There’s a wealth of practical travel guides, food recommendations, and shopping tips for Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru available on Xiaohongshu. You can easily find what you need based on your preferences. Here are a few key points I found particularly important from my personal experience:
1️⃣ It’s crucial to allocate one or two days in Cusco to acclimate to the high altitude before diving into other activities. The elevation in Cusco is comparable to that of Lhasa. Despite spending every summer in Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong since childhood, I had never experienced altitude sickness. However, upon landing in Cusco, I immediately felt the effects. By night, my blood oxygen level dropped to 84%, and I was hit with a fever and a headache that made me question everything. Luckily, the hotel I stayed at provided free 24-hour oxygen inhalation, and after a restful sleep, I felt much better the next day. Later, I learned that several fellow travelers had ended up in the hospital due to similar issues. To ensure the rest of your trip isn’t ruined, it’s essential to give yourself enough time to adjust.
2️⃣ Tickets for Machu Picchu and train tickets should be booked well in advance, as trains often run late or even derail. Our outbound train was delayed by three to four hours because a previous train had derailed. If you book a round trip for the same day, any unexpected delay could completely disrupt your plans. I highly recommend booking a 2-day tour that includes the Sacred Valley, Salt Mines, and Machu Picchu. I found a travel agency on Xiaohongshu offering a $270 per person package, which includes airport transfers, two lunches, transportation in a Mercedes minibus, guided tours of all attractions, and shuttle services to and from the station and hotels. Additionally, it covers Machu Picchu entrance tickets and round-trip scenic train and bus tickets. Just the Machu Picchu entrance and train/bus tickets alone would cost around $200, making the additional services and transportation a steal at just $70. With a travel agency, local guides can also coordinate entry times to Machu Picchu. For example, our train was delayed, and we were supposed to enter at 7 am the next day, but the guide let us sleep in and enter around 8:30 am. We only bought tickets for line 2, but the guide also took us on part of line 3. The two-day itinerary starts from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, then directly by train to Aguas Calientes, and early the next morning to Machu Picchu, avoiding backtracking and saving both time and energy. The contact information for the guide and travel agency is provided in the comments section.
3️⃣ Before your trip, it’s beneficial to learn about Inca history. I recommend the book “The Last Days of the Incas.” I also strongly suggest hiring a professional guide to explain the history of Machu Picchu and the Inca Empire on-site. It would be a shame to travel so far and only take photos. (Our guide, Edson, was arranged by the travel agency and was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.)
Initially, he came across as somewhat reserved and not the type to engage in light-hearted banter. However, his dedication and seriousness were evident, particularly in the way he shared a wealth of cultural and historical insights throughout the tour. This depth of knowledge significantly enriched the experience, making it truly unforgettable. Highly recommended!
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