Trip Profile: Peru (specifically, Machu Picchu)

Peru is every outdoor enthusiast's dream, including mine! Truthfully, my expectations for this adventure were very low as this country was never really on my must see list, as I didn't know much about the country! (other than Machu Picchu) That said, there is so much to see and explore in Peru, you could easily spend months here. In this blog post, five tips to enjoy a short, budget friendly trip in the Machu Picchu area - Cusco, Aguas Calientes.

SUMMARY

Cost | $

Budget per Day | $60 CAD

How to Save | group travel, cooking, bringing food

Solo Travel | recommended

Accommodations | hostels > Airbnb

Transportation | uber always. beware of taxis

Suggested Time to Visit | March-May (end of rainy season and less busy)

Suggested Duration of Stay | 4-6 days (not hiking Machu Picchu)

Activities | landscape photography, hiking, tour groups

Technology | wifi accessible but a SIM card is strongly recommended

1. AVOID ALTITUDE SICKNESS DON'T LET IT RUIN YOUR TRIP

Sorry fellow millennial, our bodies are not invincible. Altitude sickness is real and will most likely affect you. The closest town you'll be staying in before your Machu Picchu excursion is Cusco and it is recommended you take at least a day or two in Cusco to adjust to the altitude before going to Machu Picchu. Cusco has an altitude of 3,400 m (11,152 ft) - compare that to where you're coming from.

There are many ways to avoid altitude sickness in Peru:

- The one I recommend to my friends - consult with your doctor and see if you would have an option to get the prescription (diamox)! Personally, I try not to take medication in my day-to-day, but I wasn't going to let something avoidable like altitude sickness ruin my first days in Peru. To put this in perspective, I was able to fully explore Cusco the day I arrived while all my friends were huddled in the hostel suffering from altitude sickness.

- Over the counter option: gravol and advil. Again, consult with your doctor. These didn't help the altitude sickness specifically, but helps with the symptoms that come with altitude sickness.

- The natural remedies: coca candy and tea. Very inexpensive remedies that will be available in your hostels and in the markets.

- Natural remedy 2.0: throw up and sleep. If you have the urge to vomit, do it because you'll feel 1000000 times better afterwards. According to my friends, holding it in makes it much worst.

2. SAVE TIME & TAKE THE TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU

Yes, you don't need to hike to get to Machu Picchu! If you don't have the luxury of unlimited vacation days or are just looking to be most efficient with your time in Peru, I'd recommend taking the train to Machu Picchu. This option is also less expensive as you're not paying for the extra cost of porters, tips, etc.

Now, you won't get the experience of hiking 3+ days to get to Machu Picchu. But honestly, I was okay with that for many reasons. My time in Peru was limited and the train was more efficient, I wanted to look mildly presentable for my pictures at Machu Picchu, and day-trips that would involve hiking were planned in my itinerary so I wasn't going to miss out on the Peruvian hiking experience altogether. I simply couldn't justify doing it for 3+ days when time was of the essence.

3. DO I NEED TO BOOK MACHU PICCHU IN ADVANCE?

I really don't think you need to. Though I did. However, I only did so because my friend who had been to Peru a few months before me had booked her tour online in advance to ensure 'the tour wouldn't been sold out'. There are so many tours companies to choose from once you get into Cusco, the chances of ALL Machu Picchu tours being sold out is quite slim. I truly believe you can get a much better tour price by negotiating in person when you get to Cusco.

4. TREK TO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN = MUST DO

If you can only do one other excursion while in Cusco, book a trek up Rainbow Mountain. The pictures above say it all. Simply breathtaking (figuratively and literally).

Now, I'm not an avid mountain climber but I'd like to see myself as a pretty physically fit woman...and this trek was pretty brutal. It's two hour hike to the top and you'll experience all four seasons in those two hours (yes I mean snow, rain, wind, and sun). Also, factor in the changes in altitude. There were lots of breaks taken and mental pep talks given, but getting to the top of Rainbow Mountain is one the most rewarding and breathtaking experiences you can have in Peru. Those pictures you see? Yes, all #nofilter. If you're looking to get to the top quickly, you can also rent a horse from the starting point that will take you to the top-ish (you'll still have to trek the last bit). These horses are also available throughout the trek, so you can hop on at anytime.

Where to book a trek you ask? There are budget and premium options for the Rainbow Mountain excursion. In my opinion, the budget option is all that you need...realistically you're probably just here for the pictures. As you're trekking, you won't have the energy or patience to pay attention to a guide explaining the history of the mountain. You can still have a safe hike when going the budget route. Listen to your body, know your limits, take breaks, and come prepared to deal with altitude sickness (gravol, prescriptions, coca candy) and changes in weather conditions (layers). The budget option excursion can be purchased in the markets in Cusco, so no pre-booking online is needed. I was getting quoted $20-35 CAD when negotiating in person.

5. NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE!

There was not a day in Cusco I (or one of my five friends) didn't have to negotiate. Day trips and tours, fruit markets, souvenirs, llama sweaters, even MEALS! I found Cusco extremely budget friendly as a solo traveller and for group travellers because of all the negotiating power you hold as a tourist - remember, YOU are their main source of income. The ball is in your court.

How to negotiate you ask? People have different tactics and you start to develop your methods as you do it more. My personal preference is to mentally set a limit to how much I would be willing to pay. Then, I always counter their initial offer with a price slightly above half (or if I'm feeling ambitious, I'll start off with half). Most of the time, they will say no and provide another offer. My second counter offer will be something slightly more than my first offer. My goal here is to see how low they will go. Don't be afraid to walk away either - sometimes they'll come yelling with another offer. That said, if they offer a good price, I will shop around and negotiate with other similar vendors to (a) validate that their offer was indeed a good price and (b) get a better idea of what the typical going price for this item would be. Again, good negotiation skills comes with practice but don't be afraid to try it out! You will have nothing to lose and will always save some money at the end of the day.

My short seven-day trip to Peru (Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima) was honestly life changing. The day I arrived, I was simply left speechless by Cusco's beautiful mountains, fresh air, and people. It was my first time in South America and opened my eyes how amazing Mother Earth is. So, get out and explore! I'm looking forward to travelling more of South America in the next couple of years. Let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations!