10 tips for a perfect trip to Machu Picchu
In this article, Peru Andean Travel offers you 10 tips to make a perfect trip to Machu Picchu and fully enjoy your experience in the beautiful imperial city of Cusco.
1.- Visa for Peru
Generally, if you are Latin American, North American or European, you will need it. If you are a citizen of MERCOSUR (Common Market of the South), all members can enter Peru simply by bringing the DNI (National Identity Document) or a valid passport.
If you come from a country outside MERCOSUR, you will need a valid passport and in certain exceptional cases, depending on your country of origin, a visa.
If you are a minor, you must be accompanied by your parents. If you are a parent traveling with your child(ren), you must present the child’s marriage certificate, diploma or birth certificate.
2.- Vaccines
No vaccine is mandatory, but the Peruvian Ministry of Health «recommends» getting vaccinated against yellow fever to travel to certain areas of the jungle.
Other Recommended Vaccines
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Health, vaccines against:
- Rage
- tetanus diphtheria
- tick-borne encephalitis
- japanese encephalitis
- Hepatitis A and B
- pneumococcal pneumonia
- Rage
- measles
- Among others
3.- Accommodation and camping
If you want to travel to the Peruvian highlands, it is not necessary to bring a heavy tent, it is not common to camp in this region of the country, in case you are trekking on the different routes from Cusco (Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Salkantay, Ausangate, Choquequirao, Lares), the travel agency you hire will provide you with the appropriate tents and camps for your comfort.
Peru is one of the most accessible countries in South America, so you can find rooms at very reasonable prices. However, what you get is directly related to what you pay.
4.- Climate and environment in Cusco
If you are Argentine or Colombian, or if you come from a place where it is hotter in summer, in Cusco it is the opposite. Do not think that your summer will be repeated in this region. The periods of intense and cold rains are between December and February, while the capital is very hot.
Summer or winter, Cusco is cold at some point of the day. Always wear a coat. As a general rule, it is hot in sunny places and cold in shady places. The sun shines and with the local climate it can damage the skin. Bring your own sunscreen and/or buy cocoa paste at the pharmacy, which are very affordable and helpful.
Machu Picchu, unlike the city of Cusco, is located on the edge of the jungle, that is, at a hybrid point where the mountains meet the jungle and the vegetation changes, sometimes showing the characteristics of both regions. The best time of year to visit is usually between June and October (high season) when it rains little and the sky is always blue, but this place is visited all year round and it never disappoints.
5.- Altitude sickness
You may never have been deprived of oxygen. This is very much felt in Cusco due to the height and makes everything three times more strenuous so you don’t have the usual low physical stamina. Your digestion will slow down a bit and your sleep will be tight and deep.
The ideal is to remain calm on the first day to acclimatise (without too much physical activity). It is perfectly normal that all pharmacies sell altitude sickness pills. Coca tea also helps, as do sweets.
6.- Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
To get to Machu Picchu, it is not mandatory to follow the «Inca Trail». Many people are terribly confused about this. This is an exclusively tourist route, accessible only by authorized travel agencies.
There are two and four day excursions and it is important to be in excellent physical condition. The walk ends at «one of the entrances to Machu Picchu» (Intipunku), which is why many believe that this is the route. Access is limited to a small group of visitors, so it is necessary to book in advance.
7.- Alternative routes to get to Machu Picchu
All the routes are excellent, full of incredible nature, with similar landscapes, but each one with a different appeal. It is not essential to do the «Inca Trail» and if you do not do it you will not deprive yourself of things that you will not see in all of Cusco. Cusco is full of authentic road routes that make up the Inca road network.
To get to Machu Picchu on your own, you can do it in the following way:
By train from the city of Cusco or Ollantaytambo (the closest) via Incarrail or Perurail.
By minibus to Ollantaytambo (15 soles) then another minibus that leaves you at kilometer 83 of the railway. From there, travel the remaining kilometers to reach Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). This is the cheapest route of all, but also the most difficult (after the Inca Trail) because you have to walk about 10 hours to get there.
Itinerary Cusco> Santa Maria> Santa Teresa> Aguas Calientes. – Perhaps the preferred route for backpackers who want to save on train tickets. It is a little longer, but it allows you to enjoy the landscape in the most economical way and to make an interesting trek like the Inca Trail but less exhausting.
8.- Health and safety
The city of Cusco is safe in the places where you are surrounded by tourists, in the center, in the Sacred Valley, in Machu Picchu. Avoid wandering alone or too far from the center with valuables and tourist gazes at the night markets.
Keep an eye on your bags at trade shows or in areas where you’ll be around people. In one of the most touristic cities in the world, petty theft and scams are to be expected. To avoid this, don’t leave your valuables alone or rely on free items. Don’t be fooled by the unwarranted excesses of kindness from strangers who usually always want something from you.
Hygiene is very important for maintaining health. If possible, try to see how the food you are served is handled. It is common for tourists to get a stomach ache trying everything. To avoid this, be sure to avoid items sold on buses and street vendors, especially chips and artisan cheeses, which can carry dangerous bacteria.
Most of the time, cooked, freshly cooked, or well-washed foods are fine. Long walks on rocky terrain can easily lead to dislocations or similar injuries. Wear good shoes. Cusco has good health facilities that specifically cater to tourists. Do not forget to take out travel insurance to access it.
9.- Discounts
If you are a student, it is convenient to get the ISIC card (International Student Identity Card), which gives you discounts at the hotel, as well as the ticket to Machu Picchu at half price, the tourist ticket to Cusco and other advantages . .
10.- To Machu Picchu
In the past, you could visit the entire Machu Picchu complex with a single ticket. They have now divided the tour into sections. If you want to climb Huayna Picchu mountain, you must book your ticket in advance and arrive before noon (it is the mountain behind the citadel where the Temple of the Moon is located). The same goes for the Machu Picchu mountain.
