Tips on Trips to Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley of Incas
Discussion
7 replies
Posted by Jody Huneycutt on January 11, 2008 at 11:38 AM
If anyone is contemplating a trip to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, I will be more than glad to answer any questions you may have, that I know the answer to. My wife and I spent two weekd there last May/June.
Jody Huneycutt
Ellijay, GA, USA
Posted by Carol Nichols on January 12, 2008 at 5:32 PM
I will be going on a photo expedition to Machu Picchu in November. My biggest concern is the high altitude there. I live in Florida and am used to zero altitude. Did you have any problems with altitude sickness? I would hate for that to ruin my trip. Are there any tips to help avoid altitude sickness?
Hello, Carol. I'm glad you will be able to visit Machu Picchu. It's marvelous. My wife, before we met, had visited Egypt and when she saw M.P., she said it impressed her more than the Pyramids.
We were on a photo tour with 8 other people, none of whom had ever been higher than about 4,000 ft. msl before. Nobody had any serious altitude problems. You will probably access MP via Cusco. Every hotel and restaurant we went to provided Coca leaf tea for you to drink. It's supposed to mollify any altitude sickness, and it seemed to work well. It's not a narcotic and it's perfectly legal. They just give you a cup with the dried whole leaves in it, and a pot of hot water. Pour the water into the cup and let it steep about 5 minutes, add sugar or cream, and take out the leaf, just to avoid dealing with a soggy leaf while you drink. It tastes pretty much just like regular hot tea.
All the hotels, both in Cusco, as well as in the little towns in the Sacred Valley have the tea and most also have bottles of oxygen that you can partake of, if you need to. Nobody on our trip used it.
The most difficult thing, regarding the high altitude, is that you get tired very easily, especially climbing, which, in Peru, you'll do a lot of. Just take things slow, and you'll be fine.
In going to MP, try to leave your hotel in Aguas Caliente very early in the morning and catch the first shuttle bus up the mountain. That way you'll beat the majority of the "eat breakfast first" crowd, and your pictures won't have so many distracting tourists in them. Also, getting there before dawn is so spectaular, because you can take pictures as the light first hits the ruins, and the fog continually rises up from the Urubamba River Valley, which is on 3 sides of the mountain, and goes across the ruins and back down the other side, and it makes the pictures fantastic. One of the younger guys on our trip climbed the trail up Huanya Picchu, the mountain that's always in the background in most of the pictures. He got some shots from not normally seen viewpoints, but he was 30 years younger than me. I didn't think I could make the climb in a reasonable amount of time, so I skipped that one.
Also, Aguas Calientes is quite picturesque, and, if you are in the town square where the fountain is and the big Inca statue, if you are facing away from the railroad, take the street uphill from the far right corner of the square and go into the either first or second restaurant outside the square, it's on the left side of the street, and you go down a little alley about 50' long to the door, which is on the right side of the alley. The food was the best we had outside of Cusco and Lima. It think that the name of the place is a German guy's name, you know, something like Ludwigs, but that's not what it is.
Also, if you spend any time in Lima, go to a good restaurant and try the ceviche. It's fabulous.
Hope you have a good time. If you have any more questions, you can try me here or at my personal e-mail address, j.huneycutt@ellijay.com, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can. I could talk about this trip for hours. It was GREAT!!!!!
Posted by Mike DiVita on January 13, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Carol,
My trip to Peru went smoothly with one exception - Machu Picchu. We had planned the trip to coincide with the summer solstice. We got to MP the day before and I had no problem entering with a backpack full of equipment. We exited the park to grab lunch and then went back in again with no issues. The next morning my friend and I got up early to catch the bus from Aguas Caliente so that we would arrive before sunrise. Since it was the summer solstice we were not alone with this idea. When we got to the gate they were checking bags. They were not allowing anyone to bring in a pack much larger than a medium camelback. Needless to say, my pack is much larger. They wouldn't let me in and said I need to check the pack at the office along with everyone elses packs. I didn't want to do that so I tried talking to the woman at the main office. She wouldn't budge so I figured I would take one camera around my neck and gave the other camera to my friend and started to put a couple lenses in my pockets. Once the woman saw the equipment, she said I was a professional and had to pay an extra 1000sol(about $300). I didn't have that much with me and would have missed sunrise if I went back to town to get it. Even if I had it, I don't think I would have paid it. She couldn't give a reason why it was ok to go in the day before but not that day. She claimed they never let large packs in which is not true. The only good thing was that she agree to refund our tickets for the day.
