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Try to buy another train ticket to Aguas Calientes that departs from the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, or vice versa. Taxis and minivans between Ollantaytambo and Cusco (just over an hour each way) are plentiful. If you have the time, plan an overnight in Ollantaytambo to check out the town, which still features many Incan-built streets and buildings, as well as the archaeological site of the same name. Arrive as early as possible at the site to enjoy the sunrise light and beat the tour buses.
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At this site, visitors can expect to see sea lions, Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas, and both blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Excursion options include a long, rocky walk to look for Waved Albatrosses (March to January), and observing an impressive blowhole that spews water like a towering geyser. During the rainy season (January 1st – April 30th) the train service between Machu Picchu and Cuzco adopt a bimodal route due to weather.
Galapagos & Machu Picchu Tours
It's shorter and easier than the other mountain hikes and you'll get a unique perspective of the ancient city. Alongside this adventure through time, a trip to Machu Picchu offers an opportunity to experience Peruvian culture and gastronomy. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra, Galapagos. During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack.
Can I still hike if I take the train?
Then, head over to the Huaca Pucllana pyramid, which dates to around 500 CE, to sample a variety of foods, including Peru's famous ceviche. The tour ends in the romantic Barranco neighborhood in a trendy restaurant, where you'll dine al fresco at a garden table as you enjoy a curated selection of the chef's signature dishes. After breakfast at the hotel, head to the Urubamba Valley, The Sacred Valley of the Incas. Tour the impressive ruins, featuring terraces carved into the hillside and a temple designed for worship and astronomical observation. Followed by lunch at Wayra Ranch, a feast led by the prominent Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and Nacho Solis, as you delight in stunning equestrian Peruvian Paso horse entertainment.
What is there to do in Aguas Calientes besides visit Machu Picchu?
Both tours offer the chance to visit local artisan cooperatives and support sustainable tourism ventures on the ground. For travelers who book both the Galapagos cruise and the Machu Picchu extension, G Adventures will pay for the flight from Quito, Ecuador, to Lima. Ecuador is a small country with a hugely diverse population and a wide variety of biologically unique plants and animals.
Lima City Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cuzco. Lunch is served at Casa Hacienda Orihuela in The Sacred Valley, where the Orihuelas, a family of great art collectors, will be your hosts. Dinner and overnight at the Tambo del Inca Luxury Collection hotel in The Sacred Valley. The Lares Adventure from Mountain Lodges of Peru offers a great combination of Andean hiking and cultural encounters within Quechua communities before arriving in Aguas Calientes to explore the citadel. Other tour companies offer treks through the Lares region, but only this itinerary includes luxury accommodations in their own lodges and full service along the way. Wake up early and board a bus for the 25-minute ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu at 7,970 feet (2,430 m), which dates to around 1450 CE.
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Browse our destination guide below for essential travel details and top attractions to check out on your visit. Baltra is home to the region’s main airport, and where you will fly out after a zodiac and bus ride to the airport. Chicha is the first restaurant in Cusco from Peruvian superstar chef Gaston Acurio of Astrid & Gastón fame. Located on the second floor of a Colonial building, the restaurant offers haute Andean cuisine (alpaca carpaccio, quinoa with duck) in an airy and well-lit space. After dinner, you can head to Cholos pub near the main plaza, which keeps around a dozen different Peruvian craft beers on tap.
October through April is the official rainy season, but it can rain at any time. And while peak season is July and August, you should always expect crowds. Sundays can be the most crowded, because that's when people who live in the Cusco province are allowed into the site for free, in addition to the daily visitor limit. Located in the upscale coastal suburb of Miraflores, this 5-star hotel is set amid verdant gardens and is known for its exceptional service and dazzling sea views. Many of the Belmond's well-appointed rooms and suites feature private balconies overlooking the Pacific.
Day 8 Friday - AM
If you come during the region’s wet season, the obvious higher probability of rain comes with the tradeoff of having fewer crowds at Machu Picchu. The 5-day Salkantay Trek is an excellent alternative trek to Machu Picchu for travelers who appreciate nature. This Andean trail passes by the imposing snow-capped Salkantay mountain, for which the trek is named, and crosses highland pampas before dropping down into a river valley cloud forest and then onto Machu Picchu. Most travelers choose to take the train to Machu Picchu for the convenience of time and comfort.
After breakfast, you'll disembark the ship and meet your guide for a tour of the local market. Browse the many vendor stalls and meet locals as you discover the unique bounty provided by the rainforest, which includes fruits like acai, dragonfruit, and maracuyá (passion fruit). After the tour, you'll have the option to meet a local expert beekeeper and tour his honeybee operation in a small riverine community. Day 4 Sacred Valley / Machu PicchuHead back to the town of Ollantaytambo for the rail trip to Aguas Calientes. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu, “the Lost City of the Incas.” Overnight Hotel Sumaq.
The country's most visited destination and the most important Incan archaeological site in the world is set on a high plateau amid the densely forested, mist-enshrouded mountains and valleys of inland southern Peru. You won’t find much opportunity to shop when you’re at the ancient site of Machu Picchu. Instead, do your shopping in Cusco, where you’ll find a bustling market, an artisan shopping neighborhood, and plenty of shops within the streets adjacent to the main square of Plaza de Armas.
You’ll love the city-center location of our luxury hotel in Quito – and sightseeing with our expert guide! Then embark on our extended 6-night cruise all the way to the Western edge of the Galapagos archipelago. Enjoy your Upper Deck outside cabin aboard the newly-renovated La Pinta and a complete program of shore landings with our expert naturalists. The best time to visit Machu Picchu depends on your own interests, weather preferences, and schedule. June to August are the busiest months at the Inca ruins because the weather is usually the nicest with sunny skies and minimal chance of rain. The dry season from May to August is the best time to hike to Machu Picchu.
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