I had no idea where to start or how to plan everything. almost gave up and tried to buy a pre-planned package. This video probably saved me a few thousands USD :D
That’s awesome to hear!! Thanks for checking out the video, glad it helped you with your planning! Definitely one of the more complicated trips we had to book as well 😂
I went 20 years ago and i was the only black person and everyone was kind and wonderful to me. The best advice i can give is to make sure you have your train ticket to Machu Picchu in advance. I was not able to get a train ticket until someone cancelled and i had to pretend to be that person because when someone cancels it goes back into the system and whoever is next in the waiting line would get it. I would have been so sad to have travelled all the way to Peru and not been able to see Machu Picchu. Also, as soon as you arrive in Cusco, get your Coca Leaves immediately and don't wait until you get sick (you will need them). It was the best trip i have ever been on.
Outstanding video. Concise, clear, thorough, and with a friendly tone. Very impressed with the value provided, we will use it as our "go-to" guide on our upcoming June '25 guide. Thank you.
So happy that I came across your videos! I’ve been doing a lot of research for my upcoming trip to Peru and was overwhelmed by the amount of information on Machu Picchu. Your video gave me all the information I needed! Thank you! Thank you!
Very helpful video! Just one correction: Machu Picchu is not one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was declared a _Peruvian Historical Sanctuary_ in 1981 and a _UNESCO World Heritage Site_ in 1983. Then, in a 2007 worldwide internet poll, Machu Picchu was voted (mainly by the Peruvian people) one of the *_New_*_ Seven Wonders of the World._ While that title is often used to market Machu Picchu for tourists in Peru, it's not an official title. The popularity poll via free web-based voting and telephone voting was organized by the _New 7 Wonders Foundation_ (N7W) based in Zurich, Switzerland. The poll was considered unscientific, partly because it was possible for people to cast multiple votes, and because an intensive campaign was led by the _Peruvian Ministry of Commerce and Tourism_ in Peru, which had a great impact in Peruvian media and consequently, Peruvian people voted massively for Machu Picchu to win. So while it's a stunning site, it was basically voted a "New Wonder of the World" by the Peruvian people themselves, and it's not an official title.
Thank you for the correction and thorough comment! Very insightful. I definitely learned a few new things and I’m sure others who read this will too. All the best 👍🏼🙏🏼
I did a motorcycle tour up to Machu Picchu back in April 2022. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The inca Valley is truly one of the gems of the planet.
@@BackpackGringo It was one of the most magical moments of my life. We traversed through and over Rivers, up into the mountains, through fog and rain, into the villages and by the lakes. All the sceneries that one can imagine. Amazing!
Peru es elegante soy peruano de lima si llegas a peru lo primero primero tu ceviche peruano original k sea picante en un mercadito ai si te venden asu rico elegante ceviche peruano si no pica no es ceviche te recomiendo amigaaaaaaaá 😊
Incredible place and your video has helped us out so much , we live in London uk and I was thinking how difficult this would be in planning . But after viewing your guide it actually seems pretty straightforward. Thankyou
I’m glad you liked it! We’re actually in London right now as well. Sadly, our trip through Europe ends tomorrow! So stay tuned as I’ll eventually post a video covering your home city 😄
@BackpackGringo: fantastic video, which is a great help for planning our Machu Picchu visit. One note though: the "English Gov. Website" is almost certainly not an official government site, but a private organization.
This is by far the best visual introduction to Machu Picchu. BTW, I heard no videotaping is allowed. Is it true? Or to which point where videotaping is allowed. Thanks.
Thank you very much!! Too kind :) You can film with your phone and small cameras, just no tri pods. But I believe if you have larger professional equipment, you’ll need to get permission / a permit to bring it in the park.
We really love your videos. You're so positive and knowledgeable and make us want to visit the places you've been to. Thanks mate and keep up the great work!
I greatly appreciate it :) Glad to hear I’ve inspired y’all to travel! There’s a lot of amazing places out there ☺️ Wishing you the best on your future adventures. Feel free to reach out if you need anything.
Very informative, will be visiting the last week in April. I have a much better understanding of how to go about traveling to Machu Picchu. Will share with my fellow travelers.
