machu picchu – Page 2 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

How to Get to Machu Picchu

January 18, 2016 Pirwa

As a company with four hostels in Cusco, one hostel in Aguas Calientes, and a travel agency to boot, we field a lot of questions about how to organize a trip to Machu Picchu. The worst are the emails asking how to go directly from the Cusco airport to Machu Picchu- we can only cross our fingers and hope that the traveler in question has allotted more than half a day for the excursion. No, you can’t go directly from the airport to Machu Picchu in a taxi. The only town nearby the ruins is Aguas Calientes, officially known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. Here, we’ve compiled your options for getting to Machu Picchu in a detailed guide:

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Everything You Need to Know About the Trains to Machu Picchu

December 2, 2015 Pirwa

The majority of travelers reach the ruins of Machu Picchu Citadel not by the Inca Trail, nor by an alternative trek, but by taking one of the trains which run from Cusco and the Sacred Valley and the town of Aguas Calientes. The trains aren’t just a necessary part of most trips; they’re a delight in themselves. They descend into the Sacred Valley (where Ollantaytambo station is located) and the Andean foothills, following the Urubamba River for some time. You’ll see traditionally-dressed locals as they tend to their llama or sheep herds, and will pass colorful mudbrick villages. The scenery of the river gives way to the stunning greenery of the high-altitude jungle as you enter the protected zone known as Machu Picchu Sanctuary, in which the town of Aguas Calientes and the ruins of Machu Picchu are found. Occasionally, you’ll even see the odd Inca ruin or agricultural terraces.

If you sit on the left-hand side on the train going to Machu Picchu, or on the right-hand side on the train returning from Machu Picchu, you’ll get the best views! You can’t request a side, but you are permitted to change sides if there are empty seats…

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The Butterfly House in Aguas Calientes in Machu Picchu Sanctuary

September 26, 2015 Pirwa

Welcome to the world of the butterflies, reads the sign at the entrance of Wasi Pillpi. The name means Butterfly House in Quechua, and its location within the high-altitude jungle refuge known as Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary means it can make good on its name: the sanctuary boasts more than a hundred distinct, endemic butterfly species. (In fact, probably the only sights in the sanctuary which outnumber the sanctuary are orchids and backpackers.) If you’ve got free time to spend in Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo), a stop at the Butterfly House can teach you a little more about the biodiverse world in which the ruins of Machu Picchu are located.

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6 Tips to Do Before Hiking the Inca Trail

September 15, 2015 Pirwa

The mythic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a beautiful, rewarding hike, but it can also be a difficult undertaking. To make the going easier, here are our six tips on things to do before hiking the Inca Trail:

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Scheduling Your Visit: Is the Sunrise Over Machu Picchu Worth It?

September 7, 2015 Pirwa

“Sunrise over Machu Picchu” is such an evocative phrase that it’s no surprise that so many travelers are seduced by its promise. The fourth day of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins at 4am precisely so that hikers will arrive at the Intipunku sun gate in time to enjoy a panoramic view of Machu Picchu Citadel as first light hits. Many a traveler who’s arrived at Aguas Calientes by an alternative hike or by train will also wake up at around 4am, with the aim of hiking up to the ruins in the darkness, or competing for a seat on the first bus up, in order to watch first light hit the ruins as well. Is the hurry worth it- or are their better times of day to visit?