Cusco, Urubamba & Macchu Picchu
 

So we (4 30somethings) have a whole trip booked to Peru and Bolivia in August and are reconsidering one of our nights. As of right now:
Day 1: staying at Tambo del Inka Hotel in Urubamba, relaxing and acclimating
Day 2: visiting Ollantaytambo and Pisac, night in Tambo again
Day 3: hike to Macchu Picchu and spend the night in Aguas Calientes
Day 4: visit Macchu Picchu; 4pm train back, arriving 8pm in Urubamba at 8pm; night in Tambo del Inka again
Day 5: Cusco all day sightseeing (night in Cusco)
Day 6: Cusco half day; 4:45pm flight to Puno

Basically, this leaves only 1 night in Cusco and we are reconsidering whether we should change our hotel on day 4 from Tambo to a hotel in Cusco? This means that after the train arrives at 8pm, we would need to go pick up our bags and arrive in Cusco probably around 9:30pm? Is this a futile effort in enjoying more Cusco? Should we just stay as is?

Thoughts?

Sergey

I think you are going to be wiped out by the fast pace of the early part of your itinerary. I'd just keep
As is and crash in Urubamba.

I just got back, and did a similar trip with a tour company. i was SO glad we had 2 nights in Cusco at the end there, instead of overnighting in Ollanta one more time. I would definitely recommend you change it and bite off that late drive in order to be in Cusco all day the next day.

I don't think there is any comparison between the best hotel in Ollantaytambo and Tambo del Inca.

You can leave the next morning after breakfast, it won't take much more than an hour to reach Cusco from Urubamba.

Just returned with similar itinerary - took 5:00pm train from Aguas Calientes, then overnighted at Tambo del Inka. I'd spend the night in Urubamba and get an early start the next morning for Cusco. See Sacsayhuaman for the ruins and the view, then head into Cusco. If you are a shopper, I'd spend the rest of your time doing that and skip the other ruins outside of town and skip Coricancha in town. Spend your time in the Plaza de Armas, San Blas, and maybe the San Pedro Market. It is a nice town to just walk and explore.

Hi Sergey --

I LOVED Tambo, but I'm a little older than you, and was traveling solo so it was perfect. Three nights for four friends might get a little boring, and Cusco has fun restaurants (Cicciolina) and bars (Fallen Angel, etc.). Machu Picchu is tiring, but the train ride back to the hotel is fun, not dull. I would say go to Cusco that night, go out and have fun, sleep in the next morning.

Two posts into my trip report on Peru:http://t.co/uIcXvck46X. Tomorrow's post is on Cusco, and after that Tambo, Sacred Valley (Pisac + Olly), MP and riding the Vistadome.

- esme