Thank you, I appreciate it! Prior to planning our trip, we watched a bunch of other YT videos as well, but couldn’t find the exact information we needed. So I’m glad this quick video has been helpful :)
Thank you! Regarding climbing stairs, we did a senior member in our group (70s), who didn’t have any issues handling the 2nd circuit. The hardest part is basically from the parking lot up to the first vantage point, which has a little incline with some stairs, but nothing too insanely hard. I rank this circuit like a 2-3/10 difficulty. Now regarding being scared of heights. Really all the above vantage point parts have large, more than adequate flat ground to walk around, so you won’t be feeling claustrophobic or like you’re peering over a cliff or anything. There are some parts during the descent into the ruins where you’ll have to walk down stairs that are about 3 people wide. These stairs sometimes have ropes on both sides, but some parts are a tad steep and don’t have any railings to hold onto. It’s tough to say, but I think circuit 2 is well worth it, especially if you have someone to hold onto 😂 a guide would probably be more than willing to go slowly down. Thinking about it, I actually recall one of the people in our party also being scared of heights and had 1 or 2 parts where they were nervous but managed by going slowly with the help of their husband. But if you’re not looking to risk it, you can take circuit 1 just for the above views (no exploring the actual ruins below), or circuit 3/4 (no above vantage points, you enter from the parking lot and it’s basically flat the whole way). Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. Sorry for the wordy response. Please ignore any typos as this is from my phone. I hope this helps! Feel free to leave any more questions or concerns.
Rain can sometimes be unfortunate, so it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared. I would probably bring a very light one to avoid packing heavy. You could also find a rain poncho which takes up virtually no space. In terms of supermarkets and street food, depends on where you’re referring to. In Cusco there are plenty of shops, grocery stores, and the occasional street vendor. However, I would probably stay away from any food on the street to avoid getting sick.. assuming your stomach isn’t already acclimated to eating food in South America. In Aguas Calientes, it seems that there are places to eat every 100 feet, so you shouldn’t have any issues 😅
@@BackpackGringo made it on September 24? It's so complicated and over rated, because the journey to the actual machu Picchu site is just too much trouble for too much money. Compared to other UNESCO heritage sites, eg. Petra Jordan or Angkor Watt Cambodia, this is too much effort and money for just one site .
You’re welcome! I think you just have to start taking steps. Once you start planning, it becomes fun once all the pieces start falling together. Hopefully you can reference this guide to make it a bit easier ;)
You’re very welcome! In Peru as a whole? Or at Machu Picchu? At Machu Picchu, no drones are allowed. In Peru, you’ll have to check the specific regulations per drone flying. Usually, a drone over 500 grams will require permit + you have to follow certain country wide rules.
@@BackpackGringo Yeah I know Machu Picchu is off limit, I'd like to fly everywher else, I have a Mini 4 under 250g but I havn't find any reliable source!
You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped! I believe on Peru Rail, you’re only allowed 1 bag. I know it does mention it on the website somewhere. Because some people in our group had extra suitcases and stuff, we ended up just booking our Airbnb extra days and left our baggage there at it so we could travel light to Aguas Calientes. I hope this helps and wishing you an amazing trip 🥳
To go into Machu Picchu, you can bring a small backpack with you with a water and essentials. You can’t bring in food, selfie sticks, professional filming equipment (without proper permits)…etc. They have a full list posted online which I’d recommend on reviewing. Vegetarian options shouldn’t be a problem anywhere you go! They have plenty of options.
Best time (dry season) = April, May, September, October. The rainy season is November to March, with Jan and Feb being the worst. The Incan trail is usually closed in Feb due to weather. If you decide on going around Christmas, you’d need to prepare for the rain and the possibility of it being too foggy to see any thing. We went in June, and had great weather. Cheers!
Hi. Greetings from Indonesia. Such a good video. I have a question, why did you take train from Poroy instead of San Pedro (which is closer to the city center of Cusco)?
Hi there 👋 Good question, we decided to use the Poroy train station based on the reviews + from talking to locals. Apparently the San Pedro train actually takes a lot longer due to “switchbacks” while leaving and arriving back to the station. Additionally, people as of 5 months ago on Google Maps reviews were complaining about the train from San Pedro actually being a bimodal service (which isn’t mentioned on their website) where they force people to take a bus for some of the distance + a train for the rest. Sounds like a headache 😅 It’s really up to you, but from reading some other people’s thoughts online, the taxi to the Peroy train station + the train ride is wellll worth it and will be much much shorter of a journey than from San Pedro.
It would definitely be wise to book one in Cusco at a minimum. The elevation is very high, so it’s best to relax and adjust to that altitude. You don’t necessarily need to book in Aguas Calientes, as you could train in, arrive and go to Machu Picchu, and train back. But that would be unnecessarily exhausting, and too many variables that could potentially cause you to miss something, and ruin your trip. A 1 night stay in Aguas Calientes is a great idea, and allows you to relax and enjoy the experience better.
Peru rail has a link on their website which covers the luggage. On the site, it says you can take 1 bag or 1 backpack weighing up to 17.64lbs. I dont recall anyone checking the weight of anyone’s bags. I don’t believe you can bring a suitcase with you. We ended up just leaving our bags in Cusco at our airbnb (which we rented for a few days extra) to account for the time we were away visiting Machu Picchu.
