Tedirene Posted January 27, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 27, 2018 I would appreciate some advice, please. We are thinking of doing a cruisetour to South America to include Macchu Picchu. My DW is totally blind and we were wondering if anyone has done this tour especially with some one with disabilities. We have read the itinerary and not sure if you go to the hotel before travelling up to Macchu Picchu for a tour of the ruins. We realise it would not be feasible for her to actually tour the ruins but concerned about how she would be catered for whilst the tour is conducted. Should we not consider doing the land tour at all? Thanks. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc85 Posted January 28, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 28, 2018 When we did this tour we were flown to Cusco one morniing, checked into a hotel there, and then were given a bus tour around Cusco. Cusco was a very nice area for us. Then the next morning was a long (3.5 hour or so) train ride to the base of Machu Picchu, a small bus ride up the mountain, and a few hours at the site. Then a bus back down and the reverse 3.5 hour train ride. It was a long day but the site was very interesting. We then stayed a second night in the hotel and flew out the next morning. I don't remember seeing anyone with a handicap on our tour nor at the hotel. FYI, Cusco is actually at a higher altitude than Macchu Pichu... something like 11,000 feet in Cusco. That first afternoon was set up for us to "take it easy" in order to try to adjust to the low oxygen/high altitude. One person on the tour did have some trouble with this, but we adjusted for the train ride/tour. MP is at about 8,000 feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t&atravel Posted January 28, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Sometimes folks confuse the “land tour” (pre or post cruise) with the excursion for 3 days from the ship. If you’re talking about the pre or post cruise tour that includes a night in Aguas Caliente then I do have experience with that. On our trip the train from our hotel stay in the sacred valley stopped in Aguas Caliente where we disembarked to check into the hotel. The train then continued on to Machu Picchu for those not on the tour. After checkin we were bused up to Machu Picchu. We had lunch outside the gate before entering. Those who wished to go were also able to bus to Machu Picchu for a short time the next morning. Those who stayed behind wandered around town. The town is very hilly and can be difficult to get around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare oskidunker Posted January 28, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 28, 2018 We did the three day excursion. I would not recommend it. Very rushed, tiring. and poor food at the hotel. Do it before you board the ship. We got no time in Cusco Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted January 28, 2018 #5 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Sometimes folks confuse the “land tour” (pre or post cruise) with the excursion for 3 days from the ship. If you’re talking about the pre or post cruise tour that includes a night in Aguas Caliente then I do have experience with that. On our trip the train from our hotel stay in the sacred valley stopped in Aguas Caliente where we disembarked to check into the hotel. The train then continued on to Machu Picchu for those not on the tour. After checkin we were bused up to Machu Picchu. We had lunch outside the gate before entering. Those who wished to go were also able to bus to Machu Picchu for a short time the next morning. Those who stayed behind wandered around town. The town is very hilly and can be difficult to get around. We will be doing this pre-cruise excursion through an independent travel agency and will be staying overnight in Aguas Calientes as well as several days in Cusco. Thanks for the information. Cusco elevation is 3,400 meters or 11,200 feet ASL Machu Picchu is at 2,430 meters or 7,970 feet ASL Aguas Calientes is at 2,040 meters or 6,690 feet ASL Flatlanders will definitely have problems in Cusco due to the altitude. It is wise to discuss your plans of going to that altitude with your personal physician before the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted January 28, 2018 #6 Share Posted January 28, 2018 I would appreciate some advice, please. We are thinking of doing a cruisetour to South America to include Macchu Picchu. My DW is totally blind and we were wondering if anyone has done this tour especially with some one with disabilities. We have read the itinerary and not sure if you go to the hotel before travelling up to Macchu Picchu for a tour of the ruins. We realise it would not be feasible for her to actually tour the ruins but concerned about how she would be catered for whilst the tour is conducted. Should we not consider doing the land tour at all? Thanks. