Anybody have the latest on Cuzco Peru?
 

We are two 50ish folk looking to spend a 7-10 days in Cuzso area, hopefully including the Inca Trail hike. Planning to go in mid April. Does anyone have the latest on how things are there in view of the recent problems? Ideas on what to do if the trail is not open? Any other hotel/restaurant ideas? Thanks in advance...

www.saexplorers.org/clubhouses/cusco

Lays the situation out well

stay flexible but things should be

back up somewhat by the time you visit...

www.pmexplorers.com good agent for bookings

www.libertador.com.pe one of my favs

built on an Inkan Palace

Inka Grill nearby for great food

You should go IMMEDIATELY to either PeruRail.com, or if a date isn't available, to Incarail.com.pe and buy your roundtrip train tickets... The Perurail website is working at the moment.

Without roundtrip tickets, you won't be getting an entrance permit, which must be purchased in CUSCO.

From SAExplorers

URGENT NOTE FOR THOSE HOPING TO TAKE A TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU SOON -

Just today we learned of a decision by the INC (Instituto Nacional Cultural), who manage Machu Picchu; they will be restricting the number of trains and passengers going to Aguas Calientes from April 1st to only a few hundred (vs a couple of thousand who used to go daily). Moreover, they will NOT permit visitors to stay in Aguas Calientes, NOR will they allow entrance via the ´back door´ (hydroelectric plant). All tickets to MP MUST BE PURCHASED IN THE OFFICE IN CUSCO - they won´t be available in Aguas Calientes. AND YOU MUST HAVE YOUR RETURN TRAIN TICKETS in order to purchase the MP entrance ticket.

BOTTOM LINE - if you want to see Machu Picchu soon, get your train ticket! Even those with Inca Trail permits MUST HAVE THE RETURN TRAIN TICKET.

We have reservations to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge for two nights in the latter part of June. Does anyone know if overnight stays will be allowed by this time. I also heard that there are significant restrictions on what can be taken aboard the trains - that will operate to MP.

Several other foruns say the information from SAExplorers is rubbish. I am still trying to confirm.

We're doing the Inka Trail in May with Peru Treks, a well-established and well-respected outfit. Their update confirms most of the above, you must have a return train ticket to get tickets to MP and the limit is now 400. They are scrambling to get train tickets through a variety of sources for their people with trek permits (all their reservations were canceled mid-March), and as of a few days ago had only been able to purchase 75%. They did not say anything about Agua Calientes being closed, and those of us staying an extra night will have train tickets the following day from the rest of the group. However, by the end of June I think things will be back to normal, AlwaysOnTheRoad. Just make sure you have your train tickets.

They are ramping up gradually..

They are still repairing MP Pueblo/AC

though the rails are now repaired and being

load tested..if that goes well

limited numbers will be allowed up to MP daily

Santuary Lodge is open you should be fine by June

Diario del Cusco, the local newspaper in Cusco, has a large headline on the front page of today's edition, saying that the repairs to the railway have been finished.

They say that the rwailway line is in good condition, the workers already are doing routine trips between Piscacucho at km 82 and Aguas Calientes. In the next days they will do "load tests" with train cars to see if everything is ok. The first passenger trains will run on March 29 as scheduled, and the first tourists will be allowed into the ruins on April 1st.

Regarding the capacity of passengers per day, the estimate is that there will be only 1500 seats per day for first month or longer, and 2500 seats per day when the high season begins in June.

I haven't been able to find anything on a primary source that indicates that Aguas Calientes is closed to overnight stays. Only that the Inca Trail hikers need a return train ticket before they can get their permit. Also there is a problem with limited capacity from Ollantaytambo to the temporary train station at Piscacucho.

For those whose Spanish is better than mine, you can browse www.correoperu.com/pe for updates.

When I was there people said that the rumor mill in the Cusco Plaza de Armas was the best source of current info. I wonder if SAexplorers had some early rumors that no one has been able to confirm.

we booked our rail tickets yesterday from ollant to aguas calientes with a 2 night stay in a.c. and yes, it is limited availability. we had to change our itinerary a little in order to book our rail tickets. take note on the peru rail website you are limited to one small bag to carry-on. they will store your other items for free.

Since passes for the Inca Trail are sold out for April, you might consider an alternative trek while you are there (one which does not require a trail pass), such as the Lares Trek, Cachiccata Trek or the Sacred Valley Trek (see www.incatrailhiking.com for details on these).