Ahh good to know they changed the process a little. I would reference this videos “circuit” section to get a better feel for which one you want to do. I would recommend circuit 2 as it’s the most complete!
such clear views! what time of day did you arrive at Machu picchu? also, would you recommend taking the train back to cusco after finishing at Machu picchu? or was that too much to do in one day for you?
I believe we went in at 8am. Seemed like a great time to arrive! Time of day/year factor into the chances of having a clear day. It really depends on how easy you want to take it. Making it back in one day is definitely a journey. We ended up doing this. The pros of staying an extra night after Machu Picchu is that you can relax in town and get a massage (which was about $11 an hour) or go to the hot springs in town :)
That would depend on where you’re starting from! If you’re in Cusco, I would just start at the Poroy Train Station, because Ollantaytambo is about 61.5km away.
going there in January. is it easy to find a guide at the gate even during the early morning, like 6am? is 15usd pp the standard rate, or is there some haggling involved? thanks for this very informative vid.:)
I’m not sure as to an early time slot like 6am, however, to be sure, you can also get one in Aguas Calientes. In the line to get onto the bus, there were actually a lot of guides seeing if you would like their services. They will just board the bus with you and then you’re good to go. I believe we haggled the price to $15pp just a tad bit because we actually didn’t bring enough cash. But several guides seemed to have fixed rates. I would check the prices with the guides in Aguas Calientes, and if they offer a better price, I would take that just to ensure you get a guide :) Hope this helps, and wishing you a great visit in January!!!
I believe we paid in USD. But I would absolutely plan to bring Soles just to be 100% prepared. I cannot confirm if all the guides accept USD, or if it was just ours. Better safe than sorry!
Hi! I booked machu picchu tickets from the spanish website for June 2, 2024 but only got confirmation for payment. Im wondering if I did not do it right because I never got the actual tickets online. Im freaking out now coz all tickets for this day are sold out😢 Did you get the tickets after you paid online?
Hi there, so after you checkout, you shouldhave received an email from noreply@culturacusco.gob.pe, with a confirmation and also a link to pay for your ticket at the bottom of the email. After you pay, you should have received another email from that address confirming your reservation/ with your tickets. If the first email you received has a confirmation code, you can try putting it into this site: reservas.machupicchu.gob.pe/buscar Also double check that it didn’t get sent to your spam inbox. You can also search your email for “Reserva confirmada”, “ Reserva de Boleto Electrónico”, or “machupicchu” (with no space) to hopefully find it.
hello. not sure if youll see this, but can i ask do you think a whole tour (with all the trains, buses, entrance included) for someone travelling solo? or you would recommend doing the same as you did, which is buying all the stuff separately by yourself and then get a tour guide once youre there? im a backpacker so i have no problem doing things like this, but i certainly think getting a tour guide is needed for this amazing site and im afraid i couldnt get one. The whole package of tour will cover anything though i assume. Also, ill be going there in late may but i still havent booked anything. Do you think ill be able to do so in a couple of days? as i heard that you will need to book the entrace months in advance. Thank you so much
Hi there! Getting a complete tour package with everything included most certainly removes all the headaches of trying to plan everything and making sure the timing is lined up. This definitely isn’t a bad option if the price is right :) I believe I put a few tour packages in the video description! So make sure to check those out and compare to anything else you find. Now with your guides, I think you’ll 100% be able to find a guide for Machu Picchu. I don’t think there is ever a shortage as we saw sooo many in Aguas Calientes and outside the Machu Picchu entrance. For the park entrance ticket, I would recommend looking into availability as soon as possible. Last thing you want is tickets to be sold out :,)
@@BackpackGringo hi there! Thanks for your swift reply! I immediately looked it up last night and found out there’s only one desired time slot which is 9am left within my travel days! I made the booking right off the bat and paid the exact same price that you did 152. I haven’t bought any transportation ticket yet but I’ll get to it in no time! Thanks a lot!
I’d recommend the second circuit. We took this one as well! This covers everything at Machu Picchu, minus the other mountains you can hike up (which we couldn’t do, as we had an elderly person in our group).
We ended up paying $15 usd pp for an English speaker. But i know the price does vary depending on where you get your guide. For instance, in Aguas Calientes, I know I heard several prices from the guides offering services there. For more context, you can refer to a previous comment below from @junbyc In terms of tipping, in Peru it is good practice to tip at least 10%. The US dollar goes a long way in Peru, so the tips you provide really help out the locals. For the tour guide I think it’s best to tip 20%! Hope this helps :)
I had no idea where to start or how to plan everything. almost gave up and tried to buy a pre-planned package. This video probably saved me a few thousands USD :D
That’s awesome to hear!! Thanks for checking out the video, glad it helped you with your planning! Definitely one of the more complicated trips we had to book as well 😂
I went 20 years ago and i was the only black person and everyone was kind and wonderful to me. The best advice i can give is to make sure you have your train ticket to Machu Picchu in advance. I was not able to get a train ticket until someone cancelled and i had to pretend to be that person because when someone cancels it goes back into the system and whoever is next in the waiting line would get it. I would have been so sad to have travelled all the way to Peru and not been able to see Machu Picchu. Also, as soon as you arrive in Cusco, get your Coca Leaves immediately and don't wait until you get sick (you will need them). It was the best trip i have ever been on.
