Machu Picchu Question

Ladies & Gentlemen -

Machu Picchu

To those of you who visited Machu Picchu, did your life change? Or did you feel some spirtual higher power come over you? Did you feel something that made you feel like you're out of body?

Thanks

[Ricardo]

When I visited Machu Picchu I felt a sense of awe and a feeling that it was truly a spiritual site. MP feels very peaceful and serene. The beauty of the high jungle of Peru was a completely different travel experience for me. No out of body experience though. It did change my life, but only slightly more than travel to any other foreign location. I would rate it as a must see location if a person finds themselves anywhere near Peru. It is certainly the most unique place I have ever visited during my travels. The history of the Incas is amazing, and I think reading up on the subject before hand will increase the enjoyment of visiting MP.

[SEDONA7]

Actually it felt the same as when I visited the Hooters Bar down the street the other night.

But, frankly am glad that I did make the trip. I acutally enjoyed the train ride from Cusco and the city of Cusco itself , more than the actual visit to Machu Picchu. I thought the ruins were very interesting, and am glad that I made the vistit, but it was not an out of body experience or anything close to it. Maybe it was the Peruvian woman that I was with , that detracted me from enjoying the visit. I would suggest making the trip if you have the time and money to do so.
Just my two cents worth of BS.

[HonkyTonk]

Machu Picchu, a must see before anyone into past LAm history dies. If your idea of a foreign land is Cancun, you'll be disappointed.

It was a spiritual experience of sorts and an adventure just getting to and from. Once there--just a sense of sereneness. It's like you don't even want to talk...and if you do, softly.

I've never experienced a feeling like it anywhere else.

I agree with Ricardo that knowing the history of Machu Picchu enhances the experience.

Also, plan your trip according to the weather. We went towards the end of the rainy season, April, and were told it might rain the entire time. It didn't and made it even more beautiful with the thick low level clouds and the peaks jutting up above them.

Well worth the trip! Awesome scenery on the train ride from Cusco.

Te (heart) Peru!

[islander11]

Can any of you tell me how much the train ride is from Cusco to MP? I have been interested in visiting MP for quite some time. And how much are the hotels of that area? Can this trip be done at a reasonable price once there? Thanks. I went to Tikal, Guatemala a few years ago. That's one of the largest ruin sites of Central or South America. Quite interesting.

[HonkyTonk]

You don't "do" Machu Picchu one step at a time. Buy a tour in Lima. Prepare yourself for many sleepless nights and a hunger strike.

Cost? A few hundred. You don't go from Lima to MP. It's about a 4 day trip depending on how you want to do it.

They used to have unregulated heilochopter trips there till some of them crashed and burned, taking a few tourists with them.

[Ricardo]

Tickets are usually packaged to include the round trip train transportation between Cusco and MP, and the admission ticket for MP. I think I paid about $150/person for that in 2004. I think airfare from Lima to Cusco and back was about the same per person. There are a wide variety of accommodations in Cusco, from low priced hostels to upper end hotels. I stayed at an upper end hotel and although I do not remember what I paid, I remember it did not strike me as pricey. If you can swing it, try to book a room in Aguascalientes for one night. Aguascalientes is the small town adjacent to MP. It is very small with a limited number of hotels, but if you stay there for the night you'll get to experience MP for a few hours before the crowds arrive on the train. No part of the trip to MP struck me as pricey. If it is your first trip to Peru, make sure you read up a little about the food beforehand. Peruvian food is incredible and there are all kinds of amazing restaurants in both Lima and Cusco.

[Miami Bob]

Does anyone have experience with the hotel adjacent to the grounds at machu pichu instgead of staying in agua calientes?

Although I didn't stay at agua caliente, I think it would be your best bet. It is only a 20 minute bus ride and you get an all day pass at Machu Picchu. That way you could spend a few hours there, go back to your hotel and return to Machu Picchu later in the day. If you have deep pockets, you could stay at the hotel at Machu Picchu. It's a thousand dollars a night.
Tonk, I think a helicopter "lopped off" the Machu Picchu ancient sundial rock while filming a Pepsi commercial. As you could imagine this really made the helicopter ban "etched in granite" so to speak.

[Miami Bob]

What is the name/website of the on-site hotel? us$1000 per night is kind of steep. I'd like to investigate further. The idea of waking up on the peak and in the park would be unique.