Here is a lab in Miraflores which offers Yellow Fever jabs, probably also any scrip if needed for marlaria prophylaxis. You may be able to WhatsApp Chat with them ahead of time.
https://www.suizalab.com/especialida...es/miraflores/

If you plan on staying a couple of nights in the canyon it may be worthwhile checking out the cost of an inclusive tour with one of the lodges. We used Killawasi Lodge in Yanque who arranged a pick up from our hotel in Arequipa, two nights accommodation at their lodge and the 4M bus door to door to our hotel in Puno. I cant recall the cost but do remember thinking at the time what good value it was. They MAY get special rates with the bus company so that could prove a cost effective option.
Expensive is a relative term, but $70 doesn't sound that expensive to me. Last time we did the Inka Express Tour Bus from Puno to Cusco it cost $50 and that was 8 years ago. That company has gone out of business and doubtless the rise in oil prices has impacted costs significantly.

Since I am open and planning incrementally, I looked at Killawasi and was surprised to see rather lower rates on Booking.com than the hotel's own website, less $25/night with both rates refundable with breakfast. Also trying to figure out why the Arequipa>>Killawasi>>Puno shuttle rates are $105 when clicking on the Spanish box and $90 when clicking on the English box?? The 2 items, room and shuttle, are booked separately, appears not to be a package. But I haven't tried booking room on booking.com and shuttle on hotel website. The shuttle cost goes down for a 2 night stay.

Thanks for the Miraflores Clinic reference. We will have 3 nights there so easy to fit in. I recall the yellow fever jab not causing a reaction.

I had a lump where the injection was for a while. The shot is not recommended for those over 60yo due to higher side effect risks. Remember you still have to protect against other mosquito borne diseases which are present, dengue, zika, chikungunya. (far more cases than YF).

BTW at Machu PIcchu there are annoying biting insects (a sort of sandfly) and some people have allergic reactions to the bites. Long sleeves and pants recommended.

Whilst I love a bargain, sometimes cost is not the only factor. When we went that route, given the number of components involved in the journey, I was very happy to just deal with the one point of sale, in my case Killawasi, rather than try and pull together the various strings of the journey.it took the hassle and stress of having to meet connections etc. as it turned out that was especially important as we travelled to Colca a couple of days after the area was devastated by a major earthquake and it was touch and go whether we would actually get there.

That may seem like an extreme situation and it was but this was our THIRD attempt to visit Colca, the previous two were thwarted by earthquakes!

In Arequipa there are a lot of agencies selling Colca packages. I used Giordano which included minivan transfer, one night at their hotel and van tour to some of the churches and condor view. They dropped me at Killawasi after the Canyon tour. They also had an afternoon walk up to San Antonio and visit to public hot springs.

From Killawasi I used a taxi to get back into town for onward 4M bus to Puno.

Might be worth writing Giardino for a quote. Seems they are back in business post pandemic.

Now that I am looking at Machu Picchu, it's a wonder of tour possibilities. I wish there were a way to just get a price for the 1 day Inca trail trek to MP without all the other stuff, like airport pickup and transport from Cusco, but it's too opaque. Surely there are just a few tour operators actually doing the trail part and all these other operators are just a third party? I can't find much for under $450 for a simple 1 day trek. Can a person try to find something open last minute door to door in Cusco? Seems like a person would have to have the train tickets and the MP admission already locked up before leaving home so just showing up wouldn't work, already too much invested in train and MP tickets to switch plans last minute even if a trekking spot opened up.

So looking at a day trip to MP from Ollantaytambo, wondering at the timing, early better or later better, or stay all day maybe doing one of the 2 mountain hikes? This is for July 25 approx. I believe itinerary 3 is the better one?

Also: I seem to need a passport for a lot of reservations, and mine expires in March. So by what date will I need my new passport to start buying tickets for train, MP, etc?

