Vamos Para Machu Picchu: The Flight Back to Lima [TACA] TA 811 & TA 814 CUZ-AQP-LIM trip report [타카항공] TA 811 & TA 814 쿠스코->아리퀴파->리마 탑승기

TACA plane that took me from Cuzco to Arequipa to Lima

TA 811 & TA 814 CUZ-AQP-LIM (Cuzco->Arequipa->Lima)

DEP CUZ 8:50 25 JAN 2013

ARR AQP 9:50 25 JAN 2013

DEP AQP 10:25 25 JAN 2013

ARR LIM 11:50 25 JAN 2013

Aircraft: ERJ 190

The day before, I made an epic one-day trip to Machu Picchu (link)

I departed from Cuzco back to Lima on Friday, 25 JAN. The day prior, after coming back from Cuzco, I got very sick from altitude sickness. The head actually started pounding severely the closer I got to Cuzco (Machu Picchu is actually lower altitude than Cuzco).  The sickness intensified as soon as I got back to hostel (luckily at least..) and continued until I vomited.  I felt a lot better afterwards and slept very early that night.  I was planning to explore some attractions and some famed restaurants in Cuzco, but I had no choice but to stay in bed.. 

The day after, in order to make it to 08:50 flight, I left for the airport around 6AM just to be safe. The flight would be through TACA airlines, with stopover in Arequipa Airport (which is south of both cities). A 50 minute long flight turned into a 3-hour long itinerary. 

Cuzco had a lot of people in the airport. The TACA counter line moved very slowly. I was glad I came early. 

Click here for TA 807 LIM-CUZ Trip Report

The scenes in Cuzco Airport departures floor

TACA airlines check-in counter

My boarding passes for my flights to Lima

Gate 3, where my flight would be leaving from.

At around 8:20AM, my flight arrived from Lima.

Boarding~

To the left of my plane was a Lima-bound LAN airplane.

The seats in TACA ERJ190. The plane was very empty for the CUZ->AQP flight. 

The seats had TVs on each of them, but they did not work.

Push-Back

It was a long push back that led the plane all the way to taxiway.

The plane ascended quickly to avoid the mountains

The views of Andes Mountains

Descending into Arequipa Airport

Arequipa looked like a city in the middle of a desert.

And the plane parked next to a LAN airplane in the airport ramp.

After TA 811 parked in Arequipa Airport ramp, all passengers bound for Arequipa disembarked. Passengers bound for Lima (myself included) stayed on board. After Arequipa-bound passengers left, flight attendants checked remaining passengers' boarding passes before directing them to new seats. 

From my new seat, 7K

Before the plane filled up with Lima-bound passengers.

A mid-flight snack I received after takeoff.

Snack consisted of cheese-filled croissants and muffin. I also got a peach juice.

Pacific Coast line

It's a LAN kingdom in Jorge Chavez Airport international side.

The plane that took me from Cuzco

We traveled via Pan-American Highway to the a beach resort south of Lima

Brazilian style churrasco for Dinner!

This is Playa Asia, located about one hour south of Lima

A Lucuma Ice Cream

Pisco. a national drink of Peru. It's so strong that even a small amount can make me feel tipsy.

Click the following link for LAN LA 530 flight from Lima to New York-JFK Trip Report

<LAN LA 530 LIM-JFK Trip Report>

Vamos Para Machu Picchu! [Machu Picchu] A One-Day Trip Report [마추픽추] 쿠스코에서 당일치기로 여행하다

Machu Picchu is truly worth the visit!

Following my last trip report (TACA Airlines TA 807 LIM-CUZ Trip Report), I made a one-day trip to Machu Picchu from Cuzco. Let me review the list of things you must prepare in order to make this trip happen.

1. Lima-Cuzco roundtrip ticket (100USD-200USD)

2. Cuzco (Poroy) <-> Aguas Calientes PeruRail roundtrip ticket* (~100USD)

3. Aguas Calientes <-> Machu Picchu roundtrip bus ticket (~20USD)

4. Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket* (44USD)

5. Taxi money + tip from Cuzco to Poroy Station

*Make sure you have your passport (or other valid forms of ID) when entering Machu Picchu or boarding PeruRail!!!

The morning of 24 JAN (Thursday), I woke up around 06:00 in order to catch the PeruRail train from Cuzco-Poroy Station. You can't get there by feet from Plaza de Armas, as it is about 15-20 minute car ride. You must catch a taxi. It would be best to reserve a taxi the day before so you don't run into risk of not being able to find taxi the day of travel. Prepare about 40 Soles for fee and tip.

