travelbug84

Looking for help/recommendations re: transportation from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. We're staying in Ollan on Saturday night, and then taking the first train to Machu Picchu on Sunday morning. We will spend all day Sunday at MP, stay in Aguas Calientes Sunday night, and then go back to Cusco Monday morning. We need to get back to Cusco by early afternoon, in order to catch a flight to Lima at 4:45p.

There are no M.Picchu - Cusco trains available in the morning (they only leave in the evening). We were planning to take the train from Aguas Calientes - Ollan, and then take a taxi to Cusco from there. I've read many posts and websites about taxis from Cusco TO Ollan, but not the other way around. I assume this is possible? Are there plenty of taxis available at the Ollan train station to do this? Is this something I should/can arrange with my hotel ahead of time?

Thanks!!

travelbug84

Also - I've read that the bus is always a good option but because we're on a fairly tight schedule, I don't think that's an option.

crzn1

If you haven't already purchased you train tickets I would highly recommend you take the last (or earlier) train after you visit M.Picchu. Then stay the night in Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a MUCH nicer town to overnight in. No problem getting a taxi to Cuzco. You could easily fit in a lot of wonderful sightseeing in route to Cuzco. We arranged a taxi through www.elalbergue.com (a hotel & travel agent in Ollanta- no need to stay to make transportation booking) We can highly recomned "Victor"-great flexible cautious driver. For a great meal eat at "Puka Rumi" a great little hole in the wall about 1 block towards the ruins from the main square.

travelbug84

Thanks, crzn1! Very helpful. I will check out the website and would love to squeeze in some sightseeing on the way to Cuzco.

We haven't bought our train tickets yet (planning to do that today) and I probably would prefer to stay overnight in Ollantaytambo. But we're considering going back up to MP for sunrise on Monday morning, so we booked a hotel in Aguas Calientes to give us that opportunity (if it's something we end up wanting to do). Has anyone else done something similar?

Thanks again.

crzn1

Check what time the sunrise is. In September we took the first bus up and waited at the entrance, I think the sun was already up by the time we got in, anyway it was a non-event. MP is a spectacular! AC is a tourist trap/pit. You will be happy if you overnight in Ollantaytambo. Anyway we loved Peru!!!

mlgb

Taxis between the two places are not a problem at all.

I stayed at El Albergue and also can recommend their driver Eloi. But there are taxis and vans waiting for the trains to arrive from MP as well.

If you want to get a ticket to climb HP then you need to overnight in AC so you can be on the first busses up to MP. You can hike to the Sun Gate or the Inka Bridge without a ticket.

Sunrise was too early for me in January. But check the times.

travelbug84

Thanks to all. Sounds like the taxi situation won't be a problem at all.

We are planning to take the 6a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and should be up to MP by 8:30ish. We do plan on hiking HP - I've read Sundays on MP are quieter than other days, and late April is still considered low season. So I'm assuming we will be able to hike HP without a problem if we get there before 9a. Do you agree? That is why we originally planned to stay in A.Calientes that night - we won't have to rush down to catch a train back to Ollantaytambo.

Unfortunately I've already paid for one night at my Aguas Calientes Hotel. But I'll contact them re: their cancelation policy.

Looks like sunrise is right around 6a next weekend. Since MP opens at 6a, it seems like we may be able to catch the tail end of the sunrise?

eenusa

We just got back from Peru ... the low-season visits are slowly becoming a thing of the past; the word is obviously out about how lovely and green everything is following the rainy season. We were at the sanctuary by 8:00a, and the place was already crawling with people and the tickets for HP were long gone.

Consider instead doing a hike to Apu Machu Picchu ... we intended to do that in lieu of HP, but had to cancel those plans because of the strike on the 13th (left MP a day earlier than planned). The trail to Apu Machu Picchu branches off from the Intipunku trail ... the mountain is higher than HP, but I understand the trail is a relatively steady climb. No tickets needed. We were told to expect it to take about 2 hours to get to the top. Same view of the sanctuary, but from a different angle.

