machu picchu – Page 4 – Pirwa Hostels BLOG

BIG Changes to Machu Picchu’s Visitor’s Rules Coming Soon

March 15, 2014 Pirwa

Machu Picchu is considered the crown jewel of Peru’s many breathtaking tourist attractions, but as a result of its popularity the site has suffered considerable damage. For decades, visitors wandered freely among the ruins, spending the entire day to daydream among its structures and trails, doing yoga and meditating atop the terraces and Huayna Picchu Peak, and taking all the time and photos that they desired. Unfortunately, with so many visitors, this approach is no longer feasible. Areas of the sanctuary have become more restricted in recent years, and slowly more order has been imposed.

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Peru Travel Pt 2: How to Buy Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets

July 20, 2013 Pirwa

Almost all visitors to Peru plan on visiting Machu Picchu Archeological Complex, the famous Lost City of the Incas, yet it’s important to keep in mind that tickets are not available at the actual site, so travelers need to make their arrangements beforehand.

There is an official government website, for tickets to Machu Picchu (http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/), but you will find that it is almost exclusively used by travel agencies or by travelers already in Cusco, because the site does not currently accept credit card payments from other countries. After making an online reservation, one must take the printout to the Banco de la Nación (on Cusco’s main street, Avenida El Sol) or to MultiRed Agentes banks. Depending on the time you go (lunch hours are the worst) the wait could range from 30 to 60 minutes. Then, you can pay for the reservation with cash or credit card and a valid form of identification. Then you return to the website, click the Check-In section, and enter your reservation number to generate your tickets. You have a limited amount of time to confirm your pre-reservation with payment before it is lost.

Pirwa Hostels’ guests often contact our travel department to ask for assistance obtaining Machu Picchu entrance tickets. Even if you’re not interested in contracting a full 2 day, 1 night trip to Machu Picchu with a guide, you can still ask for this service. With only a valid passport copy and payment through our secure online system, Pirwa Travel Service can purchase Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu tickets on your behalf. Or, you can pick and choose the services you require:

train tickets
transfers to/from the train station
bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to the archeological complex
lodging in Aguas Calientes
entrances
guided visits

If you would rather obtain your tickets independently, and don’t want to bother with the website, you can also buy Machu Picchu tickets at the DRC Offices in Cusco or in the main square of Aguas Calientes. In Cusco, the office is located a 15 minute walk from the Plaza de Armas, on Av La Cultura. You can ask for assistance in reception regarding how to find the office. On Mondays through Saturdays, the office is open from 8am-4pm, and on Sundays it opens from 5am to 10pm.

For those of you looking for affordable lodging in Aguas Calientes (formally Machu Picchu Pueblo), the base town for those visiting the famous Inca citadel, Pirwa Hostels has two locations in town. Pirwa Machu Picchu Hostel offers a variety of shared dormitories with private or shared bath, or private rooms with private bath, while Pirwa Machu Picchu B&B offers exclusively private rooms. Both offer breakfast, although it’s a simple continental breakfast in the slightly more economical Pirwa Machu Picchu Hostel and an American breakfast in the B&B. No matter which of our locales you choose, we prefer to meet all of our guests at the Aguas Calientes train station to help them with their bags and to the hostel.

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Best Time to Travel- When to Visit Peru

May 29, 2013 Pirwa

Best Time to See: The Andes

The vast Andean mountain range includes fertile valleys marked by patchwork subsistence farming, traditional adobe cities with cobblestone streets and colorfully dressed locals, and the Incan ruins of fortresses, temples, and terracing. The glacial peaks provide a scenic challenge to the most intrepid travelers, and the jungle brow (high-altitude jungle) and cloud forests help make the Andes the region housing the most microclimates in Peru. Travelers visit to explore the former imperial capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, discover for themselves the iconic Machu Picchu Archeological Complex, and practice extreme sports along the mountainsides and river rapids.

The weather is extraordinarly varied, meaning that cold mornings and frigid nights can combine with sunny, very hot afternoons. During the rainy season, it can rain everyday of your stay, but generally in short bursts. Bring layers that will allow you to adjust to the temperature shifts, and don’t forget the sunblock even during the rainy season- the sun scorches at higher altitudes.

