Camp in Machu Picchu is ideal for an economical trip

Cheap trips to Machu Picchu do exist. Many people are unaware of this route and also few know that, in Machu Picchu Pueblo, there are cheap places to spend the night. We refer to the camps. This is an alternative for those who like to do activities while enjoying nature. Furthermore, spending the night in a camp with the climate that Machu Picchu has is even better than spending it in a hotel. The climate is warm even at night and for many only a tent and mat are enough to spend the night. Here we leave you all the details to make your stay in Machu Picchu Pueblo more economical.

Economic option to get to Machu Picchu

One of the main options to make the trip to Machu Picchu economically is by doing the route through Hidroeléctrica. Although the bus trip is long, you can see another way of sightseeing when taking this route. During this trip, we visit more towns belonging to the high jungle of Cusco. These districts are home to different cultures compared to those that can be found in the Imperial City. Likewise, it is possible to appreciate other landscapes and explore them. As long as you have time. For example, by taking the route through Hidroeléctrica you can learn more about Santa Teresa coffee, as well as destinations where they take care of bees and are dedicated to beekeeping.

Peru has many cultures to offer. This is due to the diversity of climates and geographical regions. This complexity generated different cultural manifestations to confront it. Knowing each one of them would represent an almost impossible task, but it is possible to learn a little more about these destinations. Taking unconventional tours, such as the Hidroeléctrica route, allows you to learn more about Cusco. At the same time, this route allows for a more economical trip because those who choose this option save on train trips that can reach $150 to cover the round trip route. It is undeniable that train travel offers a new experience, but sometimes it is not for everyone’s budget.

However, getting to Machu Picchu by Hydroelectric can take two days. This is not because you have to travel a long path on foot, but because the trip by bus or minivan is quite long. Approximately the trip from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica is 6 hours. This is due to various factors. One of them is that the final section of the road, passing through Santa Teresa, is a track and they are also doing maintenance and improvements in some sections. Normally on a 2-day trip, you arrive at the hydroelectric plant to enjoy an exquisite lunch, after which you begin the hike. The walking time can be extended by up to 3 hours. That is, taking into account some breaks during the walk. The final destination of this hike will be Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo.

This district is currently visited by thousands of tourists so you can find everything. From budget restaurants to top-quality restaurants. Likewise, with hotels and other services. The Camping area service is quite economical because it is a service offered by the local municipality, so it is not for profit. In this sense, all those who make the trip through Hidroeléctrica must spend the night in this district, so that the next day they can visit Machu Picchu and begin the trip along the same path by which they arrived.

Camps in Machu Picchu

Once you have completed the entire tour through different places such as Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Abra Málaga, Santa María, Santa Teresa, and Hidroeléctrica, you will have to think about the right place to spend the night. As we mentioned above, it is possible to find all types of services. You’ll probably also be interested to know that there are accommodations for backpackers, which are also quite affordable. But here we come to talk to you about the camps that you can find in Machu Picchu Pueblo.

The Municipal Camp of Machu Picchu Pueblo is located on the Hiram Bingham Highway. This highway or path is the one that connects the district with the archaeological site, and it is also the path through which it connects with the Hydroelectric route. We must clarify that the walk to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo is following the train tracks. There is a train transportation service for all residents of these places. That is, it is a service for locals or national tourists. These trains have specific departure times.

Before arriving at Machu Picchu Pueblo, it is possible to find this camping area. Camping space is only 15 PEN a little less than 4 dollars. This area is well equipped and it is possible to find everything that is required in a lodging, such as green areas, toilets, showers, small spaces to taste food and also a space to store the camp before climbing to the wonder of the world Machu Picchu. Below, we detail some factors that you should take into account when using this camp.

• Opening hours are from 4:30 to 9:30 in the morning.
• The afternoon schedule is from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Service is provided from Monday to Sunday.
• You can opt for the tent washing service for 15 PEN.
• When making your payment, ask for the payment slip, sometimes they make schedule changes.
• It is recommended to be careful with the facilities so that all visitors can use them in optimal conditions.
• If you want to spend more time in the facilities you have to renew the payment the next day.
• It is necessary to show your DNI or passport so that they can register and count those who enter this service.

