Machu Pichu
 

We have a Lima stop for 4 days. Is it possible and not too crazy to see Machu Pichu for such a short time?

Possible but crazy. You will need to fly Lima to Cusco (flights do not leave in the evenings btw). Then take a train to Aguas Calientes.


So

DAY1 transfer to Cusco by plane, go stay in the Sacred Valley. Check out the ruins at Ollantaytambo if you are not experiencing altitude sickness.

Day 2 take the train from SV (Ollantaytambo) to Aguas Calientes. See MP. Optional overnight in AC if you want a second crack at MP.

Day 3. Return to Cusco, see some things in the SV on the way.

Day 4 Morning flight to Lima.

I would get trip insurance for this.

Also some people like to knock LAN because they charge too much for the domestic airfare but if you are on a ridiculous schedule like this, I would use LAN since they have many more flights per day.

#1 fly LIM CUZ www.traficoperu.com

#2 cab to wwww.ollantaytambo.org

#3 late train into AC/MP www.culturalimmersion.org

Stay there www.inkaterra.com amazing there

visit MP for sunrise climb HP tour MP

get passport stamped FREE very cool

train out back up to Cusco for last night tour there

www.casa-andina.com plaza www.ligertador.com.pe

Palacio Del Inka..fly back to LIM

3 days 2 nights doable if rushed..but great fun,

www.libertador.com.pe sorry for typo...

www.pmexplorers.com another well rated

Cusco agent who can set all this up for you

also www.peruforless.com..

www.inuremytrip.com pay anything major with CC

NEVER wire money...

Give it a go, if you don't mind whirlwind. Fly into Cusco, head to Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo and Pisac ruins & markets) one day and then train from Ollantay to MP. If you love hiking and climbing, do overnight in Aguas Caliente and spend day and half exploring Machu Picchu. You HAVE to get up way before dawn to get in the lines to be on the top of the mountain by sunrise. If you can live without sunrise at MP, one day exploring is fine, you'll see the best parts. Maybe you can see some of Cusco before you have to fly back to Lima. Might want to make sure you are on second to last flight to Lima, just to be sure of connections. Good Luck, Deb

Be careful of connection times in Lima on the return. They ask for 3 hours ahead and I think that is a good idea.

Flights between Cusco and Lima are often delayed or cancelled. It's really a good idea to go back the day before especially if you book an afternoon flight.

What happens if you miss your exit from Lima? If this is a cruise I would be very conservative. If you miss your onward flight how much does this cost you?

Agree with mlgb, flight Lima to Cuzco or vv can be delayed/cancelled due to weather. I wouldn't even attempt this unless I was travelling back to Lima the day before I was to leave Peru.

Bookmarking

Definitely, Day 01 - you can take a plane to Cusco in the morning and then in the ofternoom take a train from Ollantaytambo town to Aguas Calientes town, stay overnight there and the next day early 6am first bus(day 2)go up to Machu picchu 30 munutes bus ride, later afternoon go back to cusco and take the plane to lima on day 3.

book in advance the train tickets to Machu Picchu

Agree with others about the flight. My flight was cancelled from Cusco to Lima.

I would also recommend getting to the Lima airport 3 hours ahead of the flight. I remember there being an extra security line, after we thought we were already done with security.

Thanks so much for all the good tips. This is super helpful.