Hello all...
I´ve just arrived in Cuzco and was shocked to find out how much Machu Picchu is...the $40 entrance fee, I can deal with, but a $90 round trip train ticket I have a problem with.
Does anyone have any recommendations on gettiing around this? Alternate routes? I´m starting a 10 day Vipassna on Wed so I´ll be back around after that.
Cheers
I´ve just arrived in Cuzco and was shocked to find out how much Machu Picchu is...the $40 entrance fee, I can deal with, but a $90 round trip train ticket I have a problem with.
Does anyone have any recommendations on gettiing around this? Alternate routes? I´m starting a 10 day Vipassna on Wed so I´ll be back around after that.
Cheers
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Tue, March 18, 2008 - 9:56 AMI hiked 5 days from the Cuzco area to Ollantaytambo, took the train to Aguas Calientes and then bused up the hill to Machu Picchu. The train is the fast option for tourists, and it IS quite nice, with a beautiful view of the river and surrounding mountains. There may be buses, or you can try to hitchhike. You will not get around the entrance fee obviously. You may think this is a lot of money but it's worth it. So so so worth it. -
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Wed, March 19, 2008 - 9:26 AMYeah, ive got no problems with the entrance fee. But like I said I do have a problem with such a steep price for a 120km train ride. 96 bucks return is out of control, in my opinion.
Peace
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 3:28 AMtoo bad I just saw this. I was there in February and yes, I went there through an alternate route that was waaaaaaay cheaper. You probably went there already but just in case somebody else needs it.
From Cuzco, take a bus to Santa Maria
then a van to Santa Teresa (I think it's in this order)
then another van or 2,5 hs walk to the hidroelectrica
then walk 2hs along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes.
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Tue, July 8, 2008 - 6:06 AMSeriously?
There is only one legit way to see Machu Picchu, and that is at dawn on the 4th or 5th day of a serious hike. Either the classic Inca Trail or the new one -- but you have to earn it. Hitchhikers and day trippers are nothing more than unwelcome pests after you have huffed your ass over the mountains at high altitude. I would strongly discourage anyone from visiting Machu Picchu by any means other than hiking in. When you get there, the people who have actually earned the experience will resent your presence, and rightly so. -
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Wed, July 9, 2008 - 4:39 PMUhh...seriously?
I hiked 30 km along the railway in one day. Does that meet your self-righteous standards?
Try to remember the subjectivity of it all. All being everything. Machu Pichu or any place for that matter is for the world to see, regardless of how they get there. Everybody is different and what is medicine for one person can be poision for another. True, a 5 day hike may make YOU enjoy it more, but that doesnt mean youre better than anyone. I highly recommend you dismount your high horse and figure out why youre thinking like this. Doesnt sound healthy and downright mean.
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 5:57 PMThe Quechua civilization that built Macchu Picchu built 2 roads by which pilgrims were to travel to the city. They intended for a visit to the place to be a pilgrimage through other holy places -- to focus the mind properly before arrival at the site. You may consider it high-handed to say so, but I believe that you denigrate the wonder of what they built by choosing to visit by a modern route. You also deprive yourself of an incredible spiritual experience--the journey-- that was intended by the people who built the thing.
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Re: Machu Picchu on the Cheap
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 7:21 PMThat´s a good point. Why didnt you just say it like that in the first place?
Still, we´re not Quecha, nor do we live in those times. I see nothing wrong with people arriving by any means they can. Different strokes for different folks. I don´t think it really matters what the Quecha intended. And if arriving by a modern means cheapens the meaning, what about the hefty admission cost? That was my biggest issue with machu picchu. I think if Machu Picchu was a sacred place, it was sold off long ago.
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