Traveler Reviews

• Maria A 10-Feb-2020

  Visiting Cusco and Machu-Picchu was a unique life experience. Unfortunately, the tours agency (Misterios Peru Travel) coordinating the trip with us was a fiasco and caused a lot of distress to the Machu-Picchu tour. First place, when Anibal dropped off the tickets at our hotel a day before the tour, he notified us that we had booked a "360 bimodal" trip (bus and train) from Cusco to Aguascalientes which was not true. I had booked the 360 train-only from Cusco to Aguascalientes. He told me that during winter the train does not go to Aguascalientes directly because of the rain, and it is dangerous. Nobody told me this when I booked the trip with Viator. He explained that they would pick us up from the hotel at 4:20 AM to take us to the Inka trail bus station (same company of the train) that would take us to Ollantaytambo's train station (about 2 hours). From there we would take the 360 train to Aguascalientes (another 2 hours) and then the short bus trip (about 20 min) to the base of Machu-Picchu. He gave me the name and phone number of the person in Misterios Peru Travel (Lenin Roman) in case we had a question. When Anibal left, I tried calling Lenin to verify price of a bimodal trip since the train's ticket was very expensive. A recorder replied that the number was disconnected. Then I called the phone number of the travel agency's office and nobody replied. We were ready at 4:20 AM and by 4:45 they hadn't showed up. The JW Marriott's hotel personnel (always taking care of us) called Lenin's phone number and the agency number and no reply. They then recommended calling a taxi or else we may missed the bus leaving at 4:50 AM. So we did and barely made it! The bus was about to leave and was waiting just for us as they couldn't contact anyone to check on us. So we left without knowing who would pick us up in Aguascalientes. When we arrived, I saw a lady with a sign with my first name but wrong last name. I still asked her if she had the right name as everyone had left. She confirmed my name and apologized because of the confusion. Her name was Rosa and re-assured us that our tickets were correct and the guide (Jorge) was going to be waiting for us in Machu-Picchu at 9:45AM. She even showed us a picture of him. She was very kind. We were able to meet with Jorge and he looked upset when I told him that nobody had picked us up at the hotel and we couldn't communicate with the agency. He was very empathetic and outstanding on his presentation during the tour.
  I would strongly recommend that Trip Advisor and A check the background of travel companies they partner with. I still don't know if Misterios Peru Travel even exists. I could have coordinated this trip myself in a more efficient manner without using this service. Hope you make sure this doesn't happen again to anyone else. Especially if they come from other countries for the first time and don't speak Spanish. Because I was able to communicate in Spanish I was able to navigate this situation and saved my trip of a life time to Machu-Picchu. I am giving you one star just because the great service of Rosa and Jorge. Otherwise I would give you none.

• Charming M 03-Jul-2019

  It was everything it said it would be.. To see such an amazing sight.The guide was phenomenal. The accompanying people on the tour as tolerable..It was hot and tons of people, but I truly learned a lot and made new friends.My sole issue was getting the train at a decent time on the return to Cusco.

• Glenn M 03-Jul-2019

  The English speaking tour guide could have had better English. He was knowledgeable, but hard to understand at times. He was patient even though one of our members had a hard time keeping up with the group. Mach Picchu was beautiful, I hope the site continues to be maintained and preserved.

• Bob B 12-Feb-2018

  I only had a day, but this tour made the most of it. I had a great time and youll have plenty of time to explore on your own as well.

• Margret H 27-Jul-2017

  Machu Picchu was great, and the guide was informative. But the guide only met us at the train. No guide or explanation on the bus to the train. Plus we were sent on the bus to Agua Calientes and told to enter Machu Picchu on our own, then come back out to meet the guide in an hour. The bus from Cusco to the train was freezing. We took a tour to Sacred Valley where there was a guide from hotel pickup to return and explanations of what to expect. The tour operator for Machu Picchu was different and very disappointing.

• Samantha Z 05-May-2017

  Awful trip planning left us with only 2.5 hours at Machu Pichu. Tour guide was an hour and half late. The didn't have room for us on the bus back and we had to wait another hour and half to depart train station. Tour guide was difficult to schedule a meet up in Cusco and interfered with our plans. There was ZERO communication with me on planning the trip and booking. Originally they booked us on the lower class train and I had to call and have it changed to what I paid for. Would not recommend.

• Jack C 30-Mar-2017

  The trip was great!! The tour manager in Cusco came to our hotel and explained what would happen the following morning. The train ride up to Agua Caliente was gorgeous. We were fortunate to get a wonderful sunny and warm day. The ruins were fantastic. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and showed up all the important highlights. There were only 9 people in our group so that made it easy to ask questions. The only worrisome part of the trip was trying to find the bus to take us back to Cusco. We were sweating bullets for a while. No bus in sight. We had to walk all over the town looking for the correct bus. The bus company needed better signage telling us where the bus would be.

• Biagio A 21-Feb-2017

  It tooks 5.5 hours each way from Cusco to stay there 5 hours only. The level of English of the guide was poor and he was not enough informative from my point of view. Machu Picchu is amazing, but if it is not well explained, it is hard to understand Inca's way of life. Finally, the last transfer didn't show up at the expected time, so I had to call the agency and wait for it for about 45 minutes.

• Stephen B 11-Feb-2017

  0430 pick up on time. Some 40 minutes later we left Cusco. Without explanation friends and/or Staff were picked up and dropped off in addition to genuine customers. The driver then sought to make up the time by fast and erratic driving even by the standards of Peru.
  Cursory hand over at train station. Train journey excellent both ways,particularly the Staff fashion show and interaction on the return. Handover and admin entry tickets etc all very efficient. Guide was average at best,with superficial knowledge of English and seemingly the history of the sight. It seemed at times he was reading from a script.
  Machu Picchu of course extraordinary,best appreciated in our case at a slower pace after the frenetic guide had left us.
  Return journey from train to Cuzco much better with a competent driver arriving after 7.00 pm.
  All in all, a well organised if very long day.

• Anna P 06-Dec-2016

  The tour guide was late the evening before to handle my tickets out. I called him many times and couldnt reach him. I called Viator to help me find the tour guide in order to receive my tickets on time. They couldnt help. It cost me like 180 USD, which Viator was very nice to pay for. The guide arrived late and didnt even say sorry. I guess they work like crazy since there are thousands of visitors daily. Early pick up, bus ride, nice Train ride with tea and Snacks, yet another bus ride. Spanish speaking tour guide, had to ask him to tell also sth in English. Little Information but thats the way it is... The freetime was nice in the shade-since it was beautiful sunny weather, and interact with llamas. Late Arrival back in Cusco. Amazing site, was really worth it. I guess ist just the touristic conditions, they have to stay dynamic to handle all the visitors. Ist defenitely a disadvantage but just Focus on this real wonder of the world itself.