Tag: Cusco

Categories
Accommodation Peru travel guide

Cheap Hostels in Cusco

Cusco (also “Cuzco”) is the most visited city in Peru thanks to being close to Machu Picchu (and other Inca sites, too) and on the railway which offers access to Lake Titicaca. But the city is also a delight to visit. The capital of the Inca Empire has a lot of colonial architecture to be proud with and is surrounded by Inca ruins.

Since the city is located 3,400 m above the sea level , altitude sickness is a problem to consider. So make sure to adjust to the altitude before you set out to explore the near-by areas. And what best way to get accustomed to the high altitude than to visit the city? For that, you’ll need a place to stay and the cheap hostels in Cusco are an excellent choice. It is always a good idea to book the hostel bed (room) in advance.

Many travelers don’t need more than a private room with en suite bathroom and free wi-fi…throw in a complimentary breakfast and we usually fall in love with the place, especially since hostels tend to be located close to the sites or right in the city center. You get a chance to socialize, too, thanks to the common lounge areas.

Read more about:
>>Getting from Lima to Cusco
>>Getting from Cusco to Machu Picchu

With that in mind, here are some cheap hostels in Cusco to consider for your trip:

El Tuco Hostel

It is located in the history district and offers rooms with private bathrooms. The hostel offers twin, double, single and triple rooms. There are a guest kitchen , laundry facilities and luggage storage available. Breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$27 per night in a private double room.

Hostal El Triunfo

In 2010, the hostel ranked top 3 for ‘Best Location’ in South America. It is located in the city center , behind the Cathedral. All rooms have private bathrooms , TV and some have balconies. Breakfast is included in the room price. The hostel offers private 2,3 and 4 beds rooms. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$45 pr night in a private double room.

Hostal Mallqui

It is located in the city center and you can use their tour desk to book trips to the sites located in the area. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and cable TV. There’s free wi-fi and the American breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$50 per night in a standard or double room.

Hostal Qorichaska

The hostel is located in a refurbished colonial house and offers free wi-fi and private bathrooms. It is located close to the bus station, as well. The common kitchen can be used by the guests. American breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$28 per night in a double or twin room.

Hostal Girasoles Cusco

The hostel , located close to Plaza de Armas, offers private rooms with en suite bathrooms, with free wi-fi and a sun terrace with lovely views of the city. The tour desk can be used to book trips to the near-by ruins. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$35 per night in a double or twin room.

Search this map to find cheap hostels in Cusco, or find even more hostel options by searching with the widget above.

Photo credit

Categories
Accommodation Peru travel guide

Cheap Hotels in Cusco

Cusco (also “Cuzco”) is located in the Southern Sierras and is the most popular travel destination in Peru. It is the gateway to Machu Picchu , Lake Titicaca and the city itself offers plenty of places to visit , which are filled with history. The capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a city you need to get used to…literally. The high altitude puts strain on your body so make sure to adapt to the new conditions before you set off exploring the sites.

But while you adapt, you can visit the city, taste the local cuisine and get to know the culture. For that, you need a place to stay. Thankfully, cheap hotels in Cusco are easy to find. You just have to do your homework (research) before you leave for Cusco.

Read more about:
>>Getting from Lima to Cusco
>>Getting from Cusco to Machu Picchu

Here are some places to consider for your stay in Cusco:

Inkas Inn Cusco

It is located just 400 km from Plaza de Armas. All rooms have free wi-fi , cable TV and private bathrooms. The continental breakfast is included in the room price. The hotel offers free parking and laundry facilities. They can arrange tours to the sites located in the area including Machu Picchu. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$32 per night for a twin or double room.

Royal Inn Cusco

This hotel is located in a quiet area of the city and offers free wi-fi , cable TV, private bathrooms and on-site parking. The continental breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$42 per night for a double or twin room.

Hotel Royal Qosqo

The hotel is located in the city center and features a spa and a café. The Huaca Hanan Huri Pacha ruins are just 30 min away (walking). All rooms have private bathrooms, TV and telephone. There’s free wi-fi in the public areas and the continental breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$45 per night for a double or twin room.

Awki´s Dream Hotel

The 3-star hotel is located 3 blocks away from Plaza de Armas. The rooms have free wi-fi, minibar, work desk, laptop safe and LCD TV. The buffet breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$45 per night for a double room.

Golden Inca Hotel

It is located about 2 km from Plaza de Armas and 3.5 km from the train station. All rooms have free wi-fi and private bathrooms. The buffet breakfast is included in the room price. In March 2012, expect to pay from US$45 per night for a double or twin room.

Search this map to find cheap hotels in Cusco, or find even more hotel options by searching with the widget above.

Photo credit

Categories
Peru travel guide

Getting from Cusco to Machu Picchu

The gateway into the Machu Picchu site is the city of Cusco , which is served by an airport and a bus terminal. Cusco used to be the capital of the Inca Empire and there are plenty of things to see here. Which is great, because if you want to take the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu , you will need to adjust to the altitude and the best places to do that is in Cusco.