Anyway, something to consider.

crzn1

I saw you are going to Rusia in May? We went to Russia May 08 and to Peru Sept 08...Small world

travelbug84

eenusa - Glad you enjoyed your recent trip to Peru and thanks for the insight. Did you have good weather while you were there? Interesting to hear that HP tickets were already sold out when you got to MP - that makes me a little nervous! What day of the week did you go? I've read Sundays tend to be slower. I assume you tried getting the tickets as soon as you arrived at MP? We are definitely hoping to hike HP after taking the first train from Ollantaytambo. No way to get there any earlier, since we're not staying in Aguas Calientes. I hadn't considered Apu Machu Picchu as an alternate - good to know!

crzn - Yes, small world about Peru/Russia. I'll be heading there next month. Where in Russia did you visit?

crzn1

Started in St.Petersburg, Two days on our own then we joined a 10 night river cruise to Moscow (2 nt SP 6nt cruise 2nt Moscow) I really wish we would have added at least a few extra days in Moscow. Moscow surprised us, Great City!! The only unforgettable stop between SP & Moscow was Kizhi Island with the wood church with 22 onion domes and several other wood buildings. We spent a week in Germany B4 and after. Although we had a great time on the cruise, being with a tour really shelters you and it felt a lot less "RUSSIAN"... I think the thought of going to Russia intimidated us a little, it was unfounded.

travelbug84

crzn - Sounds like a great trip! Glad to hear you enjoyed Moscow. I've heard it can be very overwhelming and hard to get around. We've booked a hotel in a very central location so I'm hoping we'll be able to walk around for much of the time. We're also taking the overnight train to St Pete - should be quite an experience!!

Re: Peru -- Thanks again for making the suggestion to stay in Ollantaytambo both nights. Luckily my A.Calientes hotel had a flexible cancelation policy, AND hotel sauce in Ollan had room available for the additional night! That way we can also leave our things at the hotel, and not have to hike up M.P with big backpacks. Now I'm having some trouble with the PeruRail website (won't let me get to the payment page). I emailed PeruRail and have already heard back, saying they would help me make a reservation via email instead. Fingers crossed this works! Has anyone had similar issues?

eenusa

Weather was "changeable" ... it was drizzling with low-level clouds filling the valleys and covering the peaks in the early a.m. Bagged the sunrise idea and took the 7:00a bus up instead ... no lines at the bus station. We had light drizzle on and off all three days; one big downpour that lasted through the night in one case. (Locals were saying that it was wetter than usual.) The rest of the time it was sunny and downright hot. We were there Friday and Saturday; Sunday as well, but we opted to enjoy the Inkaterra activities and grounds that day since we were traveling back to Cusco a day early.

The HP ticket area was chock-a-block people when we showed up around 8:00a on the first day. We spoke to at least 8-10 couples who were bemoaning the fact that they had been too late. After that, we didn't even try ... somehow walking up a slippery, rain-washed trail with 200 other people no longer held any attraction.

You'll enjoy El Sauce ... we stayed two nights just a week ago. Centrally located; everything within walking distance. Nice and warm under the covers, but a little chilly in the rooms otherwise ... we asked for a heater, which helped to break the chill. Room 15 is one of the rooms with a view of the ruins (I think 13 also has a view, but don't hold me to it); alas no comfortable seating inside the room to enjoy the view. Room 16 has a window looking out onto a narrow service corridor where there are big windows through which you can see the ruins, but again, no comfortable seating area in the room, although there is a bench right outside the room. Decent breakfast buffet, but it wasn't set up until 7:00a (at least not while we were there ... maybe they set up earlier during the high season.)

We enjoyed dining at Hearts Cafe in the plaza ... great lentil and quinoa soups ... part of the profits go to a good cause. http://www.heartscafe.org/

Have a terrific time in Peru and good luck with getting the HP tickets. If nothing else, consider Apu Machu Picchu, and of course, don't forget Intipunku is always an option -- I wouldn't call it strenuous, but it's no walk in the park either and the views of the sanctuary are fantastic.

