Excursions à terre Cusco: Machu Picchu 3D 2N

I highly recommend Conde Travel for a shore excursion that was less than half the price of the ship's excursion and took me to more sights. I originally chose this tour because it left from the port before Lima and returned me to the ship in Lima the day before it sailed, so I didn't have to worry about the ship leaving without me. Flor, my contact at Conde, was very informative and easily contactable before I left. My transport was waiting at the port when I arrived, similarly at the airport in Cusco, again on my return to Cusco and then in Lima to the cruise port. There were only two of us on this tour. When we arrived in Cusco, we immediately travelled to the lower level of the Sacred Valley of the Incas by mini-van. I think this helped to ensure I had few and minor symptoms of altitude sickness, unlike people on the ship's tour who stayed at the higher Cusco level, where many needed oxygen or other injections. We then boarded the train to Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Machu Picchu, so were fully rested for our time at the site the next day. We were booked on the 7am bus up the mountain and managed to move around and see the site with few people for a couple of hours. My guide, Mariella, was university trained in ancient civilisations and added a richness to my experience of Machu Picchu. On our way back to Cusco after lunch, we were able to appreciate the beauty of the area on the Vista train. We stopped in different places that included other ancient sites and the fascinating salt mines. Mariella knew the best places to take photos of these views. The accommodation in both Aguas Calientes and Cusco was excellent.