Excellent Machu Picchu guide! Perhaps the best I've seen so far.👍
Thanks a ton! ☺️☺️
Outstanding video. Concise, clear, thorough, and with a friendly tone. Very impressed with the value provided, we will use it as our "go-to" guide on our upcoming June '25 guide. Thank you.
Great job, just the right amount of time on each item, and everything very very organized. Outstanding!
Thank you for the kind words!
Best Machu Picchu guide!
Thank you!
Very kind of you. Thank you! I’m glad it proved useful 😍
The color coded circuit outlines all at once was very helpful. Thank you.
You’re welcome! ☺️
Note, they've changed all that since June 2024
That’s good to know! I’ll look into the changes. Thank you!
This is an excellent video. Comprehensive, covers all vital aspects, and is concise as well. Thank you
So happy that I came across your videos! I’ve been doing a lot of research for my upcoming trip to Peru and was overwhelmed by the amount of information on Machu Picchu. Your video gave me all the information I needed! Thank you! Thank you!
I’m happy you stumbled across my video! We felt the exact same way when we were planning our trip as well 😂 Hope you have an amazing time!
Very helpful video! Just one correction: Machu Picchu is not one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was declared a _Peruvian Historical Sanctuary_ in 1981 and a _UNESCO World Heritage Site_ in 1983.
Then, in a 2007 worldwide internet poll, Machu Picchu was voted (mainly by the Peruvian people) one of the *_New_*_ Seven Wonders of the World._ While that title is often used
to market Machu Picchu for tourists in Peru, it's not an official title. The popularity poll via free web-based voting and telephone voting was organized by the _New 7 Wonders Foundation_ (N7W) based in Zurich, Switzerland. The poll was considered unscientific, partly because it was possible for people to cast multiple votes, and because an intensive campaign was led by the _Peruvian Ministry of Commerce and Tourism_ in Peru, which had a great impact in Peruvian media and consequently, Peruvian people voted massively for Machu Picchu to win.
So while it's a stunning site, it was basically voted a "New Wonder of the World" by the Peruvian people themselves, and it's not an official title.
Thank you for the correction and thorough comment! Very insightful. I definitely learned a few new things and I’m sure others who read this will too.
All the best 👍🏼🙏🏼
Great thanksssssss
Great good footage
Most useful 🎉🎉🎉
I did a motorcycle tour up to Machu Picchu back in April 2022. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The inca Valley is truly one of the gems of the planet.
No way?? How was that? That sounds absolutely nuts 🤯
@@BackpackGringo It was one of the most magical moments of my life. We traversed through and over Rivers, up into the mountains, through fog and rain, into the villages and by the lakes. All the sceneries that one can imagine. Amazing!
That sounds life changing 😂 Jealous, but glad you got to experience such an amazing adventure!
@@BackpackGringo thank you. Great video by the way. thanks for posting.
@@Stylelss can you provide me information about the motorcycle tour?
GOod guide
This is probably the best informative video that I have watched! Because of that I am subscribing! Thank you!❤
Thank you for your kind words 👍🏼 Welcome!
Brilliant video! This video, especially the bits on the circuits, was super helpful. Thank you!
Glad to hear! Appreciate your kind words.
Thanks for the good content! I'm going to visit Machu Picchu in November of this year and this video really helped me (:
You’re very welcome! I’m glad it was helpful ☺️ I hope you have the time of your life!!
I'm heading there as well! Nov 3 -10 in Cusco. Can't wait to venture and meet new people.
Hope you have fun 💪🏼
Peru es elegante soy peruano de lima si llegas a peru lo primero primero tu ceviche peruano original k sea picante en un mercadito ai si te venden asu rico elegante ceviche peruano si no pica no es ceviche te recomiendo amigaaaaaaaá 😊
@jesusberrocal2556 Ceviche picante es delicioso 😝 Gracias por ver
Excellent video. I needed this guide as I am going on october 14 already. will spend 2 nights in AC and 5 nights in Cusco.
Heck yeah! Hope you have an amazing trip!
wow very helpful and informative content friend
Appreciate it! Glad it was helpful
@@BackpackGringo cheers
Great video, thanks. Your cinematography was on point too !!
Thank you!!
