A Very Reliable and Well-Located Base for Machu Picchu
My stay at Hotel Pakarina was a very positive experience. It served as an excellent and comfortable base for visiting Machu Picchu.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of my stay:
· Excellent Location: The hotel is perfectly located. You are within easy walking distance of the bus station to Machu Picchu, the train station, and the central market.
Most importantly, there are ample food options and restaurants available right near the hotel, making it incredibly convenient for meals.
How to Reach from Airport
Cusco Airport to ollantaytambo train station. Taxi charges 35 USD Time: 1.5hrs
ollantaytambo train station to Machu Picchu/ aguas calientes train station: 135 USD return tickets, per person. Time: 1.45hrs
Aguas calientes train station to hotel is on walk of 500 meters.
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Bus available: 24 USD return ticket. Time 20min
· Helpful and Friendly Owner: A major highlight was the owner. He was exceptionally helpful, offering great advice and guiding us on our tour plans. This local insight was invaluable and made our trip much smoother.
· Good Daily Breakfast: The included breakfast was tasty and satisfying, providing a great start to the day. It's also the time when tea and coffee are served, so you can get your caffeine fix before heading out.
· Clean and Tidy: Daily cleaning service is provided, and our room was always kept spotless. The hotel feels very well-maintained.
· Convenient Currency: As noted, USD is widely accepted in the area at the market rate, which includes settling your bill at the hotel. This makes things very easy for international travelers.
Things to Note:
· No In-Room Tea/Coffee: Be aware that there are no tea or coffee making facilities in the room. You'll need to wait for the breakfast service or pop out to one of the many nearby cafes if you want a drink outside of those hours.
I stayed at this hotel twice; in between I went to Macchu Pichu and left the baggage at the hotel.
Location wise - it’s very central with a PeruRail office next door albeit the other ones are not too far.
Reception is 24hr and there is a nice courtyard with a restaurant as well as a common area with a kitchen at the back.
I stayed in the Teepee tent on both occasions; first time the rate was more affordable at around gbp40/night. In July, the night gets cold. But the tent does have additional blankets and a heater. This worked except on the last night as it seems it stopped in middle of the night. Without the heater, the room was quite cold. The common bathroom is at the back; the showers are ok and you get enough privacy. I noticed the hot water does take a while to come through. I left the baggage in the storage - no issues. Overall good but for same price bracket I would try somewhere else.