How to plan my stay in Machu Picchu Pueblo?

Now that you have more knowledge about an economical route, we advise you to plan your trip well. Here we will leave you some observations and points that you can follow, but try to plan your visit to Machu Picchu with all the details and destinations you want to visit. By making the trip with your tent, you may be able to stay longer or do other activities. To start, and it will be essential, you contact a transport agency. They will tell you the appropriate time to leave Cusco, board the transportation, and make the only trip to Hidroeléctrica.

If you want to make the trip on your own, you will have to take more transportation and probably have other adventures. In case you want to make other visits, such as going to the crystal-clear thermal baths in Cocalmayo. It is possible, but to do so you will have to spend a night in Santa Teresa. Making this visit will also be feasible to do during your return. The essential thing for your trip to be adequate and not encounter many difficulties is that you take into account the day of entry to Machu Picchu and the schedule. If you want to visit in only 2 days, we recommend that you opt for the earliest entry times. This way, you will have the entire afternoon free to return to Hidroeléctrica and after that, travel to Cusco.

You also have to take into account the arrival time. If you continue the trip with a transportation agency, you will arrive near dusk at Machu Picchu Pueblo. That is, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This way you can acquire the space for your store, after which, you can go out to the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo to have dinner or buy some snacks or drinks. Try to have a good night and rest early. The next day it is recommended to start activities from 5:00 in the morning to enter Machu Picchu for the first time, which is at 6:00.

To get to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, you have two options. The first and most economical way is to do it on foot. The walk can take about 2 hours. Keep in mind that the route is uphill along some stairs. The other option is traveling in ecological buses. This option will allow you to arrive in only 30 minutes. Again, we will emphasize the entry time you selected to enter. The schedules allow 1 hour of entry. That is, if the ticket indicates 6:00 in the morning, it is possible to enter up to minutes before and after 7:00 in the morning. But this sometimes depends on the number of people entering. Remember that the schedules are to avoid crowds during the tour.

Finally, we recommend that you plan the trip according to the day of entry you have managed to acquire to visit Machu Picchu. You can do many activities either before or after touring the wonder of the world. If you want to know more about these activities, we briefly detail them in the following section.

Activities to do in Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes

Una de las ventajas que se tiene al hacer el viaje con equipo de campamento propio es que en puedes optar por quedarte más días de lo normal en el destino que más te guste. El caso de Machu Picchu Pueblo es un abanico de opciones y actividades que se pueden realizar. Para comenzar puedes hacer caminatas dentro de la basta vegetación y también puedes conocer otros atractivos como:

• Waterfalls – Near Machu Picchu Pueblo, you can see different waterfalls. These are located at different distances. To the delight of walkers, not all of them are in the same direction. For example, the closest is the one located very close to the thermal baths. That is, you can reach it in only about 30 minutes of walking and also seeing the beautiful sculptures. This waterfall is called Aguas Calientes. Other waterfalls have greater distances. Among these, the one found in the Jardines de Mándor will stand out. and you can also visit the waterfall Allcamayo
• Site Museum – This is a museum that was opened between the sixties and seventies of the last century. The initiative came from archaeologist Dr. Manuel Chávez Ballón, which is why the museum received its name. Little by little, its infrastructure improved and today it has a truly innovative route. Since 2005, some elements found and the history of the place have been shown to the world. The tour takes place through 8 rooms with plenty of infographics.
• Mándor Gardens – This beautiful garden is located right on the route that connects Hidroeléctrica with Machu Picchu Pueblo. You can enter this place depending on the time you have. That is, you can enter when you leave or during the return. Many tourists choose to enter this place during the return walk. There you can find a great variety of flora, where orchids and trees stand out. It is also possible to see some birds typical of the region.
• Thermal baths – It is probably the best-known destination since it is visited by many people. It is highly recommended for people who take hiking routes and actually for the general public. The entrance does not exceed 10 PEN and you can find toilets, showers, and also lockers where you can store your luggage.

You can visit all the places we mentioned. Staying more days in Machu Picchu is more feasible than having a place to rest economically. If you don’t have much time, remember to organize your trip well to avoid delays or any problems during the trip.