Hi folks,
Just wondering whether anyone has been to Macchu Picchu and surrounding areas?
I’m going on a school trip in 8 weeks time- we’ll be there for 3 weeks, staying in Cusco for several days, doing the Salkantay Trail to Macchu Picchu (the alternative to the inca trail- it takes 4 days and looks awesome) and then will be helping out at a Sacred Valley community project for 5 days before going into the desert to chill out and do some sand boarding and dune buggying. So it does look fantastic!
I’ve never been before- and just wondering if anyone has and if you’ve been to the areas where we’re going- particularly Cusco- if you have any recommendations of places we should visit? Or just any general advice for the areas we’re going.
There’s myself, another teacher, a guide provided through a proper expedition company and 14 students- youngest is 16, oldest is 18.
We do have an itinerary- as you can see from what I wrote before- but while we’re in places like Cusco we can do what we want. So any recommendations will be appreciated! 
I haven’t but both my father in law and brother in law have been to Cusco and the brother in law did it as part of his gap year so probably did the sort of things that would appeal to your students. He’s currently out of the country but when he gets back I’ll quiz him for you and I’m sure I’ll speak to F in L soon as well.
F in L developed altitude sickness whilst he was out there (can’t remember if it was Cusco or higher up) so make sure you know what the symptoms are and possibly plan a gentle day or two to allow yourselves to aclimatise. Altitude sickness is awful for a couple of days if you happen to get it, I suffered when I went to the Rockies and was wheezing like an asthmatic when I tried to do anything which put pay to the skiing for a while.
Yeah some ideas of things to see would be really cool 
thank you!!
I’ve suffered with altitude sickness before in Borneo so know the signs and symptoms- plus due to taking kids with a proper expedition company we’ve (inc the kids) have had a lot of training on it. Our guide is a mountain specialist too. But we spend 3 days just chilling out in Cusco before we do anything else at all so I’m not personally worried. Though I’m sure some of the kids will probably exhert themselves and will have to be told to slow down! Haha
When I suffered with altitude sickness it was because we walked to over 4000metres is under 24 hours- a recipe for disaster! Haha this isn’t going to be like that though- and for the most part we’re just over 3000m. Looking at the itinerary we’re only over 4000m for one day but we don’t sleep at that height.
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oh yes the altitude training I’ve done it and was very lucky I did everything I was supposed to do so didn’t suffer from it.
We did a little altitude experiment you might want to get the kids to do. Take up plastic bottle of water and drink most of it at altitude then put it into your bag when you come down get them to take the bottles out and see what’s happened to the bottles.
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Ah ok…they’re all total clever clogs so will probably figure out why as I explain that- but a good little experiment! I’ll have to remember that one.
That sounds like a brilliant trip. I went a few years ago and loved it. Cusco is quite a small town but there’s plenty to see there and all around. The architecture is amazing and there’s a brilliant museum. No doubt there will be trips out to the surrounding area - I’m sure you’ll be in good hands with a tour guide. Nobody in our group suffered from altitude sickness in Peru, but some did when we were in the La Paz area, which is higher. My main advice if you have students in tow is to avoid the pisco sour and make sure they do the same. Delicious but deadly!
What’s pisco sour?
Glad to hear you had a good trip! In my head Cusco will be a little bit like a mini Rome- no idea if it will or not, it’s just how I’m imagining it with the old architecture dotted around.
Is any place in Cusco you’d say we should definitely see?
We’re not going to La Paz so hopefully everyone will be ok. Doing the trail we do it very sensibly and do it over four days- the longest walk is just under 10 miles & we frequently go up & down never sleeping higher than we’ve walked that day. We get 9 miles to help carry our big rucksacks too so fingers crossed!!
