"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.