Budget Travel - *HELP NEEDED* Travel to Peru - Machu Picchu

Hi - I have done a lot of research and have found conflicting info on travel to Machu Picchu. I have some questions that hopefully someone who has been to Peru can help guide me.

1) I am a single female that will be traveling alone - is it safe?

2) I'm on a budget, so what is the best route and MUST SEEs? I'm thinking of going to Peru for around 7-8 days at the end of October staying in Lima for 3 days and Cuzco for 4 days

3) How much is the entrance fee to Machu Picchu ruins? I've heard between $25 to $41 USD

4) Are there any cheap accommodations by the ruins?

5) I do not know Spanish - will this be a problem?

Thanks so much!

Welcome to FlyerTalk HKQT.

I can't provide much in the way of specific answers to your questions, as I am a man and have never been to Peru.

But during my travels in South America I have encountered many women travelling solo. Some of them have come from Peru, and some have had plans to travel there. None has expressed any particular safety concerns.

Use your head and take the same precautions that you would take when travelling to any unfamiliar place and you should be fine.

Although you can probably get by without speaking any Spanish try and learn a bit of Spanish. It will help a lot and make your trip more enjoyable.

Have a look through the South America forum and you should be able to find answers to some of your other questions; http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south-america-483/

I wouldn't worry too much about safety and traveling alone. We saw many solo travelers including women when we were there last fall. Entrance fee was 122 Nuevos Soles which works out to about $42. Also you need to take a bus from the town to the ruins. That will run you about $12 roundtrip.
There is only one hotel at the actual ruins and its quite expensive. But there is a lot of inexpensive lodging in the town below the ruins called Aguas Calientes. Not my top choice for a place to spend the night but its close. If you are leaving from cusco you'll likely have to take the train which is quite expensive.

The ruins at Ollantaytambo are pretty fantastic. The Moray ruins are also interesting but a little more difficult to get to

Many people spoke English, we got by with the rest....

Hi - I have done a lot of research and have found conflicting info on travel to Machu Picchu. I have some questions that hopefully someone who has been to Peru can help guide me.

1) I am a single female that will be traveling alone - is it safe?

2) I'm on a budget, so what is the best route and MUST SEEs? I'm thinking of going to Peru for around 7-8 days at the end of October staying in Lima for 3 days and Cuzco for 4 days

3) How much is the entrance fee to Machu Picchu ruins? I've heard between $25 to $41 USD

4) Are there any cheap accommodations by the ruins?

5) I do not know Spanish - will this be a problem?

Thanks so much!

1. I've met one on my trip there, she didn't seem bothered.
2. You def. want to spend a day or two in Cuzco... there are some ruins there too. You NEED to book rail tickets in advance. Perurail rips you off on prices, but there is no alternative. Make sure to print the printout. Consider taking the train from Ollantaytambo a taxi to Ollantaytambo (faster and may be cheaper depending on your negotiating skills).

Lima is less safe than Cuzco, but not unsafe if you follow common sense.

3. I don't remember the entrance fee cost, but with the bus ride up and down it was <$50.

4. There are no accommodations by the ruins. There are accommodations in Aguas Calientes, and you will probably be able to find something reasonable. You can also stay in Cuzco.

5. No. I flew on a $255 AV deal (if you search for it, you'll find some posts and trip reports from others) and it included a stopover in Bogota. In Bogota English was non-existent, but in Lima, and especially in Cuzco and Machu Picchu, English speakers were easy to find. Just know that if you decide to buy anything (souvenirs, woolen stuff, etc.) you'll be paying more if you bargain in English.


Check out TripAdvisor forums ... plenty of info there.

1) I am a single female that will be traveling alone - is it safe?
Yes, tourist areas are safe in Peru.
I personally didn't enjoy Lima so much. Outside of the central area Lima is not so safe. The rest of the country seemed fine though. (with the note that I was mainly in tourist areas)

2) I'm on a budget, so what is the best route and MUST SEEs? I'm thinking of going to Peru for around 7-8 days at the end of October staying in Lima for 3 days and Cuzco for 4 days
7-8 days? You going anywhere else in south america as well?
Main sites are:
Probably a day or so in Lima (you'll probably need to fly in to Lima anyway)
Don't miss the sandboarding in huacachina. Lots of fun! 1 day/night in huacachina
Arequipa 1 or 2 days
Colca canyon (I wasn't so impressed but others liked it)
1 or 2 days in Cuzco
Hike to macchu piccu (if you want, there's a few option)
Fly up to the rainforest in north east of the country.
Lake Titicaca and associated islands.
Remember you probably want to arrange it so you climb altitude slowly. So flying lima-cusco might not be a good idea. Best to climb altitude slowly over a few days so you get used to it.