I have never heard of anyone offering a "1 day Inca trail trek" . There is the short Inca Trail which is two days and one night or the full Inca Trail which is 3 nights and four days, sometimes extends by a day.

if you want to hike one or more of the mountains then you would probably need a night in Aguas Calientes. Though if you wanted to do just one mountain , you could probably get away with an early ( like the first train) up and a late train back. I haven’t been since the introduced the ticketing system for numbered trails but most seem to do circuit 2 for the classic views with Huaynu Picchu in the back background. To climb HP and WP you would need tickets for two circuits - Google MP circuits to see which suit you.

Personally and having done various options, albeit a while ago, I think people get a little too hung up on which and how many trails to do. If I were to return, I would most certainly stay in Ollantaytambo and visit as a day trip from there. Although AC has improved over the years it is still a less than enchanting place which exists only to serve the needs of visitors. By contrast Ollantaytambo is a wonderfully picturesque village virtually intact from Inca Times and I actually prefer ruins there. We went for a couple of days and ended up staying a couple of months!

Most people will just book their, train, bus, tickets and entrance tickets and DIY. It is not that difficult. If you feel you want a guide, hire one at the entrance to the citadel. You just need to do them in tandem as July if the high season and with tourism returning to pre pandemic level it will get booked up so do it soon!

The rules have changed re the entrance ticket buying process in the last few weeks so make sure to visit the official site asap. They current offer a small number of tickets for sale on the day in AC but from what I hear, there are long queues and teh often run out. I wouldn’t risk paying for teh rain and then not getting in.

Thanks, the MP site is not yet open for 2024 tickets.

Is there any reason you aren't putting in for the new passport now? It sounds like the wait times have been reduced.

I think the one day Inca Trail is the same as the 2-Day one, only faster. AFAIK it is now the only way to see Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. You used to be able to walk up there from inside the citadel. However the classic view from the vicinity of the Watchman's Hut is as good if not better IMO.

There are some very good printed guides to MP. I don't see the added value in using a tour guide unless you have a very poor sense of direction. You can always listen in on a group as there will be many. But often a lot of what is said is speculation anyways.

Circuit 2 is the one that covers most of the site. But I also haven't been since the new system. I don't know how accurate this blog is, but it looks fairly recent, has some photos and cautions about what you might miss if you take a wrong turn

https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/machu-picchu-circuits

The authorities just announced that the official site for Machu Picchu opened up for 2024 ticket sales from today

Thanks to both. I am leaning on a daytrip from Oll.... so what is a good time to arrive? They seem to be now in 1 hour intervals instead of 3 before? So just choose 10 am and then grab a train? It looks like there is no way to include a mountain climb with circuit 2 (only 4) so that appears to be out if a person wants to see most of the ruin on circuit 2. I have done plenty of sunrise BS in my lifetime and it is rarely worth the bother.
Edit: They still have some work to do on the website, every slot is "cerrado."

I would shoot for a little earlier if you can manage that. The second Expedition Train was the one I would usually book. Try not to stay too far away from the Station in Ollanta. There are some BnBs and Inns that are not convenient.

Best to be there before the trains start to arrive from Cusco.

This is what I have arranged. It's booked (not transport) but all changeable.

4 nights Lima Miraflores (arrive American Airlines about 8:30 pm)
1 night Nasca (arrive about 6 pm on bus from Miraflores, leave on overnight bus the following late evening, fit in the lines overflight that morning)
3 nights Arequipa
2 nights Killawasi Lodge (tourist bus to Puno)
3 nights Puno (tourist bus to Cusco)
4 nights Cusco
4 nights Ollantaytambo (transfer to Cusco airport for 2 flights to Iquitos, leave CUZ 1:20 pm)
2 nights Iquitos
2 nights Ceiba Tops
1 night Lima San Isidro (10 pm departure American Airlines)

Additional Questions: Is it best to be at Machu Picchu later in the day, to avoid crowds?
Is getting from Ollantaytambo to CUZ for a 1:20 pm flight reasonable?

I made a mistake; I have 10 nights between Puno, Cusco, and Ollantaytambp. So 2 nights only in Puno and 4 each for the other 2, or which one gets only 3 nights, Cusco or Ollantaytambo?