Straight up facts at 1:45 and 4:25
Yessir!
Great job & information...
Awesome info! Thank you! ❤
Fantastic video and an excellent guide to Cusco and Machu Picchu! Thank you!
Thank you very much 🙏🏼
Just starting to plan my South America trip, including Machu Picchu. Amazing tips, will be following your agenda 🙂
Great video, I am sure i will review it few more times before my trip!
Thank you!
You just made my mind stop racing! Thank you very much for this informative and well-organized video.
Hahahah glad to hear it helped with some of the stress! Hope you have an amazing trip 🙏🏼
Incredible place and your video has helped us out so much , we live in London uk and I was thinking how difficult this would be in planning . But after viewing your guide it actually seems pretty straightforward. Thankyou
I’m glad you liked it! We’re actually in London right now as well. Sadly, our trip through Europe ends tomorrow! So stay tuned as I’ll eventually post a video covering your home city 😄
Thank you so much !
God bless you all!
Excellent guide! Can you update the Amazon links? They are broken. Thanks!
Hi there! I just updated the links, seems like they were broken. Thank you for bringing that to my attention!
Bro this is wonderful information ❤ So far one of the best videos I have seen. Covered everything in a simple calm manner. Very helpful 🙏❤️🫡
Hey man, really appreciate it!! I tried my best to keep it concise! Hope it proves helpful to you both ❤️
Excellent guide and beautiful footage. Subscribed 🌞
Thanks a ton! I appreciate it 😀
Wow I cant wait to visit now!
😊
Great video and really informative.
Thank you! Hope it proves helpful!!
Excellent video. Thank you. From London, England. I visited Machu Pichhu in 2014. I live in London, England.
You’re welcome! Such an amazing place! Cheers from the US 🙏🏼
Danke!
Dankeschön!!
Very kind of you. Hope this guide has helped ☺️
Great travel guide on traveling to Machu Picchu!
Cheers!
Very thorough and informative! Thanks
Thankz for making life easy 😎👌 God Bless ☝️😊
from Auckland New Zealand 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 Cheerz Bro 😎👌
Hey, no problem!! Hopefully will get to visit NZ someday soon ❤️
Thanks so much helped a lot :-)
Glad it helped!!’
What a comprehensive video! Planning to visit there this year or the next. This was very helpful. Love from India!
Thank you for the support. I’m glad you found it useful! Wishing you an amazing trip out to Peru ❤️
Clear instructions with no fluff.
Awesome video, very helpful !! the weather seems so nice when you were there, what month were you in Machu pichu?
Thank you!!!
I visited on June 20th :) Definitely was fortunate enough to have perfect weather!
@BackpackGringo: fantastic video, which is a great help for planning our Machu Picchu visit. One note though: the "English Gov. Website" is almost certainly not an official government site, but a private organization.
Thank you for putting this together. I am visiting Machu Pichu this coming August with my family. You just cleared my doubts. Great video.
I’m glad to hear! Hope you and your family have an amazing trip!!
Excellent video. Well presented with the right amount of detail.
Thank you very much :) I tried to make it as concise as possible 🙏🏼
This is by far the best visual introduction to Machu Picchu. BTW, I heard no videotaping is allowed. Is it true? Or to which point where videotaping is allowed. Thanks.
Thank you very much!! Too kind :)
You can film with your phone and small cameras, just no tri pods. But I believe if you have larger professional equipment, you’ll need to get permission / a permit to bring it in the park.
We really love your videos. You're so positive and knowledgeable and make us want to visit the places you've been to. Thanks mate and keep up the great work!
I greatly appreciate it :) Glad to hear I’ve inspired y’all to travel! There’s a lot of amazing places out there ☺️ Wishing you the best on your future adventures. Feel free to reach out if you need anything.
excellent concise info. Thank You. Just subscribed to this channel after watching this concise video.
Appreciate the sub! Cheers!
Great advice.
Grettings from Austria ❤.
Hello! We actually just traveled to Vienna! Going to start posting videos from our Europe trip, so stay tuned for the Vienna one 🥰
Thank you for making your video. Very helpful compared some other videos I watched.
Glad to hear this video helped! Thanks for watching :)
Great video
😎
Wow your clip is really comprehensive.thanks
Very informative, will be visiting the last week in April. I have a much better understanding of how to go about traveling to Machu Picchu. Will share with my fellow travelers.
Glad to hear this guide helped! Wishing you an amazing trip in April! ☺️
Thanks for all the information you’ve shared. Great video and what beautiful place to visit.
You’re welcome! I’m glad the information was helpful 🫡☺️
Thank you for the insight
Its super helpful
We are going there soon
Anytime! Have a great trip
Beautiful footage and commentary thank you 🙏
I appreciate it 🙏🏼☺️
Excellent overview.
