Q&A: What is the city that Machu Picchu is in? or the closest modern city?
Aug.08, 2011 in
Machu Picchu
Question by Veronica: What is the city that Machu Picchu is in? or the closest modern city?
I’m looking for a city that is just right next to Machu Picchu. Where the people of the town / village can just go and visit it.
Best answer:
Answer by silentnonrev
Cuzco, but it takes a few hours by train (and now, after the mudslide, I don’t know if you can even get there)
August 8th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
there is a town just ouside of machu picchu it called aguas calientes. there are little hotels, restaurants and some stores there. also there is a bus that takes you to machu picchu from there. the bigest city near machu picchu is cuzco ( it means the center of the world in quecha). cuzco is about 100 km from machu picchu.
August 8th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Both answers above are right, but Gringo10 is ,mmmmm, more right. Cusco or Cuzco, is a fairly large town near MP, but the town directly under it is Aguascalientes. Aguascalientes is very picturesque, but very touristy. Along the railroad tracks where you will arrive, there are tons of little shops that sell all manner of silver and crafts common to Peru. NEVER pay the asking price in this type of shop. Haggling is part of the cultural experience and it is expected. Walking away is the best way to see if your bidding price was too low. You can always come back or try at a competing shop. If you are prone to altitude sickness, you will probably discover that in Cuzco. You can try the Mate de Coca (Coca leaf tea-if you are not subject to drug testing back home – yes, it will show up although there is no high assoicated with it.). The Spanish word for altitude sickness is SOROCHE (Soh-ROH-Cheh) and you can ask at any botica for pills (pastillas – pahs TEE yas). I can’t testify as to their effectiveness.