Trekking to Machu Picchu Overview

By Ramon

Ramon is the creator of Traveling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. ​​

Trekking to Machu Picchu Trip Report
Trekking to Machu Picchu Overview
American Airlines 737 Max First Class Review
Westin Lima Hotel Review
Exploring Lima
Palacio del Inka Hotel Review
Exploring Cusco
Tambo del Inka Hotel Review
Trekking to Machu Picchu
JW Marriott Lima Hotel Review
Delta 757 LAX-DCA Economy Class Review

Machu Picchu

Introduction
In August/September 2021 Christina and I got the opportunity to continue our journey together to all of the inhabited continents of the world going to Peru in South America. The choice of Peru was driven by the beauty of the country and the opportunity to see Machu Picchu. We originally planned to take this trip in September 2020 but after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic we cancelled the trip and we rescheduled it for 2021 once COVID vaccines rolled out. 

​We ended up going to Lima, Cusco, and El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley). This would give us an opportunity to see the capital and largest city in Peru, the historical capital of Peru, and Mach Picchu  one of the Ancient and the Modern Wonders of the World.

Booking Flights
​When we originally booked our tickets we planned to fly from Washington D.C to Miami on American Airlines and then from Miami to Lima and on to Cusco, Peru on Avianca. However, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Avianca stoped flying From Miami to Lima and from Lima to Cusco and still don't fly there today. When we rebooked our flight we instead booked flights from Washington D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Miami International (MIA) to Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Business Class on American Airlines after exchanging our previous tickets plus a small fee. Then to get to Cusco we purchased Premium Economy tickets, which is the highest class offered on this route, from LIM to Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) for $225 each.

LATAM A320

​Booking Hotels
​For our trip we took advantage of Christina's Marriott status and all four hotels we stayed at during this stayed at during this stay were Marriott properties including some of the nicest hotels we have ever stayed at. For our first stay in Lima we spent three nights at The Westin Lima for which we paid $565 for a one king bedroom. We also used Christina's suite night upgrades to an Executive Suite on the club floor.  For our one night before we departed Lima we stayed at the JW Marriott Lima using a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000 point credit card award night which offered a value of 0.5 cents per point based on the  standard King bedroom cost of $162. For our stay in Valle Sagrado we stayed at Tambo del Inka and used 50,000 points plus a Marriott Bonvoy 50,000 point certificate and $77 to cover the resort fee for a King Deluxe Room. This offered a great value of 1 cent per point based on a standard King deluxe room cost of $483. It is frustrating that you still have to pay a fee on Marriott award stays. For our stay in Cusco we stayed at hotel I had long dreamed of staying at Palacio del Inka for two nights and paid $662 for a King bedroom. We then applied another one of  Christina's suite night awards to upgrade from the King Bedroom to an Imperial Marquis Suite.   

Palacio del Inka Hotel Entrance

Summary
​Our trip to Peru was magical and we go came away with a lot of respect for seriousness with which Peru takes public health and love of the beauty of the country. Not only did we have a spiritual journey to Machu Picchu, enjoy the wonderful Peruvian cuisine, but we came away with a deep sense of awe for Valle Sagrado a magical and peaceful place where we would love to return again.