I was going to suggest that you only need two nights in Puno! I would spend the 3 nights in Ollantaytambo. The village and the ruins there take half a day each and presumably one day will be taken up with a day trip to MP. Make sure to take a taxi tour one way between Cusco and Ollantaytambo . If it happens to be on a Sunday, so much the better as the Chinchero market will be in full flow.

Lots to see in Cusco but you could also use one day to go to Pisac, Tambo Machay, Qenka and Sacsayhuaman

I don't know what a taxi tour is.

From Puno (3 nights)
1 day for Puno sights, side trip to Llachon
1 day for the floating islands, need to find a tour, must be many
[maybe Puno/Titicaca can be done in one day and add a night to Cusco?]

From Cusco (4 nights)
Day 1 Sights in Cusco
Day 2 Day trek from Amaru to Pisac via Challwacasa Pass, self-directed, will need to figure out transport and find a map (or maybe a second day in Cusco)
Day 3 The trek from Tambo Machay back to Cusco as noted above, self-directed, will need to figure out map and transport

From Ollantaytambo (3 nights)
1 day MP
1 day for Ollantaytambo

If you want a tour company in Puno/Tititcaca, Allways Travel is the one usually recommended.

https://titicacaperu.com/

Be aware that Puno/Titicaca at 12,5000 feet is likely the highest elevation where you will sleep (about 1,000 feet higher than Cusco) . On the bus heading north from Arequipa you will go over a high pass but won't stay for long. Colca Canyon at the rim is 11,200 for Yanque and higher for Chivay, which is a big jump from Arequpa. If you sleep two nights at Colca Canyon, that will help with Puno. Still for some people who are okay in Cusco and Colca Canyon, Puno is just a bit too much. If you have trouble (usually at night) most hotels will be able to get you some oxygen.

By the time you get to Cusco you should be fine. Keep up the hydration.

"I don't know what a taxi tour is" It is a tour using a taxi as transportation. I wrote about one such tour of the Sacred Valley here https://accidentalnomads.com/2016/08...sacred-valley/. www.taxidatum.com is a good operator . The tour between Cusco and Ollantaytambo takes 4-6 hours (compared wit 2hours for the straight taxi transferdepending upon how long you spend at each location. Moray, Maras and Chinchero are the usual stops.

The hike from Tambo Machay to Cusco is pretty straightforward . We just followed the old Inca pathways via Q'enko , Puccu Pukara & Sascsayhuaman. If you want a map/directions, you should be able to pick one up from the iPeru centre in Cusco. As far as transport is concerned we just got the bus to Pisac from Cusco , expired Pisac and then got the bus back to Cusco , getting off at Tambo Machay which is right by the main road. Alternatively just hop on the bus from Cusco and get off at TM (or get a taxi).

In Puno you could do the floating islands and Llachon in one day but if you wanted to visit Tacquile island and the floating islands , that would be one full day and you would have to visit Llachon the next day. Personally I would rather spend the extra day in Cusco.

It looks like the specific MP circuits are not sold in advance? There's a ticket offering a choice for 4 circuits (apparently one decides on arrival), then a choice one of the mts plus circuit 3 or 4, then circuit 1 or 2 plus bridge. So not locked into a circuit in advance (necessarily). I am looking at circuit 2 + Inca Bridge and skipping the mountains since choosing a mountain locks in a more restricted visit of the main site. Also not a fan of heights.

Adding that the new hourly admission system for MP makes the whole train ticket a little more fraught. If the train arrives AC at 7:20, do I book a 8-9am entry, or a 9-10am entry? It says no one admitted early or late.

I am the sort of person that always arrives at the airport way earlier than suggested by the airlines just so I don't get "fraught". For that reason , I would opt for the later entry. The bus ride up to MP entrance only take 30 mins or so but there is no way of knowing how long you will have to queue for the bus. Buy the bus tickets in advance online, or in Cusco - one less thing to worry about on the day.

Adding for reference:

https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/machu-picchu

Also: not really clear as to the hours of the internal MP sites, it appears some areas are only open for a few hours, which sites and when?