crzn1

You might see if your hotel can purchase the train tickets for you. I have heard of other people doing that. Even if the PeruRail website says there are no tickets I have been told that locally many times tickets are still available. Be sure and have dinner at "Puka Rumi" inside KB Tambo Hostal about a half a block down towards the ruins from Hotel Sause. In the mean time keep trying the Perurail web site and you will probably prevail.(Is your credit card "verified by visa" registered?) I did not have any trouble purchasing tickets, but processing a refund due was unreasonable with more than 30 e-mails, they always asked for additional or completely different info, finally gave up and just let Visa handle it. (I got fully credited in just a couple of days).

crzn1

Sorry, I misread your reply, thought you said Perurail had not replied.

travelbug84

Good news! I decided to try the PeruRail website again last night after getting frustrated with slow responses via email - I'm leaving in only 3 days and was getting a little nervous about availability! - but the PeruRail website finally worked! So I now have confirmed reservations for the trains/times we wanted. Now I just have to get the refund from the Aguas Calientes Hotel (Gringo Bill's). Their cancelation policy clearly states I can get a refund since I notified them outside of 72hrs, so I've sent them an email but am waiting to hear back. Hopefully it won't require 30+ emails like your issue, crzn!

Several ppl on the forums have mentioned Puka Rumi for dinner - sounds great! I think we'll go there for dinner the first night.

eenusa - Heart's Cafe sounds wonderful as well. We'll have to try that too. Thanks for the Hotel Sauce info - glad to hear you had a good experience. And good to know about breakfast - I guess that means we won't get to eat before leaving for a 5:37a train to Machu Picchu! I'm planning to throw granola bars in my suitcase, so we'll be fine.

Excited to get down there!

eenusa

The walk to the train station from El Sauce is about 15-20 minutes, depending on your pace ... have a great time.

mikatsek

Hi to all!
We are going in a few weeks to Peru and I am trying to figure out the best way to see everything in about 4 days. Not much climbing, some hiking, need descent hotel. SO, first of all: WHAT IS HP? I see it written, special ticket needed etc. I cannot figure out what you are talking about. Also, if we arrive with the plane from Puno on Sunday, what is the best thing to do? We are flying out of Cusco with the last flight to Lima on Wednesday.
Should we take the last train on Sunday and stay near MP or it does not matter if we are first there? sunrise is around 6:20 when we will be there and sunset around 6:00 as well.

eenusa

HP is Huayna Picchu ... the big mountain you see behind the sanctuary in all the postcard images of Machu Picchu. Limited number of people are allowed to hike up each day, so people who want to hike up have to get up to the sanctuary on the first busses going up and rush to the gate to HP to get one of the free tickets. If you don't have your heart set on HP, you can do the walk up to Intipunku, the Sun Gate - no tickets needed, very little in the way of crowds, not strenuous, but not a walk in the park either; fantastic view of the sanctuary though.

While some have been lucky with weather, I wouldn't bank on sunrise ... it was raining in the a.m. the three days we were there (just about 10 days ago). In fact, both mornings we went up, the sanctuary was completely covered by clouds. Patience is a virtue -- the clouds played peek-a-boo for much of the early morning and eventually lifted completely to reveal a fantastic view

The last bus down from MP was at 5:30p - so viewing the sunset may not be an option either.

I'll let others comment on the rest of your questions. However, know that the later flights from Cusco are more prone to being canceled due to weather. Personally, I wouldn't chance it ... unless you're overnighting in Lima.

Enjoy Peru ... we had a ball everywhere we went from Cusco to the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca.

mlgb

Travelbug, if you are able to get up early enough to have breakfast, you can go down to the train station, ask to get in for El Albergue (they are on the platform, and eat breakfast there. They were open for me at about 5 am. Better yet, switch your res to El Albergue!

mikatsek, first thing to do is check the Peru Rail and see what trains are available. There are more trains daily from Ollanta-MP than from Cusco. Then plan the itinerary round that.

I took a taxi from the airport to Ollanta on my arrival, spent another full day there seeing the sights in Ollanta and acclimating, and did a full day round trip to MP, leaving on the 5:37 Backpacker and returning on a late Vistadome. The next day I used the hotel driver to transport me back to Cusco with a few stops along the way, such as Moray, Salineras and Chinchero. I overnighted a few days in Cusco and saw the Pisac ruins as a round trip from Cusco. Obviously with only a few days you won't be able to do some of this but the general direction of travel seemed to work out well.