Machu Pichu train trip - should i book in advance?

Hi -

My boyfriend and I are planning our honeymoon to Bolivia and Peru at the end of Feb (next month!) and we're unsure if we need to book train tickets to get to Machu Picchu in advance or if we can do it when we're there.

We only have 12 days, and don't want to join a big organised tour for the whole trip. We won't have time to do a trek so want to get the train up, it's low season so i'm wondering if it will be booked up in advance or not.

We plan to go from La Paz, across Lake Titicaca, up to Machu Pichu and across to Lima to fly home, and really want to just do it day by day when we're there, but is that too risky?

Any advice much appreciated....

Hannah

With only 12 days I would have picked one country. Yes, February is low season and you can probably wait to buy train tickets but keep checking (Peru Rail and Inca Rail) as the best departure times can sell out. When you arrive in Cusco take a minibus or taxi to Ollantaytambo, a train to Aguas Calientes and the bus up to the Machu Picchu entrance. I recommend climbing one of the mountains at MP. You can check availability and buy MP tickets here:

http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/

MP is of course amazing but there are many other great sites and hiking possibilities in the Cusco and Sacred Valley area. 5 days in that area would be great.

To gain time I recommend you to take an early train in and a late train out. To be sure of an early and late ticket, DO book in advance and I would also buy the MP-ticket in advance.
Doing two huge countries in 12 days is totally crazy. Sorry but I have to say this. Stick to 1 country ! And take altitude sickness into account, or your honeymoon might turn out not that romantic. Arriving in La Paz could give you big troubles, unless you already live at a decent altitude (2000m). Of course many people don't suffer problems, but you do not want to be the person suffering from sorroche on a 12 day mini break.

Happy travels.

Since you have a tight schedule, you should book the MP train in advance. 12 days does not allow much time to get flexible with your schedule. You could probably get train tickets a day in advance in Feb. But if you want to climb Huaynu Picchu peak at the MP site, you will need to commit to a date and book it well in advance anyway, so you might as well book the train too.

I don't think it's so crazy if you just want to go from La Paz to Lake Titicaca and than to Cusco, it is not that far from La Paz to Copacabana. But you will start with the highest altitude and it can really spoil your vacation, better do it in opposite direction. But as others said, I would stick to Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley, MP and Cusco, Lake Titicaca from Puno and Arequipa with Colca Canyon. It's already a lot for 12 days, probably too much.

It's not just the train tickets to Machu Picchu that you may want to buy in advance, but the entry tickets as well. Unless things have changed since I was there (2012), you cannot buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket at the entry gate -- you must get it in advance, either in Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Lima, or, if possible, on the internet. Whether you really need to get your ticket in advance for a February visit is hard to say. Four years ago, in April, I got my ticket in the Aguas Calientes tourist office on the morning of my visit, but I don't know whether anyone could get a same-day ticket in April, or whether I was just lucky.

I also agree that your original itinerary may be too much for 12 days.

If you are going in low season, you can buy the tickets in Ollantaytambo, but just in case, buy them as soon as you get to Cusco, you never know. Doing the things as the days go by may not be such a good idea, cause the way of life there is maybe totally different as you are use to, you can get lost or something else. I would recommend this to you if you know someone from the place that can help you. Already in Cusco everything is easy.

I can even recommend the collectivo/minibus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo.

You should buy Tickets for Train AND for Machu Picchu as soon as possible! Even in low season, popular trains may be sold quite early!

To acclimate to the height you could even stay in Cusco and visit Pizac for one day.

I can even recommend to visit Wayna Picchu Mountain in Machu Picchu, great view and the day is long enough to visit everything and even walk down by foot and visit the butterfly garden.

See our travel blog for infos: travelpod.com/travel-blog/tiemohh/1/tpod.html

Videos from our travel:

And here some videos:

Cusco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFBd-lUAy0U

Ollantaytambo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brk13O2hEGc

Peru Rail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFdvIw4YHns

Machu Picchu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQqAkKAdMuA

Butterflies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujSK9AvaNh4

Pizac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdU-kZ7xgQI

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