Machu Picchu - finally going to see it!
 

A great opportunity has come up. I am taking a small group tour to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. We will be as a group, but if anyone has any insights into the below that would be great. I am sure we will have some free time.

We are staying at the Libertador Tambo del Inka Urubamba the first night. It looks beautiful.

The next day after arrival is Machu Picchu - full day. I am really looking forward to this, it has long been on my must-see list. I wish I could see the sunrise from there, perhaps some other trip. That night we stay at the Libertador Palacio del Inka.

The next day is a: Koricancha, Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. Sacsahuaman, temple of Kenko and then Tambomachay. Hotel: Libertador Palacio del Inka.

The next day is the Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo (Urubamba Valley), back again to the Libertador Tambo del Inka Urubamba. I believe we will have a few more days at that hotel with some time for sightseeing.

Wow, u'll be packing in a lot it sounds like. MP is fabulous! Don't miss the ruins at Pisac--they r second only to MP. I thought the market in Pisac, while huge, just ho hum and if time is limited, I'd pass on the market for the ruins..unless u r a big market person. . Ollantaytambo is a charming little village. Hope u get to spend some time there. It seems like it might be fairly rushed if u r seeing both Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the same day.

U might want to consider Diamox given that u won't really have much time to acclimate and Cusco is something like 11000 ft I bleive.
Have a great trip!

Be SURE to use DEET at Machu Picchu and wear long pants and long sleeves. There is a nearly invisible bug "sandfly" that some people have a bad allergic reaction to. You'll probably see a few people with bid red bumps on their arms.

I like the market in Pisac, especially the section where all the people come down from the villages to sell/trade produce. I also found some villagers from a weaving village and bought some nice pieces from them at a fraction of the cost of the stores in Cusco..with no haggling. But most of the stuff will be the same as you see in Aguas Calientes.

Concur with mlgb. Insect repellent and/or vitamin B is a must. Also, if you live at sea level, bear in mind you will need to acclimatize to the 11,000ft of Cusco. Libertador Plaza del Inka ia a nice hotel. Great staff and great rooms. Enjoy.

sacred valley 1st nite then MP should help you acclimate. Pisac market is OK, but that's about it. It's really not unlike any number of Latin American markets when you get right down to it. If you miss it for something else, don't worry. As far as sunrise at MP, there's a better than even chance that there'll be clouds/fog anyway early in the AM.

so exciting, flygirl! i am going in April so I look forward to your report.