After arriving back to town and also telling the story to many locals in Peru, they had never heard of anyone not being allowed in with a backpack. The only thing we could figure out was that Cameron Diaz was there that day filming a special for MTV and they didn't want any paparazzi there that day.
As far as altitude issues go, the coca tea helps as does drinking alot of water. We only did one night in Cusco prior to heading to MP. My wife and one friend used the bottled oxygen once each. I had a pounding headache the next morning. One good tip that we didn't follow is not drinking alcohol. Good food and a nice bottle of wine just go hand in hand! My pack with tripod weighs close to 30lbs so hiking uphill at MP required some pauses to catch my breath. You didn't say but if you're hiking the Inca Trail, you should be acclimated by then. Cusco is about 11,000ft while MP is about 8000ft so it's good to spend a night or two in Cusco first.
BTW, Cameron Diaz did get altitude sickness that day and had to leave without finishing her shoot. She was on our train back to Cusco. She also upset the local Peruvians by carrying a purse with Maoist writing on it.
I didn't have any problem with the equipment I was carrying, nor did anyone else in the group with me. I think you are right about the Cameron Diaz angle. I always wear a "photographer's vest" which has numerous pockets and I was able to put all of my lenses, etc. in the vest, with the exception of my 100-400 "L" lens, which I kept in it's case strapped around my neck and over my shoulder. Noboby ever questioned how much equipment I had with me.
Posted by Cindy Bell on January 29, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Carol,
Thought I'd share my experience with Diamox, a prescription aid for altitude sickness. It was recommended by our trip ogranizer, so I spent the $20 for it. After two doses, I stopped taking it. It really dehydrates you, a case of the cure being worse than the ailment! I had no problems adjusting to the altitude in the end anyway. I was on the same trip as Jody and he's covered the other aspects. (Hi Jody!!)
Hi, Cindy. How are you doing? How is New Mexico (or was it Arizona?)? Sharon and I are doing fine. We have a grandson since we last talked. He was born on August 30, so he'll be 5 months old tomorrow. Conor Elexander Huneycutt. The Conor, my son and daughter-in-law just liked; the Elexander is my son's middle name and also Conor's great-great-grandfather's middle name (my grandfather). I was very happy that Elex (my son) kept the family name going.
Discussion
7 repliesJody Huneycutt
Ellijay, GA, USA
We were on a photo tour with 8 other people, none of whom had ever been higher than about 4,000 ft. msl before. Nobody had any serious altitude problems. You will probably access MP via Cusco. Every hotel and restaurant we went to provided Coca leaf tea for you to drink. It's supposed to mollify any altitude sickness, and it seemed to work well. It's not a narcotic and it's perfectly legal. They just give you a cup with the dried whole leaves in it, and a pot of hot water. Pour the water into the cup and let it steep about 5 minutes, add sugar or cream, and take out the leaf, just to avoid dealing with a soggy leaf while you drink. It tastes pretty much just like regular hot tea.
All the hotels, both in Cusco, as well as in the little towns in the Sacred Valley have the tea and most also have bottles of oxygen that you can partake of, if you need to. Nobody on our trip used it.
The most difficult thing, regarding the high altitude, is that you get tired very easily, especially climbing, which, in Peru, you'll do a lot of. Just take things slow, and you'll be fine.
