Cusco to Machu Picchu Full Day Tour Review: Expedition Train

Alright, so you’re thinking of doing a day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu? I get it! It’s almost a bucket-list thing, right? But, very the choices can be a bit overwhelming. I want to walk you through my personal experience with the ‘From Cusco Machupicchu Full Day Tour’ using the Expedition Train, plus, tell you what you can really expect.

Why Choose a Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu?

Time is, in a way, pretty precious, and I wanted to maximize mine. I felt like a full-day tour was an appropriate way to jam-pack the iconic experience into a short timeframe. Very if you’re trying to sandwich Machu Picchu into a Cusco trip that also involves rainbow mountain, or seeing other beautiful locations, a day trip becomes, you know, really attractive.

Choosing the Expedition Train for that portion of your travels very is key for a handful of reasons. It hits a comfortable middle ground. It offers a good experience, it gives you those scenic views and more comfortable seating than you can find with local travel options, it offers the basic services. All of this combines with being relatively friendly for your finances. It makes it something quite palatable. More or less, it really improves the whole experience without completely breaking the bank.

Booking and Pre-Tour Preparations

Booking that particular tour? Pretty a piece of cake, frankly. So most agencies, even tour operators that have good reputations in Cusco offer it. You should shop around a bit to make certain you’re getting a decent price, and absolutely, ensure that all permits are handled. I think it can be difficult to make adjustments later on.

A little tip? Plan this as far in advance as you can, or it tends to be better. Machu Picchu entrance tickets? More or less, they sell out, sometimes months ahead of time, mostly during the peak travel months. Passport, ticket confirmations? I want you to have them on hand. You could save yourself some trouble!

The Early Morning Cusco Departure

Oh my gosh, so this is something I will tell you. That morning starts really early. I’m talking, you might just roll out of bed around 4 a.m., usually, to get ready to meet your transfer. At the end of the day, it’s well before sunrise, mostly.

The drive to Ollantaytambo is long, but mostly it can be a super scenic ride, mostly as the sun begins to come up. The Peruvian countryside that you’re passing by is wonderful for grabbing a glimpse. More or less, it’s a preview of the striking landscapes that you will find.

The Expedition Train Experience

The Expedition Train itself? It’s fairly comfortable. Pretty much, it offers you spacious seats plus large windows. These features are very so you don’t miss that lovely scenery. As a matter of fact, the ride down the valley to Aguas Calientes? It lasts nearly a couple hours. It gives you enough of an appropriate chance to relax and mentally prepare yourself.

Refreshments are purchasable on board. Though you’ll get what you expect to find. Bringing some of your own treats could also, like your water, assist in staying comfortable.

Arrival in Aguas Calientes and Bus to Machu Picchu

When that train arrives in Aguas Calientes, that is just at the bottom of Machu Picchu. You may want to hop on a bus quickly. Basically, this bus, unlike driving up a regular mountain road, winds its way up those switchbacks to the Machu Picchu entrance. I want you to prepare to line up a little, especially during peak season.

My suggestion? You should factor that little waiting time into your plans.

Exploring Machu Picchu: A Guided Tour

Okay, honestly, it’s what you’re there for! Your tour, pretty much depending on which one you take, includes a guide that you’ll join up with. Their expertise really makes such a big change. When I went, the guides, usually they had knowledge about Incan history and that culture to begin with.

You’ll, sort of, hear information regarding the Temple of the Sun, or, as a matter of fact, the Intihuatana stone. More or less, the Sacred Plaza? You’ll view all that, or most of those places, and so they explain what they were employed for back then. This experience really offers you, I think, an enriched experience far above what I would’ve had roaming those ruins all by my lonesome self!

You may want to note? Walking and climbing may be part of exploring. Appropriate footwear really matters. Very bring comfy shoes, and mostly dress in layers since, seriously, that weather does seem to change very fast.

Free Time in Machu Picchu

After you’ve seen the structured part of your tour, mostly the guided section. You’re probably going to get a chunk of free time, too. It’s almost a bit to simply roam, and take pictures. That is your opportunity to see that view that you recognize out of National Geographic magazines.

Depending how fast of a walker you might be, hiking up to the Sun Gate, maybe? Just a bit of that hike offers a really remarkable vantage point and is amazing if that’s available to you. Very make certain to simply take it all in. It, honestly, really is amazing.

The Return Journey: Aguas Calientes to Cusco

After some time seeing that lost Incan kingdom? It’s really time to move back towards Aguas Calientes and grab your train that will head back. Now, those afternoon trains? Basically, they can get quite crowded.

Once you get back in Ollantaytambo, a bus tends to be waiting. It will drive you from there back to Cusco. Expect it to be late when you return that night. I think I was back nearly around 9 or 10 p.m. You may want to arrange food in advance since basically when you are done, you’re really DONE.

Is the Expedition Train Worth It?

Very, if you wonder, did I enjoy that Expedition Train thing? In fact, I did! I think the comfort it offered added to my overall enjoyment on my trips. The option, by the way, is a mid-tier option, in terms of both enjoyment and costs. Should you prefer something super lavish, or like your travel simple. More or less, there might just be alternative selections, too. But for making the experience wonderful while not going excessively fancy? Yeah, the Expedition Train worked for me.

Recommendations for Fellow Travelers

• Book Ahead: Definitely get those tickets plus the tour months earlier!
• Pack Light: Very that you just have essentials to help keep things quite manageable as you move around a bit.
• Stay Hydrated: The altitude can be trying, mostly make certain to hydrate!
• Dress in Layers: The weather tends to be unpredictable.
• Respect the Site: Mostly remain on particular trails plus avoid touching that old stonework.

What I Learned

Spending only one day, and going and returning? I can say, that may seem hurried. Should your main thing be taking Machu Picchu in slowly? That is okay. You could want more time there than this tour allows.

Even so, given a short time? This tour gets the task done. What I came away with may just be memories of all those stunning scenes, and also those mysterious histories that really were remarkable. This experience offered just a taste of old Incan life.

#MachuPicchu #Peru #Travel #Adventure #Inca #Cusco