Thanks Thunderroad,
1. Yes I had a bad experience with altitude sickness at about 3000m several years ago so I've scheduled ~ 5 days in the Sacred Valley to drink lots of Coca Tea
before moving to Cuzco for a few days.
2. Sorry, I wasn't clear enough; I'm actually a minor train buff so getting aboard the train is a destination in itself. If I wanted to have a longer train journey, of course I would board in Cuzco. However, because of the risk of alt sickness, I can't do Cuzco first, and would have to backtrack from TdI to Cuzco to board the train.
So I'm trying to figure out if the scenery between Cuzco and Ollanta is worth the bother, otherwise I might as well save myself some money and an early morning drive and just board the train at Oly to AC.
3. Thanks for the advice on the TdI rates. I've actually locked in 2 rooms on C&P but am still considering paying for one; have to build up my points again since I don't have any other source of points
4. Btw any ideas about getting a Peruvian data SIM easily outside the CUZ airport or in Urubamba?
Originally Posted by
Thunderroad
1. Don't know, but at either price your quote the hotel is worth it. If you have the points and the hotel has availability for the cash plus points option, you might consider that instead.
2. Took the regular train from Oly to AC and then Vistadome back from AC to TdI. If I'm understanding your question correctly, it's definitely NOT worth backtracking from TdI to Cuzco just to take the Vistadome. Overall, it's slightly nicer than the regular train, but not to the point where you should adjust your schedule that way. You'll have nice views from either train.
Not sure that I understand your comment that I've bolded. If you leave Cuzco to the end, the last few days won't be at MP. They are two separate destinations, about a five or six hour (????) train ride apart. You're much better taking the train from TdI to AC.
Also, if you have any issue with altitude sickness, you're definitely smart to put off Cuzco (the highest place you'll stay in that part of the country) to the end. You'll have a better chance of adjusting to the altitude by that point. Not sure what your overall schedule is, but I'd recommend at least a few days at TdI and/or elsewhere in the Sacred Valley to help you acclimatize to the high altitudes. Then your time at MP will actually be lower than at TDI. Then end at Cuzco.
I agree with BigEd that more time in AC/MP is definitely worth it if it at all fits your schedule and budget. We actually did just one night, but took a very early train from Oly so that we had almost a whole day at Oly, than a mid/late afternoon train back to TdI. Our schedule was facilitated by spending a night at the very expensive Sanctuary Lodge (though we got a somewhat better bed and breakfast rate by periodically checking for it and then finally finding it online), which is right outside the MP gates so made coming and going easier. Regardless, MP is worth taking your time in if you can spare it.