Machu Picchu on a budget, part 2 — what to see and how to get back
In our previous installment, we gave you tried and true advice on how to get to Machu Picchu for $20. In this post, Smart Trip Platform brings you even more practical information about the legendary site and what to see (or not to see) there.
If you have followed our recommendations and arrived in Machu Picchu village on foot walking along the tracks, then simply keep following the river to the town center, and soon you will see a ticket booth for the bus that brings tourists to the ruins. When we were last at MP, the ticket price was $11 one way. The alternative is to walk: there is a trail (with a lot of stairs) through the jungle straight to the ruins, which takes about an hour and a half to walk from town. It is steep, and the air is very humid; if you are really, really on a tight budget, then this is a an option, but we advise you to ride the bus up… and walk down after you visit.
Buy your bus ticket (one way) once you arrive in MP village, don’t leave it till next morning! Then have a good rest, perhaps at the hot springs at the northern edge of town (they bring you beer and other drinks straight to the pool!) and go to bed early. Your hotel receptionist might tell you that it’s ok to go out at 4:30 am to take the first bus, which leaves at 5:30: don’t believe it, you will find a huge queue at that time already. Go out at 3:30 or at 4 am the latest. There will already be some snack bars open, so you will get a coffee, and most hotels and guesthouses proved packed breakfast. Once the buses start going, they leave every 5 minutes, so the queue moves rapidly.
If you want to save time and move on the same day (which we advise), then take all your stuff with you (we’ve said it in our previous post, but we’ll repeat: most of your things should remain in Cuzco, Ollantaytambo, or wherever it is that you stay before MP). There is a cheap luggage storage service at the ruins, both before and after the ticket control.
When visiting Machu Picchu, you have a choice between several types of tickets: just the site, the site plus Huayna Picchu (the iconic mountain you see in all the photos), and the site plus Machu Picchu Mountain — it’s a much higher mountain on the other side of the ruins, in the direction of the Sun Gate, where the Inca Trail ends. If you want to climb Huayna Picchu, you absolutely have to buy your ticket in advance, since the number of places each day is limited. However, Huayna Picchu is directly above the ruins, so the view is actually not that tremendous; plus, you cannot see the fantastic mountain itself, of course. Machu Picchu Mountain is a better choice, though the hike is longer (there are stairs all the way, but you still need to be in reasonable shape). Take collapsible hiking poles and hide them in your backpack until you are on the trail.
Machu Picchu Mountain can be hiked in two shifts. Till 10 am it is usually completely covered in mist, so it is better that you climb in the second shift and prepare to wait. To make sure you don’t waste any time, see as much of the site before you start climbing. Believe us, it doesn’t take too much time! In fact, the fantastic location and the mystery aside, the actual ruins of Machu Picchu are far less impressive than those at Pisac, Tipon, or Ollantaytambo. There are mostly ruined houses, and if the majestic Huayna Picchu was not there to add drama to the view, the site would lose much of its appeal. It looks fantastic from the Watchman’s Hut and from the mountain, but close up it is… well, go and see for yourself.
Once you have seen the ruins and climbed down from the mountain, there is no reason to linger: get your stuff from the storage, locate the trail to go down (obvious stairs on your left as you exit, heading down into the jungle), and descend. You will not have to pass through the town — that’s why you should have all your stuff with you. Walking down to the railway tracks takes an hour or so. Then you will need to retrace your steps along the tracks to Hidroelectrica, where you will find lots of colectivos waiting for tourists; they start leaving around 2 pm, but don’t believe if the driver says he is leaving “right now”. Buy snacks and water and prepare to wait.
If you started from Cuzco, then it makes sense to only go as far as Ollantaytambo on the way back: this way you can make your way to Cuzco in a couple of days, visiting ruins along the way. If you start from Hidroelectrica around 3 pm, by 7 pm you will be in Ollanta, with plenty of time to rest and eat.
If you have a question, then ask us in the comments here or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/STplatform/ and Telegram t.me/st_platform ! And of course, remember that the Smart Trip Platform token presale is in progress — join now at smarttripplatform.io and get a fantastic 20% discount.