In going to MP, try to leave your hotel in Aguas Caliente very early in the morning and catch the first shuttle bus up the mountain. That way you'll beat the majority of the "eat breakfast first" crowd, and your pictures won't have so many distracting tourists in them. Also, getting there before dawn is so spectaular, because you can take pictures as the light first hits the ruins, and the fog continually rises up from the Urubamba River Valley, which is on 3 sides of the mountain, and goes across the ruins and back down the other side, and it makes the pictures fantastic. One of the younger guys on our trip climbed the trail up Huanya Picchu, the mountain that's always in the background in most of the pictures. He got some shots from not normally seen viewpoints, but he was 30 years younger than me. I didn't think I could make the climb in a reasonable amount of time, so I skipped that one.
Also, Aguas Calientes is quite picturesque, and, if you are in the town square where the fountain is and the big Inca statue, if you are facing away from the railroad, take the street uphill from the far right corner of the square and go into the either first or second restaurant outside the square, it's on the left side of the street, and you go down a little alley about 50' long to the door, which is on the right side of the alley. The food was the best we had outside of Cusco and Lima. It think that the name of the place is a German guy's name, you know, something like Ludwigs, but that's not what it is.
Also, if you spend any time in Lima, go to a good restaurant and try the ceviche. It's fabulous.
Hope you have a good time. If you have any more questions, you can try me here or at my personal e-mail address, j.huneycutt@ellijay.com, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can. I could talk about this trip for hours. It was GREAT!!!!!
My trip to Peru went smoothly with one exception - Machu Picchu. We had planned the trip to coincide with the summer solstice. We got to MP the day before and I had no problem entering with a backpack full of equipment. We exited the park to grab lunch and then went back in again with no issues. The next morning my friend and I got up early to catch the bus from Aguas Caliente so that we would arrive before sunrise. Since it was the summer solstice we were not alone with this idea. When we got to the gate they were checking bags. They were not allowing anyone to bring in a pack much larger than a medium camelback. Needless to say, my pack is much larger. They wouldn't let me in and said I need to check the pack at the office along with everyone elses packs. I didn't want to do that so I tried talking to the woman at the main office. She wouldn't budge so I figured I would take one camera around my neck and gave the other camera to my friend and started to put a couple lenses in my pockets. Once the woman saw the equipment, she said I was a professional and had to pay an extra 1000sol(about $300). I didn't have that much with me and would have missed sunrise if I went back to town to get it. Even if I had it, I don't think I would have paid it. She couldn't give a reason why it was ok to go in the day before but not that day. She claimed they never let large packs in which is not true. The only good thing was that she agree to refund our tickets for the day.
After arriving back to town and also telling the story to many locals in Peru, they had never heard of anyone not being allowed in with a backpack. The only thing we could figure out was that Cameron Diaz was there that day filming a special for MTV and they didn't want any paparazzi there that day.
As far as altitude issues go, the coca tea helps as does drinking alot of water. We only did one night in Cusco prior to heading to MP. My wife and one friend used the bottled oxygen once each. I had a pounding headache the next morning. One good tip that we didn't follow is not drinking alcohol. Good food and a nice bottle of wine just go hand in hand! My pack with tripod weighs close to 30lbs so hiking uphill at MP required some pauses to catch my breath. You didn't say but if you're hiking the Inca Trail, you should be acclimated by then. Cusco is about 11,000ft while MP is about 8000ft so it's good to spend a night or two in Cusco first.
BTW, Cameron Diaz did get altitude sickness that day and had to leave without finishing her shoot. She was on our train back to Cusco. She also upset the local Peruvians by carrying a purse with Maoist writing on it.
Have a good trip!
Mike
Thought I'd share my experience with Diamox, a prescription aid for altitude sickness. It was recommended by our trip ogranizer, so I spent the $20 for it. After two doses, I stopped taking it. It really dehydrates you, a case of the cure being worse than the ailment! I had no problems adjusting to the altitude in the end anyway. I was on the same trip as Jody and he's covered the other aspects. (Hi Jody!!)
Cindy Bell
It's great to hear from you. Keep in touch.
Jody Huneycutt
j.huneycutt@ellijay.com