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums If you are speaking of the Pre or Post Cruise Machu Picchu Tour (around 6 days), my wife and I just did that a few weeks ago and then joined the Emerald Princess in Santiago. We did not check into the hotel in Aguas Calientes first. We got off the train and boarded the bus up to Machu Picchu. You also get a day and a half at Machu Picchu itself. The acclimatization process is also done very well with several days in Cusco / Sacred Valley before you head up to Machu Picchu. This is what the itinerary looked like: Dec 14 Transfer: Airport To Hotel Dec 14 Afternoon At Leisure Dec 14 Lima Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 15 Breakfast Dec 15 Transfer: Hotel To Airport Dec 15 Air: Lima To Cusco Dec 15 Lunch Dec 15 Coach: Cusco To Urubamba Dec 15 Pisac Market Dec 15 Sacred Valley Accommodations - 2 Nights Dec 16 Breakfast Dec 16 Ollantaytambo Tour Dec 16 Coach: Ollantaytambo To Chincheros Dec 16 Chincheros Sightseeing Dec 16 Lunch Dec 16 Coach: Chincheros To Urubamba Dec 16 Dinner Dec 17 Breakfast Dec 17 Rail: Ollantaytambo To Aguas Calientes Dec 17 Coach: Aguas Calientes To Machu Picchu Dec 17 Machu Picchu Sightseeing Dec 17 Lunch Dec 17 Dinner Dec 17 Machu Picchu Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 18 Breakfast Dec 18 Machu Picchu Sightseeing Dec 18 Rail: Aguas Calientes To Ollantaytambo Dec 18 Coach: Ollantaytambo To Cusco Dec 18 Lunch Dec 18 Cusco Sightseeing Dec 18 Dinner Dec 18 Cusco Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 19 Breakfast Dec 19 Transfer: Hotel To Airport Dec 19 Air: Cusco To Lima Dec 19 Lunch On Own Dec 19 Air: Lima To Santiago Hotel Info: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 - 2 Nights: Swissotel Lima Friday, December 15, 2017 - 2 Nights: Tambo Del Inka Resort & Spa Sunday, December 17, 2017 - 1 Night: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel Monday, December 18, 2017 - 1 Night: Palacio Del Inka Luxury Hotel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedirene Posted January 28, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted January 28, 2018 When we did this tour we were flown to Cusco one morniing, checked into a hotel there, and then were given a bus tour around Cusco. Cusco was a very nice area for us. Then the next morning was a long (3.5 hour or so) train ride to the base of Machu Picchu, a small bus ride up the mountain, and a few hours at the site. Then a bus back down and the reverse 3.5 hour train ride. It was a long day but the site was very interesting. We then stayed a second night in the hotel and flew out the next morning.I don't remember seeing anyone with a handicap on our tour nor at the hotel. FYI, Cusco is actually at a higher altitude than Macchu Pichu... something like 11,000 feet in Cusco. That first afternoon was set up for us to "take it easy" in order to try to adjust to the low oxygen/high altitude. One person on the tour did have some trouble with this, but we adjusted for the train ride/tour. MP is at about 8,000 feet. Thank you so much for the info. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedirene Posted January 28, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted January 28, 2018 When we did this tour we were flown to Cusco one morniing, checked into a hotel there, and then were given a bus tour around Cusco. Cusco was a very nice area for us. Then the next morning was a long (3.5 hour or so) train ride to the base of Machu Picchu, a small bus ride up the mountain, and a few hours at the site. Then a bus back down and the reverse 3.5 hour train ride. It was a long day but the site was very interesting. We then stayed a second night in the hotel and flew out the next morning.I don't remember seeing anyone with a handicap on our tour nor at the hotel. FYI, Cusco is actually at a higher altitude than Macchu Pichu... something like 11,000 feet in Cusco. That first afternoon was set up for us to "take it easy" in order to try to adjust to the low oxygen/high altitude. One person on the tour did have some trouble with this, but we adjusted for the train ride/tour. MP is at about 8,000 feet. Merc85, thanks for the information. It would make a big difference if the tour checks in to the hotel first. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedirene Posted January 28, 2018 Author #9 Share Posted January 28, 2018 If you are speaking of the Pre or Post Cruise Machu Picchu Tour (around 6 days), my wife and I just did that a few weeks ago and then joined the Emerald Princess in Santiago. We did not check into the hotel in Aguas Calientes first. We got off the train and boarded the bus up to Machu Picchu. You also get a day and a half at Machu Picchu itself. The acclimatization process is also done very well with several days in Cusco / Sacred Valley before you head up to Machu Picchu. This is what the itinerary looked like: Dec 14 Transfer: Airport To Hotel Dec 14 Afternoon At Leisure Dec 14 Lima Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 15 Breakfast Dec 15 Transfer: Hotel To Airport Dec 15 Air: Lima To Cusco Dec 15 Lunch Dec 15 Coach: Cusco To Urubamba Dec 15 Pisac Market Dec 15 Sacred Valley Accommodations - 2 Nights Dec 16 Breakfast Dec 16 Ollantaytambo Tour Dec 16 Coach: Ollantaytambo To Chincheros Dec 16 Chincheros Sightseeing Dec 16 Lunch Dec 16 Coach: Chincheros To Urubamba Dec 16 Dinner Dec 17 Breakfast Dec 17 Rail: Ollantaytambo To Aguas Calientes Dec 17 Coach: Aguas Calientes To Machu Picchu Dec 17 Machu Picchu Sightseeing Dec 17 Lunch Dec 17 Dinner Dec 17 Machu Picchu Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 18 Breakfast Dec 18 Machu Picchu Sightseeing Dec 18 Rail: Aguas Calientes To Ollantaytambo Dec 18 Coach: Ollantaytambo To Cusco Dec 18 Lunch Dec 18 Cusco Sightseeing Dec 18 Dinner Dec 18 Cusco Accommodations - 1 Night Dec 19 Breakfast Dec 19 Transfer: Hotel To Airport Dec 19 Air: Cusco To Lima Dec 19 Lunch On Own Dec 19 Air: Lima To Santiago Hotel Info: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 - 2 Nights: Swissotel Lima Friday, December 15, 2017 - 2 Nights: Tambo Del Inka Resort & Spa Sunday, December 17, 2017 - 1 Night: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel Monday, December 18, 2017 - 1 Night: Palacio Del Inka Luxury Hotel Bassmaster, thanks for the detailed itinerary. A bit disappointed that they didn’t check in to the hotel before the tour of the ruins. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted January 29, 2018 #10 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Bassmaster, thanks for the detailed itinerary. A bit disappointed that they didn’t check in to the hotel before the tour of the ruins. Ted Itinerary posted above says tour of M.P. is before lunch. Most hotels are not ready for new occupants until the afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t&atravel Posted January 29, 2018 #11 Share Posted January 29, 2018 Please note that the entry times for Machu Picchu have changed starting Jan. 1st. They are limiting entry tickets to certain hours in the morning and afternoon. Not sure how the tour will handle this. On our tour we would not have made the early entry time as our train did not get there early enough. Either way, I think that the tour operators would have no problem accommodating your wife by taking her to the hotel from the train while you are bussed to the site if you have morning tickets. They were really a great group. Only the princess excursion desk can tell you for sure if the tour would accommodate her disability. Edit: maybe not the excursion desk since this is a tour, but someone at Princess should be able to give advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmaster150 Posted January 30, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Bassmaster, thanks for the detailed itinerary. A bit disappointed that they didn’t check in to the hotel before the tour of the ruins. Ted Sent from my iPad using Forums Please note though that all of your baggage was handled by the porters...again, I checked the itinerary and don't remember checking in...but once we were at Machu Picchu, I totally forgot everything because the views were magnificent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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