The trip was a great way to travel between Puno and Cusco. I found it much more affordable than the train but just as quick. Our guide was very well versed in the area.

Bad trip not recommended

El viaje en sí es bonito porque no puede ser de otra manera. La organización también es buena, aunque vas sólo a todas partes, te indican perfectamente cómo llegar. En cuanto a la comida, bastante deficiente y de muy poca calidad. Y el hotel, más que un hotel es un hostal, poco cómodo y poco limpio. La visita a Machu Picchu nos pareció bastante corta por el tiempo que dan para el regreso. Aconsejaría mejorar éstos aspectos porque la excursión no es barata.

This trip was good considering how difficult the road was. Not a journey for the faint hearted, or those scared of heights, but the driver did an admirable job navigating narrow and bumpy roads. The communication was clear, pick-up was easy and on time - a great option for budget travelers who want to see Machu Picchu.

BE WARNED: My experience with Machu Picchu Bus Packers (MPBP) was a sh*t show. FIRST, they have no buses of their own so you're haphazardly slotted into other group's buses, getting disadvantaged at every turn. I was told to arrive at the plaza at 6:10am for a bus that would leave at 6:30. At 6:30, I was still waiting for a bus. When it finally arrived, we spent another 45 minutes driving around to pick other customers up at their hotel doorsteps at 7 or 7:30, which was annoying. SECOND, MPBP told me I would be able to buy a ticket to enter Machu Picchu the day after I arrived in Aguas Calientes. That wasn't true. I arrived on a busy week--MPBP knew a holiday was approaching but gave me no warning--and the tickets were sold out. The MP information office told to return the next morning at 4am. I stood in line until 10am to be told I was out of luck. I had to extend my stay and come back a third day at 4am. I might have made the trip for nothing--I was one of the last 18 people to get a ticket at 9am but had to pay 52 soles more for a less popular circuit. THIRD, the return trip was a mess. When it was time to return to Cusco, I arrived at the rendezvous point at Hidroelectrica at the correct time but again, had to wait an extra hour for a bus. Finally, the Hidroelectrica organizer put me on a bus, but then told me to get off and wait for another bus rather suddenly so I left my phone on the seat. The organizer put me in a taxi two other guys were taking to chase after the bus and I was able to get my phone, thank goodness. But then I had to wait another 15 minutes for the second bus, which was completely full--not a seat left! I had to stand for perhaps three hours, until we stopped for dinner and toilets. There, the driver arranged for me to join yet another bus where a SEAT was actually available. However, that older bus had blown a tire so I had to wait yet another half-hour for that final driver to install a spare. The trip was pretty nerve-wracking because the spare had some issues and the driver kept having to stop to adjust it. Pretty scary going over single-lane, dual-direction-traffic mountain switchback roads at night, in foggy, rainy conditions with a bad wheel. I got back so late I was unable to collect my suitcase from storage and had to pay a penalty to check into my Airbnb late. My advice: Buy Machu Picchu tickets online well in advance and pony up the cash for the safer, nicer, quicker train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. PS--Since I can't reply to your response below, let me add one here: You changed my return date ONCE, because--contrary to the information you provided me when I made my purchase--I wasn't able to buy a ticket to Machu Picchu for the following day and had to stay an extra day. And you answered your own question: I didn't take the train back because I purchased a ROUNDTRIP ticket upfront. And I didn't realize how bad the service would be until after the return trip. You guys put me on a bus WITH NOWHERE TO SIT--EVERY SEAT HAD BEEN FILLED! I like that you provide a cheap alternative for budget travelers--that's why I gave you a 2-star instead of a 1-star review--but seriously, I at least expected a SEAT. I couldn't even sit on the floor because it was a rainy day and the floor was muddy, so I stood for three hours hanging onto the luggage racks trying not to fall over on the turns. How many stars would you give for such a service?