Dry Season: May to October

Inti Raymi Festival & Cusco’s Anniversary (June)
Clearer Trails
Better Views- especially Machu Picchu
Hillsides Bloom (September)
Higher demand & more crowding
Higher prices

Wet Season: November to April

Uncomfortable for hiking (muddy paths, potential landslides)
Clouded views
Unexpected dangers & delays (flooded roads, derailed train tracks)
Fewer people
Great bargains
New Years in Cusco
Fiestas Patrias Independence Days throughout Peru (April)

What to do: explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, raft the Apurimac River rapids, hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, watch a traditional weaving demonstration, visit Sacsayhuaman Fortress, tour the former imperial capital of the Incas

Best Time to See: Desert Coast

Peru’s arid Pacific coast is home to the ancient cities of Chan Chan and Sipán, the Paracas Reserve, and the Nazca Lines. While Nazca, Ica, and Paracas are hot and sunny throughout the year, epitomizing general conceptions of desert climes, you’ll notice some anomalies: Lima is very humid due to coastal fog and breezes from the Pacific, which regulate the city’s temperature so that it’s never too hot or too cold. Meanwhile, the cooling effects of the Humboldt current means you can see penguins off of the coast of Paracas, in the Ballestas Islands.

At least in Lima, one can categorize two seasons, summer and winter, with May and November acting as transitional months with dramatic temperature fluctuations:

Summer: December to April

Temperatures average 78.8 F in Lima
Clear skies most days
“Cielo de Brujas” famously colorful sunsets
Crowded beaches
Ica & Nazca dry and sunny throughout year

Winter: June to October

Averaging 59°C in Lima
Mainly gray skies in Lima
Omnipresent coastal fog known as Garúain Lima
Sandstorms in Paracas
Ica & Nazca dry and sunny throughout year
Beaches along the north still sunny
Low Tourist Season- Less Crowding
Low Tourist Season- More Bargains
Better waves for surfing
Bullfighting season in Lima
Lord of Miracles Festival in Lima (Oct/Nov)
St Rose of Lima Festival in Lima

What to do: Hike one of the world’s deepest canyons, fly over the Nazca Lines, Sandboard giant sand dunes near Huacachina Oasis, surf in Mancora, watch the penguins and sea lions of the Ballestas Islands, tackle the glacial peaks of Chachani, bike down Misti Volcano

Best Time to See: The Amazon

The Amazon Rainforest houses an astounding diversity of exotic plants and animals, as well as tribes indigenous to the area, who still uphold their timeless traditions in the face of an ever-encroaching modernity. Although much of this treasure is forbidden to access in order to protect its pristine nature and delicate ecosystems, there is a border area where tourism and scientific study are permitted. (Between the two zones, there’s a buffer zone to protect the refuge area.) Along the rivers and the jungle paths of the outer zone, one can find commune with capybara, sloths, monkeys, and more.

In the rainforest, high heat, frequent rains and 85% humidity come with the terrain. Although a wet season and dry season is frequently referenced, there isn’t much actual variation in rainfall throughout the year. The river water levels, however, can vary up to 40 feet throughout the year, mainly due to runoff from snow melting along the eastern slopes of the Andes.

December Thru May: High Water Season

Cooler temperatures (averaging 86 F)
Trails & paths flooded
More mosquitoes
More exuberant, blooming vegetation
Carnaval (Feb/May)

June Thru November: Low Water Season

Higher temperatures (averaging 98 F)
More trails & paths accessible
Fewer mosquitos
Better fishing
Migratory birds in flight
Less exubuerant vegetation
Riverways not navigable
More animals gather riverside (less dispersal due to loss of terrestrial water pools)
San Juan Festival (end of June)

What to do: visit an indigenous tribal community to learn about their way of life, swim with pink dolphins, visit a macaw clay lick, fish for piranha, visit monkey island, go on night canoe trip to see glowing cayman eyes, watch the sun set over the Amazon River, visit traditional river house

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Celebrating 100 Years of the Lost City

June 13, 2011 Pirwa

For the last year preparations have been underway for the 100^th Anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu. From July 3^rd to July 9^th both Cusco and Machu Picchu will come alive with fireworks, musical acts, dance competitions, parades, drinks, and more! To keep up with all the happenings we´re providing you with the official program for the Centennial Celebrations, below:

Centennial of Machu Picchu for the World: Official Program

Sunday, July 3^rd

10:00 Machu Picchu Centennial Parade through Cusco

Wednesday, July 6^th

09:00 Regional Government of Cusco awards the Inca Pachacutec Medal to chosen recipients at an official ceremony at Koricancha

12:00 The South American Camelids Festival begins at Sacsayhuaman

18:00 Welcome Cocktails at the Convent of Santo Domingo

Thursday, July 7^th

06:00 Twenty-one Gun Salute in Cusco

09:00 The Grand Cultural Art Festival opens for the day in the Main Square (Plaza de Armas) and the Plazas Espinar, San Francisco, San Blas, Santa Teresa, Los Pumas.

