Most organized Sacred Valley tours (departing Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) will typically visit the famous market of Pisac before heading on to the mighty hillside ruins at Ollantaytambo. This for most visitors is the most that is seen of this beautiful region, before moving onto the Sacred Valley. However, it is not commonly known that close to the Sacred Valley there are two other fantastic Inca ruins, which are not included on a standard tour, but are well worth the effort to visit.

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The interesting ruins of Moray lay 600 meters (1900 ft) above the Valley floor, 30 minutes south from the village of Urubamba. Although not considered in the Sacred Valley, this isolated Incan site is a series of interesting concentric agricultural terraces sunk deep into the ground. Barely irrigated by a few surrounding natural springs, historians believe that the Incas used this site as a testing area for growing new crops. The approach to Moray is simply stunning with large invasive snow capped mountains far beyond the green countryside of this area, and offers some of the best photographic opportunities in the region.

30 minutes from Cusco in the south-eastern sector of the Sacred Valley is the beautiful and tranquil Inca site of Tipon. Located high up in the mountain tops of the valley along a slowly winding dirt track is a series of well maintained agricultural terraces, which were irrigated cleverly by the Incas. A series of working water channels feed the whole site with fresh water, harnessed from a natural spring near the top of the site.

If you are planning to travel to the Sacred Valley ask us to plan a visit to Moray and Tipon on your Peru Tour. For the very best expert advice on planning your tour to Peru please contact us today. Totally Latin America are experts in everything Peru and are waiting to assist you in a trip of a life time.

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Any responsible trekking company will hold a pre-trek meeting to answer any of your questions or worries about the trek, and they should also give you a list or some suggestions on what to take with you.

You can request an additional porter to carry additional items for you, and this is certainly recommended for most trekkers. If you decide to carry your own equipment then it is vitally important to be keep the weight to a minimum and only carry the essentials.

Visit our Peru Guide for more information on Peru Treks

Visit our Peru Guide for more information on Peru Treks

One important thing to remember is that it does get very cold at night in the Andes, so you need to be prepared with warm clothing for the evenings and at night time. Wet clothing is not much fun at night, therefore protecting your clothes (in your bag) from the damp is really a good idea.

Top 10 tips for things to take on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

1)      Strong insect repellent.

2)      Plastic bags to keep your clothes dry.

3)      Toilet paper.

4)      Flash light.

5)      Gloves / Scarf / Hat for the night time.

6)      Waterproofs.

7)      Walking sticks x 2.

8)      High quality walking socks.

9)      Spare batteries for your camera.

10)   Hand Sanitizer.

For everything you need to know about Peru and advice on planning Peru tours, please contact us today. Totally Latin America offers custom and set tours to Peru, and has expert advisors waiting to assist. For all your Peru tour requirements drop us a line today.

Alternatively you can visit our new Peru Guide website for in-depth information on anything to do with travel to Peru, hotels, trains, Peru tours, and Peru destinations.

Visit our website today for all information on tours to Peru www.TotallyLatinAmerica.com

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Budget Hotels & Hostals in Cusco

Hostal Suecia II,
Tecseccocha 465, Cusco, Peru,  Tel +51 (84) 239757
No Website

Hostal Pakcha Real
Calle Tandapata 300, San Blas, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 237484
www.hostalpakchareal.com

Loki Hostal
Cuesta Santa Ana 601, Cusco, Peru, Tel (51 84) 243705
www.lokihostel.com

La Point Hostal
Meson de Estrella 172, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 252266
www.thepointhostels.com

Mid Range Hotels & Hostals in Cusco

Ninos Hotel
Calle Meloq 442, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 231424
www.ninoshotel.com

Hostal Loreto
Calle Loreto 115, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 226352
www.loretohostal.com

Hostal Marani
Carmen Alto 194, San Blas, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 249462
www.hostalmarani.com

Tourist Class Hotels in Cusco / 3 Stars

Rumi Punku (Recommended)
Calle Choquechaca 339, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 221102
www.rumipunku.com

Casa Andina Classic – Cusco Plaza
Portal Espinar 142, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 231733
www.casa-andina.com

Casa Andina Classic – Korikancha
Calle San Agustin 371, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 252633
www.casa-andina.com

Casa Andina Classic – Cathedral
Santa Catalina Angosta 149, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 233661
www.casa-andina.com

Casa San Blas Hotel (Recommended)
Tocuteros 566, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 254852
www.casasanblas.com

Luxury Cusco Hotels 4/5 Stars

Casa Andina Private Collection
Limacpampa Chico, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 232610
www.casa-andina.com

Novotel Cusco
San Agustin 239, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 228282
www.novotelcusco.com.pe

Libertador Hotel (Recommended)
Plazoleta Santo Domingo 259, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 231961
www.libertador.com.pe

Monasterio Hotel (Recommended)
Calle Palacios 136, Plazoleta, Cusco, Peru, Tel +51 (84) 241777
www.monasterio.orient-express.com

For more detailed information on Luxury hotels in Cusco click here: Luxury Peru Travel information

For all your luxury Peru Tour requirements please contact our expert sales team for more information.

www.totallylatinamerica.com
info@totallylatinamerica.com

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www.luxuryperutours.com

Machu Picchu was closed for tours later in the month of January, after heavy rains to the region caused landslides, and river rose to levels not seen in over 15 years.