Noting for others: The Inca rail site will only sell tickets in Spanish language mode, switching to English screws it up (I think the date format month before day is the problem).

Is that the Inca Bridge? I am just guessing but the main site should be open most of the day, but they did used to "sweep" to get people out before closing time.
Bear in mind that even when they issue new rules they often aren't enforced right away.

AFAIK, none of the remaining Fodor's posters have been to MP after the new admission system was implemented.

Because this is the slow season even on TripAdvisor I think the advice will mostly be from others trying to interpret websites.

In the past you could ask questions in English at [email protected]

I assume you went with Inca Rail instead of Peru Rail because it was cheaper?

I thought I read that the central temples at MP were only open midday? I guess that’s wrong.

I didn’t book Inca Rail but was looking up the pricing. Because it seems to only book packages it costs about $100 more than booking Peru rail, bus and MP separately.

Might be, I haven't been under the new system.

No, I think you can book just the train. Might be website/ user error if you can't find that. Price could also differ if not comparing the same journey and train class.

You are right it is possible to book just the train (when in Spanish mode). I was misled by a 50% off tours button.

Noting that Peruvian Independence day is July 28 and the next day (Monday the 29th) is a national holiday, so those are 2 days to avoid Machu Picchu.

I see it in English also.
Have a few credit card types ready (MC, Visa, Amex) sometimes one works better than the others. On past trips I've needed to be online with CC company (if they are blocking overseas transactions) to complete a purchase in South America. YMMV now, but TripAdvisor should be up to date on attempted purchase problemas.

Overwhelmed with life and considering postponing to September. I can see there being fewer crowds and warmer alpine nights, maybe some sunshine in Lima. Any downsides to September weather in Peru?

Normal year should still be okay. Although visually w end of dry season MP will not be green.

In the Sacred Valley and Cusco, it is the altitude which is the main factor, so I doubt there will any noticeable difference in temperatures between July and September. Perhaps a couple of degrees warmer but still cold at night. Plenty of blue skies though. The Garua season in Lima usually runs from May to September, so you could see some sunshine towards the end of the month. This year there is an El Niño going on so it may be different.

Tell me about it. January in the Upper Midwest almost certainly means 10+ inches of snow continuously on the ground and temps -25 to 25 F (-30 to -4 C) and today it's sunny and nearly 15 C, never been any significant snow yet this winter, green grass! Really wildly unprecedented. April in January.

OK, so may have to go clockwise if postpone to the 2nd week of September and then stay at the Holiday Inn by Lima airport the first night and fly to Cusco the 2nd day. That puts the highlight right up front and risks things dragging at the end of the 4th week as we come back across the desert, although it saves Lima for October so maybe better.

When flying into Cusco you arrive directly into high altitude so best to immediately transfer to Ollantaytambo or Pisac in the Sacred Valley for a few nights at the start.

OK, tickets switched, returning in October 40% fewer AA miles and 2 day flights vs 3 flights with an overnight for August return.

Checking TripAdvisor photos MP much clearer skies in September than October (2023) so now going clockwise.
1 night Lima
4 nights Iquitos/Amazon
Fly Iquitos to Cusco but transfer to Ollantaytambo first night so no time for taxi tour
Spend a night at AC for early MP then transfer to Cusco same day
Much of the rest as before but maybe skip either Colca or Nasca. Even though I added a night this itinerary a little less efficient.

Will have to get yellow fever vax before departure, $150 lost there.

Amending above: Better flying times for this itinerary:

Lima>>CUZ
Arequipa>>IQT
IQT>>Lima

So with this scheme the one person who wants to see Nasca Lines can do it as a day trip from Lima, and the overnight bus trip eliminated. Lima overnights kept to 2 instances, night of arrival and then 4 nights at the end.

How are you doing Nazca as a day trip from Lima? I don't know how you end up not having at least one night bus, since it's about 8 hours drive time. Even with a night bus going there, then the flight in the morning, you still probably would not get back to Lima until near midnight.

Much better and less tiring to just include an overnight in Paracas or Ica at least one way, IMO.