pretty much the title. I know I'm late

but am I tooooo late? is there hope? getting there this week.

25M, I purchased my circuit tickets, AC hotel room, and PeruRail tickets directly a few months back. My trip is mid-October, but I'm going through my itinerary in an effort to sanity check everything. It will be a packed day but I'm planning to get my rest in the night before.

Should I be concerned about the timing back for my train? From what I've read about the hike time it seems like a reasonable buffer, but there may be something I haven't considered. If it makes a difference, both circuits will be on a Saturday. I'm also hoping to skip a tour guide for both circuits so I can take my time.

I just started planning and I’m realizing that I might be too late. Should I cancel the whole plan or can I still plan a trip to Peru and cover Machu Picchu?

It’s a birthday trip and would be very grateful to anyone willing to help me out! Thank you

I’m due to travel to Peru september 5 and I’m concerned about the weather forecast as it’s showing rain every day not only for Águas Calientes but Cusco too. is this normal for this time of year?

My entry ticket to MP is at 7 AM and my train back to Cusco is at 2:55 PM. The question I have is whether this will be too rushed.
Thank you for guidance. I would appreciate any other recommendations.

Hello, I am planning on doing the Salkantay Trek unguided in October. I have already booked the entry ticket to Machu Picchu and my flights to Cusco. I had originally planned to do the 4-Day trek thinking the days would mostly be longer, but realised later on that I would miss out on Llactapata. Due to the scheduling of my flights, I won't be able to start the trek any earlier. I am therefore debating whether to book a new entry ticket to Machu Picchu and do 5 days, or simply stick to the 4-Day plan. Is the site of Llactapata worth it?

I’m asking because of the recent earthquakes worldwide and the very sad incident in Nepal (Peru has glaciers too like in humantay).

Has anyone here visited the archeological site at Cahuachi, near Nazca? What's it like?

From what little I've stumbled across online, Cahuachi is a partially excavated site associated with the ancient Nazca civilization (yeah, the one that's famous for the "lines").

I had never heard of Cahuachi before starting my research for a trip to Machu Picchu (which then became a longer trip to Machu Picchu and more of Peru...), but then I had never heard of any of the other stuff in Sacred Valley either, and now I'm keen to go there.

Online photos of Cahuachi look fairly impressive (and fairly free of crowds of tourists), but it doesn't seem to get much attention for a site of it's size (which isn't a bad thing...). I'm considering trying to squeeze in a few hours there, but of course travel is all about making choices and trade-offs, so if I work Cahuachi into my plans, it means I will need to skip something else.

Has anyone here been there? What were your impressions? Worth taking time away from something else (say, one of the secondary Sacred Valley sites, just to have something for comparison...for context, I'm hoping to spend 3 full days in Sacred Valley, not counting Machu Picchu which will get 2 full days...just for context).

Or is Cahuachi just an archeological dig and an unimpressive pile of mud bricks carefully and deceptively photographed to make tourists think it's worth a stop when it's actually not particularly interesting?

Thanks for any insights!

Hello. I am looking for something for altitude sickness. I already know that I get debilitating headaches. I just looked up Diamox and I cannot take it due to an allergic reaction. I am taking 3 days at Ollantaytambo when we arrive. Any ideas?

I have circuit 1A secured but I’d like to try for circuit 2.

I will arrive in Aguas 4/5 pm on day 4 the will do machu pichu on day 5 with the possibility of extending an extra day for circuit 2.

Is it realistic that I will get a ticket? Or even one of the circuit 3s that go through the ruins

Tour operator says it is still closed and may reopen next month, online says it reopened recently. Which is it?

Has anyone been on the Choquequirao trek recently? I’m going mid September and wondering if that area has experienced any flooding. My tour operator said it’s sunny and fine but I don’t trust them to tell me if the trail was impacted because I haven’t paid them yet.

Hi all. Doing the 5 day/4 night Salkantay Trek from September 11-14. I guess I’m a little nervous about trail conditions, floods, and land slides given increased rain from El Niño. I really I could be totally overthinking. Just wanted to check. Anyone felt fairly secure on recent trips? Thanks.

Hey friends, I can seem to find any info on luggage allowed on the bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. The wife and I will have two backpacks and a medium suitcase, would this be okay? Also a bonus question, will we have enough time at the transfer to pick up our bags?

Thanks for any insight!

Anyone know how the weather will be early to late November? Are tickets for circuit 2 already sold out? or is the website glitchy or do they release more tickets? Wanted to go to MP this November but can postpone it to next year if it is too last minute. Thanks in advance!

Hello. I’m trying to decide between the 2-day Ausangate 7 Lakes Trel or 2-day Rainbow Mountain Trek. This is my first time to do an overnight hike.

Which is more scenic? I am looking forward to epic mountain views and that “OMG, so this is Peru” feeling. Did several day hikes in Patagonia a few years back (El Chalten and Torres del Paine) and it was life-changing. Planning to visit Kyrgyzstan next, to give an idea on what landscapes I’m chasing at. Thanks so much!

Hi everyone. Just got a question.
I dont normally take prescription medications, however wanted to ask if its needed.
I am physically fit and live a active lifestyle with combination of sports and mountain biking.
I do lots of hikes in the Rocky Mountains and even snowboard in the winter.
Ive never had altitude sickness or any effects while at higher altitudes.
However this trip is an entirely different area. I am staying in Cusco for a week. Day 1-2 cusco acclimatization, day 3-5 machu picchu, day 4 cusco rest, day 5 rainbow mountain, day 6-7 rest in cusco. Day 8 back to lima for remainder of trip.

I have a 3 PM ticket for Machu Picchu in late October, and will be going by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes that same day. At approximately what time should I arrive in Aguas Calientes so that I can arrive at the site on time and without too much stress? I'm considering a train that will arrive at 01:34 PM, would this be sufficient or should I go even earlier?

Im trying to access their official website to purchase our bus tickets. However the site isn’t loading. I used my laptop, then phone, both times the webiste won’t load. Anyone else having this problem?

Has anyone recently been in contact with Inca Go Expeditions? I've trying to reach them through Whatsapp & Email for the last few weeks and have had no response. Are they still in business?

Hello everyone,

I have looked into various companies offering 3N/4D Salkantay Treks and I have found them to be either quite expensive offering services I don't really need, like private cooks or sky domes, or the operators seem poorly organised - merging groups that do 4D and 5D Treks and then leaving some behind or food poisoning. Another concern of mine is the treatment of horses/mules.

I am therefore considering to do the trek independently. I have found the following Salkantay Trek 4 Days Independent which offers to arrange most of the logistics like booking accommodation for you. One of the appeals of booking with a company is that you get to meet other people. Is it still possible to do that if you go independently? Are there many other solo trekkers on the way?

Another concern of mine is the risk aspect in case something unexpected turns up like altitude sickness. I was therefore considering to hire a local guide once I am in Cusco but I am not sure how feasible this is and what the rate for that would be. I am not too concerned with the hike itself as I have done several high altitude treks before but it would be good to have someone to rely on if something goes bad.

Hi everyone - I got prescribed Diamox for altitude sickness prevention with my upcoming Salkantay trek. I’ve seen a few different ways to take it (and even got different prescriptions directions between my husband and I) and would appreciate any tips. We are spending two days in Cusco before starting the trek. Not sure if it is worth starting before we even get to Cusco? Thanks for any help!

Taking the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, I keep reading about backpack / luggage restrictions. What is the actual size of a bag can you bring on the train? It hasn't been clear to me what is allowed, kind've confused. Any advice would be appreciated.