Machu Picchu Maravilla del mundo moderno

Flew from UK with partner. Took 3 flights, bus, train and another bus. Make sure you buy tickets to the Citadel a few months before you go. I had trouble with from UK their website doesn’t work. You have to download a free VPN and pretend to be somewhere like the US and then it will let you buy the entrance tickets. We stopped one night at Agua Calientes and did the citadel early next morning. Which tickets? Well there are 3 circuits around the citadel and Circuit 1 goes highest and has by far the best and panoramic views of the Machu Picchu site/city/ruins. You don’t need a tour guide for this bit. We met a guide the day before who said we wouldn’t have access to the actual city/site. So we rushed over to the Ministry of Culture in Main Square at Agua Calientes and were lucky to get 2 tickets for 10am entry. Went in at 8am for circuit 1 and out by 10am. Was hot but manageable. Do have raincoat, sun hat, sunscreen and good shoes to hand. Plenty of steps to get heart racing but fine once up there. We went as far as the Inca bridge (closed). There are toilets outside which cost 2 soles each. At 10am we met our tour guide (there are many to choose from) and went back in as part of a group. He spoke English and $50 soles per person is the going rate. Then you get to see the city and go inside and without the tour guide it is a bit meaningless so do yourself a favour and get a tour guide. Buses: there are about 33 buses (numbered) run by Consetteur. Their ticket office is easy to find on the main road. Go in with passports, take a ticket and wait for your turn. Staff speak English. Buy a return ticket for $24 USD each on the day or the day before. Then join the long queue for a bus. Don’t panic , it looks very long but moves quickly. Max wait 30 mins. Plenty of sellers in queue with sarnies for $5 soles. Bus takes about 25 mins to get up to entrance. Then there is the 20 min queue to get to turnstile where they check passports and tickets. On way back there is the same massive line for a bus. Took 35 mins in queue. People there were soooo friendly and helpful. The atms charge a lot to withdraw. If you want to exchange money then go to tiny shop under Otto’s Spa. Excellent exchange rates. Ask any local. Prices in local shops vary so choose wisely. A bar of snickers can vary between £1-£3. Altitude: in Cusco it is 3500m and Machu Picchu 2400m and you may find breathing a bit harder than usual. Avoid big meals and alcohol and you will be fine. Stop one night to acclimatise.

It was so worth getting up at 5 a.m. to catch the first bus. Amazing to see Machu Picchu at dawn, but it was even more special to do it with Veronica. She knew how to get ahead of the people, where to stand to get the best light, and how to lead the group with care and pleasure. She even told stories about her own life as a child growing up in the Andes. I will never forget.

The trip was amazing! Our tour guide Jose was very helpful. They picked us up from our hotel and gave us clear instructions. The tour company Luxury Machupicchu was very communicative beforehand with questions I had. I would definitely recommend this excursion, and the tour guide was so knowledgeable and funny. Highly recommend him in the future!!

Great communication from the tour agency Luxury Machupicchu. Had the most incredible day, Machupicchu has been on my bucket list for many years. Is the most incredible experience to one of the seven wonders of the world. The 360 train experience was incredible with live entertainment, snacks and tea. Our tour guy Jose is super friendly and took a lot of amazing photos.Highly recommend!