지난글 (타카항공 리마->쿠스코 탑승기) 에 이어서 쿠스코에 도착한뒤 다음날 당일치기로 마추픽푸 여행한 후기를 적어봅니다.

마추픽추 여행을 위해서 사야할것들 다시한번 적어드립니다.

- 리마<->쿠스코 왕복 비행기 (~200USD)

- 쿠스코<->아과스깔리엔떼스 (Aguas Calientes) 왕복 기차티켓 (Perurail) (~100USD)

- 아과스깔리엔떼스<->마추픽추 왕복 버스티켓 (~20USD)

- 마추픽추 입장 티켓 (~44USD)

- 그외의 택시비 (쿠스코공항<->숙소, 숙소<->포로이기차역)

마추픽추에 들어갈려면 꼭 여권을 가지고 가세요. 신분증이 없으면 안 들여보내줍니다. 

새벽 6시에 일어나서 씻고 편한 옷을 입고 6시 30분정도 택시를 잡고 포로이역으로 향했습니다.  마추픽추로 향하는 기차는 아침 7시 40분 출발인데 30분 일찍 오라고 합니다.  쿠스코 Plaza de Armas 근처에서 포로이 기차역까지는 거의 20분 걸립니다. 거의 40 soles 들었구요.

왠만하면 택시를 전날 예약해놓으세요. 아침 새벽에 택시 잡기가 힘듭니다. 

My hostel room the morning of travel. My head was pounding a little from headache due to altitude sickness.

Waiting for my taxi ride to arrive.

Cuzco-Poroy Station interior looked like this. There was a group of Japanese travelers.

Poroy Station exterior look.

At 07:00 the boarding process started.

Friendly-looking blue trains.

My boarding zone, B.

Just making sure this train is going to Machu Picchu.

The train cars had windows on the ceiling, making it feel open and spacious.

Me on the Perurail train.

And the train left promptly at 07:30.

The conductor was making announcements as some calm music played.

The complimentary snack and beverage everyone on board received.

The paper bag contained plantain chips and some chocolate-covered nuts.

Scenes of service in train.

The train makes zig-zag descents down the hill.

The views outside were absolutely stunning. Most of the train ride was surrounded by mountains.

After passing Ollantaytambo Station, the train ride followed a river all the way to Machu Picchu town.

I believe this is where most Incan trail hikers get off to hike to Machu Picchu.

Getting very close to Machu Picchu!

And that's Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu where I would board the bus ride to the actual site.

Alighted at the Aguas Calientes Station.

Walking toward the bus ride on the other side of the river.

Aguas Calientes Station

The buses you see across the river are the buses bound for Machu Picchu. They leave every 15 minutes or so.

The buses were well air-conditioned and the seats were comfortable.

Machu Picchu sign as we were crossing the river.

The bus made some zig-zag roundabouts up the side of the mountain to Machu Picchu. The ride was quite a scary experience since the roads were right next to the steep slopes of the mountain.

After passing through entrance to Machu Picchu park, I walked along this passage before I could see any part of Machu Picchu itself. 

This is the first thing you would see after the walk. 

Some people choose to walk down this hill. I chose to walk to the left to quickly catch the view.

And here I am... first time seeing Machu Picchu with my own eyes!

I climbed up even more to catch better views.

Taking in the Machu Picchu awesomeness.

Solo Panorama shot...^^

I went down toward the other end of the Machu Picchu.

Incan ruins looked majestic even in its current state.

The river down below

Machu Picchu's other side

There were a lot of Japanese tourists.

Heading back toward the bus ride back to Aguas Calientes

That's the route that the bus traveled on.

Goodbye Machu Picchu!

The Perurail train running through center of Aguas Calientes.

I decided to grab some late lunch in a restaurant that had free wifi.

Peruvian dish, Lomo Saltado. Way too good!

Back at Aguas Calientes Station

Thank you for reading this trip report!

*I ended up getting extremely sick from high-altitude sickness that day. Machu Picchu is actually located in the lower altitude than Cuzco.  The symptoms started to bother me as the train was traveling back toward Cuzco-Poroy.  It got worse just as I arrived back in my hostel room.  I felt bummed that I didn't have chance to explore more of Cuzco that night. 

Click on the following link for TACA Airlines CUZ-LIM Trip Report

<TA 811 & TA 814 CUZ-AQP-LIM Trip Report>