Enjoy.

3) How much is the entrance fee to Machu Picchu ruins? I've heard between $25 to $41 USD
can't remember. I did a trek that included entry. You'll probably stay in Ollantaytambo and get the train in. There is a bus from train to the top of the hill and down again. Can't remember the cost.

4) Are there any cheap accommodations by the ruins?
Don't think so. Just a couple of expensive hotels. See note above re: Ollantaytambo.

5) I do not know Spanish - will this be a problem?
Not in major tourist areas but a little would be helpful. Suggest you learn a few words from menus so you can tell what you are eating. Words for chicken, pork, beef, noodles, potatoes etc. Hello, how much and some numbers. Suggest you look at Michel Thomas spanish tapes/cds. You can buy/download them.

Good input daboy !

5) I do not know Spanish - will this be a problem?
Not in major tourist areas but a little would be helpful. Suggest you learn a few words from menus so you can tell what you are eating. Words for chicken, pork, beef, noodles, potatoes etc. Hello, how much and some numbers. Suggest you look at Michel Thomas spanish tapes/cds. You can buy/download them.

Hello is good, it shows you're at least trying :D

My favorite TV show, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain had a show on Peru. It was one of my favorites, and if you can catch it on the Travel Channel or find it some other way ;) , watch it.

I'm a big fan of the public library - much of the Spanish I speak (not so bad they tell me) I learned from Pimsleur CDs / tapes, amazingly enough available (prior to Hurricane Ike - but it was on second floor, so probably survived) right here in Galveston - (pre Ike population, 68,000). Oh, if your library does not have it, interlibrary loan came through (eventually) with Brazilian Portugese.

Not sure how it happened, but I must have had a blank tape in my dual casette player (does anyone listen to casettes anymore :confused: ) .....

Anyways, the two dishes I recall from No Reservations are Peruvian national dishes are ceviche, which I can get right here in Dallas (oops, looks like I moved) and Roasted cuy or guinea pig. Bon provecho.

NOT posting links, you can Google all that, BUT ceviche is one of the wonderful things on this earth that make life worth living. Haven't made it to Peru yet, so the jury's out on the rodent.

EmailKid

Everyone has put up some really good responses, so I wont repeat anything. One thing I didn't see is if you plan on traveling up to Cuzco from Puno or anywhere outside of Lima, the only way to get from Cuzco back to Lima is a one way $100 dollar flight, or a $55 dollar (American dollars) 18 hr bus ride. So make sure to budget and plan for that as well.

Thanks for everyone for the insightful info!!! Unfortunately, when I went to purchase tickets, the price doubled in a matter of a few days. My own fault really, but I will take your advice for a later date. I still would like to visit Peru hopefully sometime next year.

Many thanks!!!

I visited Machu Piccu almost two years ago. As I was on a business trip in Lima and only had three days to spare for me timing was important rather than cheapest possible cost. Having said that I didn't want to pay a fortune either.

Through flyertalk pages I came across a travel agent that booked all accomodation, transport (coach transfers, coach trips, trains, meals and entrance tickets. If I remember correctly I paid about US$600. This did not include Lan Peru flights from Lima and back. But these were not expensive either if booked in advance.

If you PM me names of travel agents I might just recall the one I used. It was Peru Gateway or something similar. They were fantastic and everything worked like clockwork. The tour included the first day in Cusco (which is highly recommended to get used to altidue sickness plus plenty to see there). One day at Machu Piccu. Return to Lima the next day. Of course you can have longer tours and variations on this.

As far as travelling as a lone female, well there were plenty such there and this is really no problem.

PM me if you need more information. I will tell you as much as I can remember. Once again I am really glad I went. And this was only because my daughter insisted I should go as she had just studied about it in her geography class at school in London.

My wife and I hiked the trail to Machu , there were solos trekers, we found the experience safe but very hard, there are many places at dif prices below the ruins, cannot remember the entrance fee

1. It is safe.
2. Lima 1 day, Cuzsco 3days, Machu Picchu all life...:)
3. $ 44.00 dollares an adult ( S/124.00 ). + 14USD Bus two way.
4. Stay in Aguas Calientes.
5. more or less no:)