Machu Picchu itinerary

MP is of course amazing but there are many other great sites in the Cusco-Sacred Valley area. And you might as well spend a day in Lima as well. It is best to put that day in Lima at the end so that if your flight from Cusco to Lima is delayed (which happens quite a lot) you don't miss your flight home.

When you arrive in Cusco go straight to Ollantaytambo. That town and MP are lower than Cusco so it is better to go there first and leave Cusco itself for the end. If you take an early morning flight to Cusco on day 2 you could sightsee on the way to Ollantaytambo: visit Chinchero, Moray and the Maras salineras. Day 3 you can explore Ollantaytambo and visit the ruins and then take an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. Stay overnight and in the morning (day 4) take the bus to Machu Picchu. As you won't be hiking up one of the mountains and you won't be doing much hiking one day is more than enough to explore the site. You don't even need a full day but the best time at MP is after 2-3 pm when there are less people and the light is nice. Then take a train back to Ollantaytambo. You should buy train tickets online (Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back) with Peru Rail or Inca Rail. You can also buy your MP tickets online:

http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe

Spend the night in Ollantaytambo. The next morning (day 5) make your way to Cusco and explore Cusco. The next day (day 6) go to Pisac and the ruins north of Cusco (don't miss Sacsayhuaman).

If you can add a day or two there are other possibilities: the south valley from Cusco, the animal sanctuary on the day that you go to Pisac, maybe even a homestay...

We could stretch this itinerary to 10 days, but if we're only interested in Cusco/Machu Picchu, is it necessary?

It's not necessary, but if you can add 2 days to your schedule, it's certainly rewarding. You do actually need 2 full days time to see Cusco with everything there. But you should also plan a couple of days to see the Sacred Valley, with all the towns and archeological sites there. The Inca heritage isn't only found at MP.

And as above, acclimatization is easier if you go to the Sacred Valley first, and see Cusco on the way back.

Thank you for your replies! I spoke to my husband last night; he has been to Lima and suggested that we skip the city. I will do some research on the towns and sites in the Sacred Valley, and per your suggestions, maybe we'll spend a couple of days at the beginning of our trip exploring this area -- and save Cusco for last. Also, I've read that there are a couple hikes that one can do in MP: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain. Even though our parents and my nephew won't be able to attempt these hikes, my husband and I are interested. Which of these hikes would you recommend? Which hike offers the most rewarding views from the top?

I read so many reviews and looked at so many pictures and finally chose MP Montana. We loved it. It has the classic Machu Picchu view and we also loved the views of the surrounding mountains. It is also higher than Huayna Picchu. There are great views all the way to the top where you get an amazing 360 degree panorama.

I am sure Huayna Picchu is great too but maybe more crowded. And less high.

For your reading pleasure:

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g294318-i3352-k4924307-Huayna_Wayna_Picchu_or_Machu_Picchu_Mountain-Machu_Picchu_Sacred_Valley_Cusco_Region.html.

Even with hiking up a mountain you don't need more than a day at Machu Picchu. We were there from 6:30 am to 3 pm. When you buy your tickets for MP you have to choose MP + the mountain of your choice. We chose the 9 to 10 am time slot and that was a good decision as it was very foggy at first but sunny by the time we started hiking.

I would really not miss Ollantaytambo (town and ruins and the short hike up to the granaries), Moray and the Maras salineras because they are quite different and the scenery is great too, Sacsayhuaman because it was the last ruin we visited and after all we had seen we were still in awe and Pisac for the ruins (not so much the market). I suggest you and your husband hike down from the top of the ruins to the village so you get to see the amazing temple complex.

Hi!!
Your itinerary looks good, 2 days is enough to acclimatize!
contact www.adviceperu.com
they can help you a lot with your organization!!

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