Left on the 8am train for Machu Picchu. It was fun to take a motorcycle car station (a motorcycle with top and back seat) to the train station. Absolutely spectacular 1 and a half hour train ride, right next to a fast-flowing, huge river (Urubamba) with high peaks all around and lots were snow covered. Most gorgeous train ride of our lives! Left luggage at our hotel in Aguas Calientes and took the bus to Machu Picchu --- 20 minutes of a zig-zag road up 1,700 feet! Even though you've seen so many pictures of Machu Picchu, words cannot describe what it is like when you have your first view of the sites and Huayna Picchu mountain! It is awe-inspiring, spiritual, the most magnificent site I've ever seen. I was mesmerized by the mountains - how steep, how green, how jagged, how utterly impressive.
Ayul was a great guide! He kept avoiding the huge groups of people, which there were tons of! We saw everything at the site (some in the morning, then had lunch, then the rest). Exhausted at 3:30, but I did the optional hike to the Inca Drawbridge, while Brian waited for us at the Hut of the Gatekeeper of the Rising Sun. The Inca Drawbridge was very impressive, and I've never seen such steep mountains, and cliff-hanging walks ever before.
By 5:30 we were having a cold beer, then a Pisco Sour (delicious). The free dinner at the hotel was OK and easy. The highlights of Machu Picchu were: the condor, the shadow stones, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple with 3 Windows, the stone walls with unusually-shaped stones, the terraces, and as Brian says 'EVERYTHING!'
We've used Adventure Life for several trips in the past and have always been very pleased with them. The staff is personable and professional at the same time. Erin put this trip together for us in just a few days, and it has everything we were looking for! I recommend them without hesitation.
benn
1 month ago
I served as the person responsible for planning a trip to Galapagos and Machu Picchu for a group of 14 people. Jane with Adventure Life was very helpful throughout the process. Making suggestions, offering insight, and in the end helped me overhaul an initial plan into something even better. Also, Jane makes all the plans including the flights within and between Peru and Ecuador. Thanks to her this is going to be a stress-free adventure. After making the final decision about the trip, Jane gathered the contact information for all the travelers and sent out the details to each traveler individually with links to pay deposits, upload passport info, and personal preferences. She also ensured a group email was sent out to the entire group welcoming us to the trip preparation process. Our trip is a year from now and we are excited to make this once in a life time trek. I am happy to have organized things through Adventure Life. However, two small issues came up that were a little off putting. First, Adventure Life adds $50 per person to the cost for each traveler as a donation to a Galapagos conservation fund. I think this should he offered as something that can be added at each traveler’s discretion. Instead, it is automatically added, and each person must ask to have it removed if they do not want it included. Second, although the trip deposit may be paid with a credit card without incurring an additional fee, the balance must be paid in another way to avoid a 3% credit card fee. Maybe this is standard with all travel agencies. In the end I would definitely go through Adventure Life for the next big trip.
Brenda Nielsen
2 months ago
I think it was very helpful that Franny and I spoke on the phone. I think she had a better idea of what we were looking for, and she planned a great itinerary for us!
Elizabeth
3 months ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 months ago
Easy.
Great work on the follow up and details by Waru.