Cusco - Machu Picchu - The Inca Trail - Peru Travel Information

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Cusco, the mystic capital of the Inca’s empire is one of the most fascinating places in South America. The Inca’s empire ruled in extensive parts of South America until the Spanish arrived. The talented Inca’s builders and the Spanish conquerors left in the city and around it many historical constructions that can not be ignored.

Cusco the empress city is situated 3360 meters above sea level, in a valley at the Andes Mountains. The legend tells that the first Inca’s son, Manco Capac, built the city at the 11th century B.C following the order of the God of Sun.

On March 23rd 1534 Francisco Pizro, Peru’s Spanish conqueror, arrived to the city and turned the Inca’s capital to a Spanish colonial city.

Today Cusco is functioning as a center of many travelers that stay there usually for long period of time, while taking tours in the area.

In 1983 UNESCO declared Cusco as a world heritage site.

Machu Picchu

The lost city of Machu Picchu is locate 112 km north-east of Cusco at 2350 meters above sea level. The city was only discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, after being hidden for more than 400 years in the jungle.

It is surprising how the city was not ruined by the Spanish conquerors, during their effort to destroy any remanents of the Inca's culture. It is even more bizarre that a big city as big as Machu Picchu can be totally forgotten. Probably the Spanish just didn't find the city because of its isolated location.

In 1983 UNESCO declared Machu Picchu as a world heritage site.

Technical Details

Entrance fee to the park is $20 or $10 for student card holders.

Getting There

The simplest way to get to Machu Picchu is by an organized tour which usually includes:

• Transportation to and from the Cusco train station
• Train ticket to and from the village of Aguas Calientes
• Bus ticket up to Machu Picchu and back down
• Entrance fees
• Guided tour of the site

It is possible to lower the costs and get to Machu Picchu independently.

The Inca Trail

The more interesting (and difficult) way to get to the lost city Machu Picchu is doing a trek that goes through the way the Inca’s people took on their way to the city. The trail that is called the Inca Trail is about 46 km and takes about 4 days of walking. At the second day the trek climbs up to 4200 above sea level (“the dead woman's pass”) so it is advisable to get used to the altitude before taking it.

The big advantage of the trek upon the train is that those who take the trek arrive to the Machu Picchu at a very early hour, before hundreds of tourists that take the train arrive there. Thus it is possible to be impressed from the place in the sunrise without all the tourists with their cameras.

In order to prevent a big damage to the trail, Peru’s government decided to limit the trek and forbade taking the trek without a guide. You have to register to the trek in advance and issue an entrance permit (the quantity of permits is limited to 500 per day). The permit issue takes 2-3 days.

At high season there can be a situation that all the places will be taken for days and even weeks. Therefore you should well consider how much time you have. If you are short in time, it is advisable to book in advance. If not, it is worthwhile waiting and get a much lower price at the last minute and go when there is an available place.

Today most travelers take a package that includes 4 walking days with a guide, porters, camping equipments and food.

Two Days Inca Trail

Costs and Technical Issues

The trek’s cost is relatively expensive ($180-$250 for a 4 days package) therefore many travelers stopped taking this trek. You can take a shorter trek of 2 days that goes part of the way by train and join the trek towards its end for the cost of $120. Student card holders can receive a significant discount on the prices mentioned above. Those prices does not include tip for the porters and the guide, which is customary to pay at the end of the trek.

The cost of the 2 day Inca Trail is usually around $120.

The many restrictions that were put on the travel agencies caused the cheap agencies to stop sending groups to the treks. This led to a significantly price increase of the tour packages.
Although you can order the trek at any agency in Cusco, only few of them actually take the groups out themselves.

• Student Card holders can receive a significant discounts on the prices mentioned
  above.
• The trek prices do not include tips for the porters and the guide, which is
  customary to pay at the end of the trek.

Things to do around Cusco

• Rafting at level 5+ on the Aporimac River
  Considered dangerous and many travelers lost their life there.
• Trek Azangata
  A trek with horses around Azangata Mountain.
• Park Mano
  Park that is considered as the best place to see a real jungle. The only problem is the extremely high cost!
• The holy valley
  The area around Cusco is full of archeological sites form the Inca’s empire days.
• Pisac
  A village famous for its authentic Sunday market.

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