10:30 Welcome to Machu Picchu!
A t the Lost City of Machu Picchu, the traditional Tinkay ceremony begins, along with the Salute to the Four Corners of the empire. The Andean group Jaivas will perform “Heights of Machu Picchu”. Ends at 12:30.

18:00 Machu Picchu and Cusco Celebrations
As a tribute to the history and wonder of Macchu Picchu there´ll be a 2 hour sound and light show accompanied by Andean Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra Sinfonica del Cusco at Machu Picchu. At the same time in Cusco, for the next 6 hours there´ll be the concerts and shows at Machu Picchu will be broadcasting live in Cusco´s Main Square (the Plaza de Armas)

Friday, July 8^th

9:00 All-day Dance Competition in the Plaza de Armas between Cusco´s 13 provinces of Cusco

11:00 The Float Parade begins its route through Cusco´s main streets

19:00 After the Dance Competition in the Main Square (Plaza de Armas) finishes, the Andean Symphony Orchestra will perform along with Los Jaivas, followed by a fireworks display

Saturday, July 9^th

18:00 Renowned Peruvian and foreign artists will perform a Music Festival in the Beer Garden

Pirwa has four different hostels and bed & breakfasts locations in Cusco located in and just alongside the Main Square as well as San Blas, as well as a Hostel and B&B in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). There´s still availability during the festivities, so check our site if you´re looking for a room.

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100 Years of Mystery: The Discovery of Machu Picchu

June 11, 2011 Pirwa

“Above all, there is the fascination of finding here and there under swaying vines… the rugged masonry of a bygone race; and of trying to understand the bewildering romance of the ancient builders who, ages ago, sought refuge in a region which appears to have been expressly designed by nature as a sanctuary for the oppressed, a place where they might fearlessly and patiently give expression to their passion for walls of enduring beauty.” -Hiram Bingham

During Hiram Bingham´s fateful 1911 trip to Peru in search of Vilcabamba, local farmer Melcho Arteaga told him about the ruins on “Old Mountain” while he and his party camped riverside at Mandor Pampa. Although bad weather made Arteaga reluctant to show Bingham the way, he was convinced by the offer of a 1-sol payment. Bingham, Arteaga, and his interpreter crossed a precarious bridge and intimidating 2000ft slope to arrive at a small hut where a group of campesinos told Bingham they´d been living there for years and farming on an extensive system of terraces they´d found. Bingham continued on with Pablito, an 11 year old boy who took him to the ruins.

What Bingham saw was more than a hundred ancient terraces fortified with fertile river valley soil carried up by the Incas, cleared of growth and in use. Passing the terraces and entering the subtropical forest they beheld white granite walls and ancient structures which, though partially hidden by earth and five centuries of growth, appeared to Bingham to be the finest masonry he had ever seen. The site had evaded the attention of the Spanish invaders probably because the long since deserted city had already been forgotten. Throughout the centuries of colonial rule it had lain relatively unmolested. Only those living nearest these ruins knew they were there. At the time, aside from base materials (terraces on which to grow crops, stones to use for construction), the ruins were not considered to be of much interest or value.

When Bingham arrived there were already a couple families living at the ruins. Treasure hunters searching the ruins for valuables had left their names and the date of their trip etched in rock a decade earlier. Both the treasure hunters and Bingham met Anacleto Alvarez, who lived there and grew his crops on the fertile soil that the Incas had brought up from the river valley to build the terraces. And yet, while Hiram Bingham may not have discovered Machu Picchu, his academic interest and efforts to bring it to the attention of the world may well have saved it. Over the next several years the historian conducted the first archaeological excavations and documented and mapped the site. In 1913 National Geographic devoted an entire issue to Machu Picchu, and over the following decade Bingham wrote popular books dedicated to the site.

What became known as the Lost City of the Incas has inspired worldwide interest ever since it was brought to international attention. The roughly 5,000 artifacts found there were transferred for study and have provided priceless information about the Incan Empire. Also, it is in Machu Picchu that one can observe the only intact Intihuatana stone ever found, although in the time of the empire this was the main sacred object in all major cities. Machu Picchu is unquestionably the greatest Inca site in the Americas to have escaped the colonial period unscathed. A large part of its fame, however, is that it remains an enigma; scholars could not and cannot agree as to the purpose it served and why it was abandoned even before the Conquest. Some believe it to have been a ceremonial center, royal resort, military citadel, or even the very birthplace of the empire.