Best one so far.
Thank you!
Thank you so much 😀
I’ve watched several of these and liked yours the best. Thanks
Thank you, I appreciate it! Prior to planning our trip, we watched a bunch of other YT videos as well, but couldn’t find the exact information we needed. So I’m glad this quick video has been helpful :)
Thanks you for the very detail and clear video. Hmm, couple days travel for couple hours visit, I pass.
You’re welcome!
The whole process of getting there is an adventure in and of itself. But that’s understandable!
Incredible just incredible. So aptly done.Stunning visual, great commentary and very well informed.
Cheers to u.
Thanks a ton for the comment and kind words :) Glad you enjoyed it!!!
Excellent video, thank you for keeping it simple and to the point.
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Such a great guide! I plan on going myself, and I will be referring back to this guide. Thanks!
Thank you! I’m glad this guide helps. Wishing you a fun trip 🥳
Saving this for my upcoming trip. Thanks a lot
Happy it was useful :) Have a great trip!
Thank you so much for the detailed information. Much appreciated
No problem! 🫰
Great video!
Thank you! 😄
This was super helpful! Thank you!❤❤❤❤
You’re welcome! ☺️ Glad my guide proved helpful
Great video resource! Any thoughts regarding people scared of heights and climbing stairs (senior friendly?0? Appreciated!
Thank you! Regarding climbing stairs, we did a senior member in our group (70s), who didn’t have any issues handling the 2nd circuit. The hardest part is basically from the parking lot up to the first vantage point, which has a little incline with some stairs, but nothing too insanely hard. I rank this circuit like a 2-3/10 difficulty.
Now regarding being scared of heights. Really all the above vantage point parts have large, more than adequate flat ground to walk around, so you won’t be feeling claustrophobic or like you’re peering over a cliff or anything. There are some parts during the descent into the ruins where you’ll have to walk down stairs that are about 3 people wide. These stairs sometimes have ropes on both sides, but some parts are a tad steep and don’t have any railings to hold onto. It’s tough to say, but I think circuit 2 is well worth it, especially if you have someone to hold onto 😂 a guide would probably be more than willing to go slowly down. Thinking about it, I actually recall one of the people in our party also being scared of heights and had 1 or 2 parts where they were nervous but managed by going slowly with the help of their husband. But if you’re not looking to risk it, you can take circuit 1 just for the above views (no exploring the actual ruins below), or circuit 3/4 (no above vantage points, you enter from the parking lot and it’s basically flat the whole way). Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable.
Sorry for the wordy response. Please ignore any typos as this is from my phone. I hope this helps! Feel free to leave any more questions or concerns.
@@BackpackGringo wow! I appreciate your reply and may be taking my dad with me soon!
@lizettemerchan4966 Of course, always happy to help ☺️ wishing you both the best of luck with planning your trip!
this is the most informative video I watched when planning my strip. Thank you so much! Subscribed your channel and recommended to my friends.
Thank you for the support! I’m very glad that this video proved to be useful 😄 Wishing you the best of trips!
Very detail, thanks, incidentally I just looking for a comfortable route
You’re welcome! Let me know if you have any questions about which route would be the easiest!
Cheers!
Very informative video.
Thank you.
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Thanks for this very informative video; i am planning to go there in early May this year.
Hope you have an amazing trip :)
Should I bring rain coat for September 20? It is easy to find supermarket and street food?
Rain can sometimes be unfortunate, so it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared. I would probably bring a very light one to avoid packing heavy. You could also find a rain poncho which takes up virtually no space.
In terms of supermarkets and street food, depends on where you’re referring to. In Cusco there are plenty of shops, grocery stores, and the occasional street vendor. However, I would probably stay away from any food on the street to avoid getting sick.. assuming your stomach isn’t already acclimated to eating food in South America. In Aguas Calientes, it seems that there are places to eat every 100 feet, so you shouldn’t have any issues 😅
@@BackpackGringo made it on September 24? It's so complicated and over rated, because the journey to the actual machu Picchu site is just too much trouble for too much money. Compared to other UNESCO heritage sites, eg. Petra Jordan or Angkor Watt Cambodia, this is too much effort and money for just one site .
Excellent commentary, amazing visuals, useful information, and very well edited and put together.
Much appreciated! Thanks for the kind words 😊
excellent
Thank youuu!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! this is exactly what i needed
You’re welcome! Glad it helped 🫡🙏🏼
Do you recommend a stay in Lima? Before heading out to Cusco
It’s completely optional. However, Lima is a big city, and there’s plenty to do there! Depends how long you want your trip to be
Thanks for sharing. Amazing
You’re very welcome!! Hope it helps :)
thank you for such a wonderful video. I really want to visit there but I am so scared o putting together a trip by myself.
