Hi
I got alot of help from the forum - so thought I would put down a few things I found. Apols if this is elsewhere, I didnt have time to do a full search.
Tickets for MP have doubled from the pice quoted in the 2007 Lonely Planet - its now 40 dollars. And dont be like the rude pushy German who would have clobbered the salesgirl had there not been a glass window - have soles to pay, they dont take dollars.
The museum is NOT free with your ticket. When myself and mate arrived clasping my beaten copy of the LP the man behind the counter visibly sighed, and told us that the book was wrong. And then told us we would have to pay.
If you want to see Wayne Picchu you need to reserve a spot. There are signs at the ticket office saying only 400 people are allowed up but dont explain this. It is open from 7am - 1pm, with two slots, 7 and 10. You have to get a stamp on your ticket to get up there, before the time you go. Lots of people seemed to be missing out.
Ignore the advice about food and water being banned. Everyone took theirs in. What a fool I felt with only my half bottle that I had been chugging prior to arrival. It is hot there, and you need that liquid.
Park opens when the buses arrive - not at 7am.
I did begin to wonder if the writers of the current edition had actually bothered to visit before writing the entry....
Inka Express have almost doubled their ticket prices to 40 bucks. And the office has moved, to Av La Paz, much farther out of town. A bit of a hassle to find, esp when you have already trogged to Av Pardo...
On the upside, its very quiet at the moment, the man who runs the place we stayed in Aguas thinks maybe the earthquake has frightened people away.
Accommodation wise - Inti Wasi at Aguas is a great choice. Cheapest beds in town, cute decor, close to the station and on the locals side of the town so great for cheap eats. It is basic, but the rooms were spotless, and we got to keep our stuff there till we got back from MP, and could shower etc. The manager is new and making a huge effort. 5 dollars pp for a room for just the two of us.
Sorry bit long and rambling!
Thank you for the info. Actually, I paid $40 USD for the Machu Picchu Sanctuary permit for 3 days last June, and now that Machu Picchu has been listed as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, it is being discussed that that price will rise much higher than $40 in the near future. I could not find info. in the LP guidebook re. Inca Express. The bus shuttle up to the sanctuary was an additional $12 RT/day last June. The price for the Vistadome and backpackers' trains was accurately listed in the LP as $113 RT/$73 RT.
I found that the prices for accommodations were more expensive than listed in the 2007 LP, but those prices do vary with the season and whether or not commission is paid to an agency. I found that I was lucky to have picked the best eco-lodge for my stay in Puerto Maldonado. I checked out the LP- recommended hostels and other lodges and, except for the Don Carlos Hotel, they seemed dodgy to me. Maybe it is because I am not accustomed to walking down narrow alleys to my lodgings. I would not have wanted to venture out after dark if I had stayed there.
You are one of the few who has mentioned the name of a hostel/hotel where you stayed in Aguas Calientes -- others have simply mentioned vaguely to wander around until you find a place to your liking! That is all right if you do not have luggage to carry! For pampering, the Inkaterra/Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is pure luxury.
You see I'm sure I paid $25 last June, but I may be converting from dollars to pounds there. No, I'm sure it was $25 I paid.
DD
and i hear that its next year worser ,,,,
2008
Machu Pichu 20 USD extra
Train 20 usd extra
cusco visitor ticket ,,,,,50 usd
Where is the limit ????
I was there last week. It is $40 US but must be paid in soles (120) and the bus is $12US return.
We stayed at the Rupa Wasi (OK but a bit rundown and expensive at $50, and there is a long flight of steps to climb). If anyone knows of less expensive places with double rooms and private baths do let us know.
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