The Inca site of Machu Picchu is located in the Andes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited sites in the world. To enter Machu Picchu you need a ticket which can be obtained online here . The current fee is 128 Soles / US$47.60 per adult (foreign visitor). While the best time to visit the sit is from April to October, most of visitors come here from June to August. Needless to say, between June and August the site is awfully crowded.


Quick summary

The easiest way to complete this journey is to travel by train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and then take a bus all the way up to Machu Picchu. If you want to hike but don’t plan to do the Inca Trail, then you can hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu ( 8 km).

Train and bus from Cusco to Machu Picchu

There isn’t a direct train link between Cusco and Machu Picchu , but you can this journey with a stop along the way.

1. Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes.

Aguas Calientes is a small town, located at the bottom of the valley close to Machu Picchu. This is where you’ll stop for a night on the way from Cusco (unless you want to pay a fortune for accommodation in the only lodge in Machu Picchu).

Peru Rail has a monopoly on the Cusco to Aguas Calientes route. The travel time is about 3h 10 min and there are three types of trains connecting the two places. The cheapest ticket is US$56 one way. Book the tickets in advance as the cheapest option is sold out for months in advance. There are 6 departures per day from Cusco but only one train is low-cost. There are five trains on the way back.

>>read more about Train Travel in Peru

2. Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

There is a bus which goes all the way up to Machu Picchu. The fare is US$14 return.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Peru

Train and a hike from Cusco to Machu Picchu

Once in Aguas Calientes you can choose to hike the 8 km to Machu Picchu. The trail is mostly steps and it’s not an easy hike , but definitely worth the views. It takes up 1 ½ h – 2 h on the way up and 1 h on the way down. Make sure to bring appropriate hiking boots (the steps can be slippery!) and supplies (water and snacks).

Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu

Please remember that it’s not possible to hike the Inca Trail independently, you need to be part of a group. Make sure to book the tour in advance because only a limited number of permits are granted each year. The tour departs from Cusco and even though the Classical Inca Trail is the most expensive and the hardest trail take, it’s definitely worth the views and the experience. The trail itself if a 4 days trek but together with the departure from Cusco and return, it takes 7 days to complete the tour.

>>read more about Hiking the Inca Trail

Photo credit

Categories
Peru travel guide

Getting from Lima to Cusco

Lima is the capital of Peru and also the largest city in the country. It mixes the modern metropolis look with the old colonial architecture in the center and the unavoidable slum areas in the outskirts. It’s the best city to indulge in the local foods, especially the fish and seafood. Summers are usually nice with warm temperatures but winters are rainy and overcast.

Cusco , located in the Southern Sierras , was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, Cusco is the base for those planning to explore Machu Picchu and other Inca sights in the region. But the city itself shouldn’t be missed either, with its superb colonial architecture and the near-by ruins.

Quick summary

With no rail between Lima and Cusco, if you plan to travel by land , the cheapest option will be the bus (but the bus ride is quite long). For about the double the bus fare you can fly between the two cities.

Flights from Lima (airport code: LIM) to Cusco*

Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) serves the capital of Lima and is the most important international gateway into the country. It’s also an important domestic hub. It is located about 11 km from the historical center and is hub for the following airlines: LAN Peru, TACA Peru, Peruvian Airlines, Star Peru and LC Busre.

Cusco is served by Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) , which is located right at the edge of the city. It is not hub for any airline and only handles domestic flights.

Flights between Lima and Cusco are operated by: LAN Peru, Peruvian Airlines , Star Peru and TACA Peru. The travel time is 1h 25 min and the single fare in 2012 is 473.30 Peruvian Nuevo sols (PEN) / US$176 on TACA Intl Air.

However, some airlines are not listed in the major flight search engines (such as Kayak) so booking directly from the Peruvian Airlines website means you’ll only pay US$118.50 one way (including the taxes).

Read more about:
>> Flights to Peru
>>Flights to Lima

Buses from Lima to Cusco

There are direct buses between Lima and Cusco and you can even book the ticket and reserve the seat on line.

Cruz del Sur offers three departures per day from Lima (2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m). The travel time is 21 h and the single fare is US$68.38. On the way back, the buses leave Cusco at 2 p.m. , 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The single fare is US64.66. You can buy the tickets online and even choose your seat in the bus.

Ormeno is another company which operates between the two cities . At the time the article was written we couldn’t find any buses between the two cities, although they list the route on the website (20 h trip).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Peru

Driving between Lima and Cusco

The shortest route (according to Google Maps) between Lima and Cusco is 925 km via the Panamericana Sur and Route 3S. But it’s not the shortest in terms of time needed to drive between the two cities (about 14 ½ h). If you stay on Panamericana Sur , you’ll be able to drive the distance in about 13 h and 15 min. Do plan for several stops along the way. The scenery is magnificent along the way. So, you can consider renting a car for this route (especially if there are more than one drivers traveling together).

View Larger Map

Note:* when you look for the Cusco on the airlines websites or bus companies websites make sure to look for CUZCO, as that’s how the name of the city is spelled in Peru.

Photo credit