You’re welcome! I think you just have to start taking steps. Once you start planning, it becomes fun once all the pieces start falling together. Hopefully you can reference this guide to make it a bit easier ;)
Wonderful video! Thanks for all the usefull info! I'll be visiting Perù next month, do you know what are the regulations to fly a drone down there?
You’re very welcome! In Peru as a whole? Or at Machu Picchu? At Machu Picchu, no drones are allowed. In Peru, you’ll have to check the specific regulations per drone flying. Usually, a drone over 500 grams will require permit + you have to follow certain country wide rules.
@@BackpackGringo Yeah I know Machu Picchu is off limit, I'd like to fly everywher else, I have a Mini 4 under 250g but I havn't find any reliable source!
Very good video! It’s everything you need to know. We were there in 2012. Incredible place!
Thank you very much!
Definitely planning a trip for 2025.
Love to hear it! If you have any questions before your trip, feel free to ask :)
@@BackpackGringo thanks appreciate it ☺️🙏🏿
Thank you for the very informative video! We are going this June, we booked PeruRail as well. May I ask if they allow luggages? Thank you very much!
You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped! I believe on Peru Rail, you’re only allowed 1 bag. I know it does mention it on the website somewhere. Because some people in our group had extra suitcases and stuff, we ended up just booking our Airbnb extra days and left our baggage there at it so we could travel light to Aguas Calientes.
I hope this helps and wishing you an amazing trip 🥳
@@BackpackGringo Thank you so much for replying! We are excited!
@lindsaydeleon516 You’re welcome :)
Great video, thank you
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏼
Thank you for all the details! What are the things allowed to take with you to Machu Pichu? Is vegetarian food easily available?
To go into Machu Picchu, you can bring a small backpack with you with a water and essentials. You can’t bring in food, selfie sticks, professional filming equipment (without proper permits)…etc. They have a full list posted online which I’d recommend on reviewing.
Vegetarian options shouldn’t be a problem anywhere you go! They have plenty of options.
@@BackpackGringo Thank you!
amazing video. very well explained. when is the good time to go? climate wise.. we are planning to go during Christmas new year time..
Best time (dry season) = April, May, September, October.
The rainy season is November to March, with Jan and Feb being the worst. The Incan trail is usually closed in Feb due to weather. If you decide on going around Christmas, you’d need to prepare for the rain and the possibility of it being too foggy to see any thing. We went in June, and had great weather. Cheers!
@@BackpackGringo Thank you so much!
You’re welcome! Have a great trip :)
Hi. Greetings from Indonesia. Such a good video. I have a question, why did you take train from Poroy instead of San Pedro (which is closer to the city center of Cusco)?
Hi there 👋 Good question, we decided to use the Poroy train station based on the reviews + from talking to locals. Apparently the San Pedro train actually takes a lot longer due to “switchbacks” while leaving and arriving back to the station. Additionally, people as of 5 months ago on Google Maps reviews were complaining about the train from San Pedro actually being a bimodal service (which isn’t mentioned on their website) where they force people to take a bus for some of the distance + a train for the rest. Sounds like a headache 😅
It’s really up to you, but from reading some other people’s thoughts online, the taxi to the Peroy train station + the train ride is wellll worth it and will be much much shorter of a journey than from San Pedro.
Good info thanks
So I need to book a hotel at Cusco and then Aguascalientes?
It would definitely be wise to book one in Cusco at a minimum. The elevation is very high, so it’s best to relax and adjust to that altitude. You don’t necessarily need to book in Aguas Calientes, as you could train in, arrive and go to Machu Picchu, and train back. But that would be unnecessarily exhausting, and too many variables that could potentially cause you to miss something, and ruin your trip. A 1 night stay in Aguas Calientes is a great idea, and allows you to relax and enjoy the experience better.
I'd like to know if Perurail charges the carryon luggage.Thanks very much.
Peru rail has a link on their website which covers the luggage. On the site, it says you can take 1 bag or 1 backpack weighing up to 17.64lbs. I dont recall anyone checking the weight of anyone’s bags. I don’t believe you can bring a suitcase with you. We ended up just leaving our bags in Cusco at our airbnb (which we rented for a few days extra) to account for the time we were away visiting Machu Picchu.
This is so helpfulllllll! Thank u a lot
You’re very welcome ☺️
I go to buy my ticket but it ask me to. choose a circuit before hand. I
Ahh good to know they changed the process a little. I would reference this videos “circuit” section to get a better feel for which one you want to do. I would recommend circuit 2 as it’s the most complete!
such clear views! what time of day did you arrive at Machu picchu? also, would you recommend taking the train back to cusco after finishing at Machu picchu? or was that too much to do in one day for you?