The combination of both of these natural disasters caused wide spread disruption of the the region as bridges were damaged, adobe houses fell and the main train line from Peru rail to Machu Picchu was damaged.

Work on the train line started in two stages a few weeks back and is due to be operational by the 1st of April,  2010. The first section which is already complete is from the Hydroelectric station behind Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes below Machu Picchu. However, saying that this route will only become useful when the planned re-opening of an old road route is complete. The second section will run from Piscacucho to Aguas Calientes. Piscacucho is an old station just past the head of the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From here the line is due to be complete, and access restored to the citadel of Machu Picchu. This does mean however, that visitors will not be able to travel from Cusco by train, but will need to travel first by road past Ollantaytambo and onto Piscacucho before catching the train. This journey time is about 2h30m.

We hope that Peru travel will get back to normal soon, and all visitors who have planned Peru tours, will get to see the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu.

For all Peru tours and Peru Travel please contact us directly for information on our set and custom tours to Peru. We are ready and waiting to assist you!

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It was officially announced a few days ago that Machu Picchu will re-open for business on the first of April. However, it was also announced that the road route planned that was planned to be opened by the end of February will  be delayed as two tunnels are required to be built to make the route safe. As of yet there have been no official dates provided for repair of the train tracks into Machu Picchu, but re-pair work is well underway.

Although helicopters are available in the area, there have been no offical permits granted to fly into the region of Machu Picchu.

There is due to be a meeting of the ‘Travel Agents Association’ this weekend, where it is widely believed more information about the stautus of Machu Picchu and access will become more clear.

As soon as we have any more information, then we shall let you know!

www.totallylatinamerica.com

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www.totallylatinamerica.com/machu-picchu/tours.php

From December through to February is considered the wet season in the highlands of Peru, and is in sharp contrast to the dry months the rest of the year brings. This year however, when the rains came they were relentless and hard falling day after day for nearly one month solid.

Rain of this magnitude anywhere in the world will cause dramatic results, but in Peru the effects were somewhat more harsh as many homes are made from Adobe (a mixture of earth and straw). This type of construction is actually very good, providing that roofs and outer walls are protected from the elements.

The heavy rain fall, saw the rivers of Urubamba and Vilcanota (close to Machu Picchu) rise to levels not seen in 15 years, and with it flooding of local communities, and of course the destruction of many adobe houses.

To add to the pain, the main train route into Machu Picchu, which runs next to the Urubamba and Vilcanota rivers was also damaged. This meant that visitors to Machu Picchu were stranded at the Archeological site as the only route out was by train.

The Peruvian Government declared a state of emergency on January 24, 2009 and helicopter airlifts started to evacuate visitors to the local town of Ollantaytambo where they could return by land to Cusco. The evacuation took approximately 3 days, as the weather conditions continued to hamper the area.

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So what now for Travel to Machu Picchu?

A recent inspection of the train line to Machu Picchu has revealed that there was over 28 Km’s of damaged track between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, and 8 points of significant damage. Current estimates to repair the rail line, are between 1-2 months, but this could be longer if weather conditions hamper repairs.

The use of helicopters into the area are not allowed at this time, as a recent study determined that vibration from the helicopter blades were damaging the construction of Machu Picchu.

Therefore, the Regional Government of Cusco have pledged to open an old existing road route from Santa Teresa to the Hydroelectric station located behind Machu Picchu, this means that access by road from Cusco is possible. The time scale to open the road (which is only a short passage) is said to be 15 day, but realistically this could be a week or two longer as rains continue to fall into at this time.

There are logistical issues still to be sorted out with regards to the road, including how to ferry the many visitors in and out of the area without congestion and with saftey in mind. This information is yet to be announced. But as soon as it is available then we shall let you know.

For those travelling in February and March, you need to contact your travel agent, and discuss the options which are available to you at this time.

Good luck, and don’t be put off as travel to Machu Picchu and Peru is an incredible experience.

Totally Peru Team.

Open your eyes to an amazing country…….

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