My two travel goals for this trip were to visit Machu Picchu and Patagonia. My Patagonia plans seem to have fallen through, even though I’ll keep trying. But Machu Picchu can still happen! Classes and exams end here on July 1. I don’t come back to the US until July 13. So I’m planning on flying to Peru, visiting Machu Picchu, and then shorter bus rides to towns in Peru and Chile all the way back down to Santiago.
The only thing I’m not sure about is how I should “do” Machu Picchu.” My friend Sara has visited before and says that I have to hike in, it’s just not the same. So, I could hike the Inca Trail for 4 days. This involves: a. getting myself into shape where physical activity is possible in the Andes b. Spending $465
OR, I can do it the traditional tourist way and take up a train, which I expect will still be some great version of “roughing it,” and way less money.
What do you think, adults of whom I trust the judgment?
To Hike or not to hike
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Why does it cost so much to hike up? I’d think it’d be the opposite.
Mary — hiking in would be awesome. I’d love to do that some day…but you also really need porters in addition to the required (by law) guide. The 4 day hike takes 4 days not because of distance, but because of the enormous hills (aka mountains) you must conquer on the way there.
Note, however, that you cannot just take the train. A few months back, heavy rains washed out a large segment of track. So now you must take a bus down the valley from Cusco (about 2 hours) to a train station that’s about 1.5 hours from the base of Machu Picchu. From the town, you then catch a bus up the mountain to the visitor’s entrance. Don’t forget to count the price of admission to the park in your calculations.
To get a true sense of the place, once you’re inside you MUST hike up to the Sun Gate…about 40 minutes up, and far less coming back. There are a ton of hostels in town, so lodging is not a problem. Should you hit the lottery, stay at the Inkaterra…you won’t want to leave.
Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you want more tips on visiting Peru…I’ve been back for less than a week. Oh yeah, I found the pre-Inca ruins outside of Cusco even more impressive than Machu Picchu. I can send you pix too…if I weren’t an old geezer, I’d know how to post some pictures here.
Uncle Dan