I believe we went in at 8am. Seemed like a great time to arrive! Time of day/year factor into the chances of having a clear day.
It really depends on how easy you want to take it. Making it back in one day is definitely a journey. We ended up doing this. The pros of staying an extra night after Machu Picchu is that you can relax in town and get a massage (which was about $11 an hour) or go to the hot springs in town :)
Great video! When did you visit?
Thank you! We went in June last year!
Wich is the better way of starting train ride sir,,
from Poroy to Aguascalientes
from Ollantaytambo to Aguascalientes
GRACIAS
That would depend on where you’re starting from! If you’re in Cusco, I would just start at the Poroy Train Station, because Ollantaytambo is about 61.5km away.
going there in January. is it easy to find a guide at the gate even during the early morning, like 6am? is 15usd pp the standard rate, or is there some haggling involved?
thanks for this very informative vid.:)
I’m not sure as to an early time slot like 6am, however, to be sure, you can also get one in Aguas Calientes. In the line to get onto the bus, there were actually a lot of guides seeing if you would like their services. They will just board the bus with you and then you’re good to go.
I believe we haggled the price to $15pp just a tad bit because we actually didn’t bring enough cash. But several guides seemed to have fixed rates. I would check the prices with the guides in Aguas Calientes, and if they offer a better price, I would take that just to ensure you get a guide :)
Hope this helps, and wishing you a great visit in January!!!
thanks for this! really appreciate the reply.
@@junbyc You’re welcome! Let me know if you have any other questions :)
is it okay to pay in usd? or do they only accept soles?
I believe we paid in USD. But I would absolutely plan to bring Soles just to be 100% prepared. I cannot confirm if all the guides accept USD, or if it was just ours. Better safe than sorry!
Hi! I booked machu picchu tickets from the spanish website for June 2, 2024 but only got confirmation for payment. Im wondering if I did not do it right because I never got the actual tickets online. Im freaking out now coz all tickets for this day are sold out😢 Did you get the tickets after you paid online?
Hi there, so after you checkout, you shouldhave received an email from noreply@culturacusco.gob.pe, with a confirmation and also a link to pay for your ticket at the bottom of the email. After you pay, you should have received another email from that address confirming your reservation/ with your tickets.
If the first email you received has a confirmation code, you can try putting it into this site:
reservas.machupicchu.gob.pe/buscar
Also double check that it didn’t get sent to your spam inbox. You can also search your email for “Reserva confirmada”, “ Reserva de Boleto Electrónico”, or “machupicchu” (with no space) to hopefully find it.
hello. not sure if youll see this, but can i ask do you think a whole tour (with all the trains, buses, entrance included) for someone travelling solo? or you would recommend doing the same as you did, which is buying all the stuff separately by yourself and then get a tour guide once youre there? im a backpacker so i have no problem doing things like this, but i certainly think getting a tour guide is needed for this amazing site and im afraid i couldnt get one. The whole package of tour will cover anything though i assume. Also, ill be going there in late may but i still havent booked anything. Do you think ill be able to do so in a couple of days? as i heard that you will need to book the entrace months in advance. Thank you so much
Hi there! Getting a complete tour package with everything included most certainly removes all the headaches of trying to plan everything and making sure the timing is lined up. This definitely isn’t a bad option if the price is right :) I believe I put a few tour packages in the video description! So make sure to check those out and compare to anything else you find.
Now with your guides, I think you’ll 100% be able to find a guide for Machu Picchu. I don’t think there is ever a shortage as we saw sooo many in Aguas Calientes and outside the Machu Picchu entrance.
For the park entrance ticket, I would recommend looking into availability as soon as possible. Last thing you want is tickets to be sold out :,)
@@BackpackGringo hi there! Thanks for your swift reply! I immediately looked it up last night and found out there’s only one desired time slot which is 9am left within my travel days! I made the booking right off the bat and paid the exact same price that you did 152. I haven’t bought any transportation ticket yet but I’ll get to it in no time! Thanks a lot!
@Simonbacon023 no problem! Glad you got it figured out just in time ;) Have an amazing trip!
Which circuit do you recommend?
I’d recommend the second circuit. We took this one as well! This covers everything at Machu Picchu, minus the other mountains you can hike up (which we couldn’t do, as we had an elderly person in our group).
How much are the tour guides generally and whats the general idea on tipping them and other people?
Thanks so much.
We ended up paying $15 usd pp for an English speaker. But i know the price does vary depending on where you get your guide. For instance, in Aguas Calientes, I know I heard several prices from the guides offering services there. For more context, you can refer to a previous comment below from @junbyc
In terms of tipping, in Peru it is good practice to tip at least 10%. The US dollar goes a long way in Peru, so the tips you provide really help out the locals. For the tour guide I think it’s best to tip 20%!
Hope this helps :)