14 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU

1. The city of Cusco is like a world’s fair of people. Cusco is overrun by tourists. You will literally meet people from all over the world. I met people from Poland, Norway, Japan, Germany and Switzerland, just to name a few. Cusco also attracts many people looking for a specific type of “spiritual journey”. You will often see the stereotypical “hippie” type covered in peace things, walking the streets of Cusco.
2. the best time to visit Cusco

April or September to November to be the sweet spot for visiting. It’s just out of the high tourist season but the rainy season hasn’t gotten into full swing just yet. Its between two seasons and it does not get really wet or dry.

3. If you take a photo of someone in native/indigenous attire, be prepared to pay. In Cusco, you will often see women (sometimes men too) dressed in indigenous or traditional Andean clothing.  This is not because they like dressing like that. It is how they often make a living. They are considered part of the “tourist experience”. If you take a picture and do not pay them, they will often approach you demanding payment for the experience of photographing them or posing with you in a pic. We sugested is to avoid taking photos of them. They will often demand 5 soles for a photo or more
4. Never take a taxi of the street alone, especially if you are a woman. Crime is rampant throughout Peru and Cusco is no exception. The area is a hot bed of crime due to the amount of wealthy tourist who visit every year. Always take a taxi with another person. If you are female this is especially true. If you must take a taxi alone, call a taxi service company. Your hotel or hostel can do it for you. I took one taxi alone while in Cusco through a service company and had a good experience.
5. If you are visiting Cusco and then go to Machu Picchu, don’t fly in the day before you leave. You need time to acclimatise so spend 2-3 days in town first.
6. There are police everywhere Due to tourism being one of the biggest sources of revenue for Peru, safety of tourists is of paramount importance. You will often see police in riot gear when there is no riot to be had or police making rounds in the main plaza. You will likely see more police here all at once than you ever have before. So Cusco and surruanded áreas are pretty safe.
7. Machu Picchu is incredibly over priced. Try and buy all of your Machu Picchu needs in the inner city of Cusco. Machu Picchu is actually around 1.5-2 hours from the inner city of Cusco. Once you arrive at the actual attraction, everything will be super inflated. Buy your water bottles and snacks from local street vendors in Cusco and bring them in. Purchase your tickets and Machu Picchu tour with Chaski Green Tour Operator in advance the tours are worth it! They’re super informative and help you better understand why Machu Picchu is so incredible). ¡A little bit of preparation will save so much money!
8. You will have to pay to use the bathroom at the gates of Machu Picchu. When i was there it cost about 2 soles to use the bathroom, per potty visit. There really is no way around this. There is not any bathroom inside of Machu Picchu. The tour in Machu Picchu it takes around 3 hours.

WHAT TO BRING TO MACHU PICCHU

Whether you’re visiting for a day trip , you’ll want to pack carefully for your day in Machu Picchu. Buying snacks and supplies in either Cusco or once you arrive is super expensive, so the better prepared you are, the more you’ll save.

Your passport & entry ticket: This seems obvious, but trust us, it’s not. Don’t forget these extremely important items!

9. 50-100oz of water: During midday, it gets hot and sunny, and you’ll be climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain have some serious stairs, so you’ll need plenty of filtered water. We have a Camelbak Hydration Pack the only one abailable to take into Machu Picchu that fits 100oz of water, snacks, and has some room for gear, too. This will be all carried by you during time at Machu Picchu, keep things as lightweight as possible.
10. Trekking poles are allowed in Machu Picchu unlees you are old or cannot walk normally.
11. Rain Gear: During certain seasons, rain is pretty much guaranteed during your visit to Machu Picchu or any other places in Perú. The good news is that the mist  swirling through the valley creates an absolutely beautiful spectacle! You are going to get wet. We will love your Ultra-Light Packable Rain Jackets because they weigh nothing and squish down for easy carrying just in case. You can also bring Waterproof Socks to wear, just in case.
12. Hiking Clothes: We Reccomended wool hiking gear thanks to its ability to cool you down in the heat and keep you warm in the rain, totally necessary for exploring Machu Picchu, where the weather can change in a minute. Here are the exact clothes we recommend:

• Hiking Clothing for Her: T-shirt| Sports Bra | Half Zip | Hiking Pants
• Hiking Clothing for Him: Short Sleeve shirt| Long Sleeve Shirt | Hiking Pants
• Hiking Shoes & Socks: Machu Picchu can feel like a schlep, even if you’re not hiking the Inca Trail.

13. Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses Much of Machu Picchu is exposed and sunny. Don’t forget sunscreen, and bring extra protection, too! You’ll fit right in with the locals with a Panama style hat like this one.

14. Camera:  Machu Picchu  is stunning, so don’t forget to pack a camera for that once-in-a-lifetime shot! We recommend bringing a tiny, lightweight GoPro – the wide panoramic angle is perfect for the sweeping wide-angle shots of Machu Picchu. Our other fave is the Canon Powershot. It’s the perfect lightweight, hike-friendly camera that takes amazing photos while still fitting comfortably into your pocket.

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