs. arranging a transfer? Are there any recommended stops along the way? Given that it's Easter Monday, will sites be closed?

2) How much time should we plan to spend in Ollantayambo? Can we go to the ruins there without purchasing our boleto turistico in Cuzco first?

3) Is it easy to get a taxi back from the rail station in Ollanto to Cuzco? Again, what are the costs? Would we be able to make some stops on the way back?

4) Does the crafts market in Chinchero happen on Thursdays?

5) How long is the trip from Cuzco to Pisac by taxi and approximately how much does it cost?



Thanks!

SOF

mlgb

I'll answer what I know

1) Each hotel charges something different, so it depends. Hiring a taxi at the airport depends on negotiation with the driver but I'd say around $30 one way.
Probably best to save the stops along the way for the return when you're acclimated, but you can see Moray and the Salineras, as well as Chinchero. Expect to pay more for the transfer because you have now become a "tour".

2)I would spend the first two nights in Ollantaytambo and assume that you will do little or nothing the arrival day. The old Inca town and ruins are worth at least half a day, but it's also just a pleasant place to hang out and wander. There are other tours you can take to surrounding areas, such as the weaving villages. Yes you can buy the boleto at the ruins in Ollantaytambo.

3) Yes, easy to find. Same answer as #1.

4) A smaller one.

5) If you use a taxi arranged from a hotel they are going to want at least $50, maybe more. You can take busses or shared taxis for a few $$ each way. Takes about an hour depending on how crazy your driver is. Be sure to walk DOWN from the Pisac ruins (you can find a shared taxi to the top for around $5 each.

SOF

Thanks, this is very helpful.

Any other thoughts from travelers?

colduphere

Well if you can find 7 other friends this might help. On no notice ten days ago our hotel set up a full day to Pisac and four other ruins for nine people for 220 soles. Maybe a bit much but it sure seemed cheap per person.

colduphere

That's about $78. I think.

SOF

Thanks. One more question, although I might start a new thread, too. Any sense of whether the ruins in Ollanta might be closed on Monday, April 8, which is Easter Monday? I read somewhere that sometimes weekend holidays were extended into Monday but I wasn't sure about that given Good Friday.

mlgb

Good suggestion to email the hotel. You might also try [email protected] (email on the website for the Boleto Turistico). My guess is that they will be open, but it is just a guess.

mellyhard

for info about Cusco check this page

http://mythicaltrailsperu.com/travel-guide-cusco.htm

Good Luck

SOF

Thanks, all! Good idea, mlgb, to ask the hotel and contact the Boleto Turistico directly. I will do so.