Machu Picchu is absolutely amazing. It's like nothing you've ever experienced, but there are some things that are very important to know
about before you head from Cusco (or where you may be) and up the mountain.

Getting there:
You really have only one option and that is the train. The rest either are grueling or take way too long for most vacationers. The train run by Peru Rail ([----]) is expensive. Even with the cheapest route, the backpackers train, it's still over $70! This isn't much by US standards, but when you pay only $30 for a nice room, it can hurt your pocketbook. We took the Vistadome 1, which is the first train out there. The seats are reserved and you do have a snack meal and beverage (for sale) cart. So, that's nice, but it's nothing spectacular. The backpackers is unreserved and on bench seats as opposed to individual seats. Either way is misery for 4 hours, but there really aren't other options. You'll spend just one hour doing painfully long switchbacks up the mountain in Cusco. It has amazing views but when you're looking at such a long trip anyway it's annoying.

Machu Picchu town (formerly Aguas Calientes)
This is very confusing because once you step off the train and out the door there are stalls upon stalls of goods that you have to find your way through and out the door. Most people follow each other, but no one really knows where they are going. When you reach a fork in the road and there's a bridge to your right and steps down in front of you, take the steps down and then cross over the bridge at the bottom and make a right up the hill for a few steps, on your left is the office where you will buy your ticket for the bus to go up to the entrance to Machu Picchu. Buy your ticket, but do not board at this point, because you have to purchase your entrance ticket, which is at the tourist center. You can ask anyone for directions (it's not that big of a town). The ticket to the entrance is about $40. Many guidebooks say that it's only $20, but that was prior to it being named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. So, that's a big heads up for a proper budget. While in town you'll want to pick up some water and sandwiches there's only one cafeteria up there and it's
on the outside.

Then take the bus up the mountain. It takes about 30 minutes and is full of great views on either side because of the switch backs up the mountain to the entrance.

Machu Picchu:
Remember this is not an amusement park, there are no food or restrooms
inside, nor is it handicap or physically challenge-friendly. There are
a lot of steep stairs with no rails. Those with vertigo will feel extremely uncomfortable because of the slope of the mountain. There are wild llamas wondering around, which adds to the charm, but please don't try to pet them.

Even though Machu Picchu is at a lower altitude than Cusco, the air is still a bit thin, so keep in mind that you will have a little trouble breathing going up the large steps and you will tire faster than usual.
**Know your abilities. Don't attempt Waynu PIcchu unless you are very physically fit, and even then it's a challenge!***
You can hire a guide or take along a guide book and read it yourself, but some expertise is recommended to understand the full impact of the magnitude and culture.

What to bring:
Heads up, the weather is unpredictable so despite sun, you may have rain, despite clouds, you may have sun, so make sure to bring sunscreen (and apply ahead of being outside), bugspray and an umbrella. Sturdy walking shoes are a must and a backpack will give you better balance than an over the shoulder bag.

This is an absolute must do, you can do it in a day, but it's very, very tiring. On the other side of the coin, there's not much to do in Machu Picchu town, so the choice is yours, but if you do stay overnight, book as early as possible and confirm reservations frequently. I thought I had made a reservation and they never received the emails (or so they said) and so we were forced to do it in a day because of our schedule restraints.

We arrived in the morning train. This meant lines for getting on the bus, lines into the ruins, and dense crowds around the entrance to the ruins. It was the most unpleasant part of the visit.

It worked out because we took a private guide. So, during the most crowded time we had the guide showing us the ruins.

We definitively wanted to climb to Huayna Picchu. The trail closes at 1 p.m. and there is a quota of 400 people per day. At the entrance to Macchu Picchu the clerk told us that the quota was filled very early, so the trail was closed.

Luckily my wife, ever the paranoid type, decided to check at the trailhead, at 12:45. Lo and behold, we were climbers 397 and 398 of the day. It gets better: we were alone at the top -all the others had already gone down-, which is a very rare privilege in Huayna Picchu

The climb is steep, but not very long -1 hour for us- and absolutely worthwhile.

By the time we came back most tourists were gone to catch the afternoon trains. So we could visit the ruins without crowds. The ruins are not that impressive, but the views are unbelievable.

Bottom line: you can visit Macchu Picchu in one day, but it is very important to stay one night in town. Reasonable hotels are abundant in Aguas Calientes -unless you can afford the luxury hotel by the ruins. Also, if it is foggy in the morning, it may be worthwhile to stay overnight and go back the next day.

We had dinner at the Indio Feliz restaurant. Highly recommended: the food was good and the staff very friendly.

You get to Aguas Calientes by train. It’s best you reserve in advance (through email and continue to email back asking if youre still reserved) and than pay for it and get it once you get to Cuzco (get it immediately after you arrive in Cuzco, that is what I did).

Once you arrive in Aguas, you will go through the little markets to get to the plaza. To get your Machu Picchu entrance tickets, there is an office like 3 or 4 doors down to the right of the only church in the plaza. On Oct 2007, it cost me about $41.

To get your bus ticket to Machu Picchu, go back down towards the train tracks, the bus ticket office (blue building) is along those tracks. It costs $12 roundtrip.

We had a wonderful time in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu but encountered a few difficulties that I'd like to warn other travelers about. In all my trip preparation including extensive use of Trip Adviser, these items were not covered.
1) Entrance: Only 3,000 visitors are admitted to Machu Picchu (MP in future) daily. If you're not with a tour group, you will need to buy your tickets 1-2 days in advance at the town Cultural Center, near the square in Aguas C. We went about 6 PM and could not get 5 tickets for the next day so had to wait till 2 days. There may be some way to purchase in advance, but I did not encounter it.
2)Train: I purchased my Perurail tickets via website and wired money 4 wks in advance. When we went to pick up our tickets in Cusco on the morning of our train travel, they were sold to others. We were told that tickets must be picked up one day ahead (although this was never mentioned on the website or in any communication). Plan to have a local person pick them up for you- like, ask your hotel- or plan to be in Cusco one day in advance. The ruins around Cusco are interesting, so you can easily have an enjoyable day there. Plan at least one overnight at Aguas C. so you can spend a full day at MP.
3) Hotels in Aguas C. We stayed in Apu Majestic and El Parque which were adequate but each had problems. Service and staff excellent at both. The winter is very damp. At El Parque, the room with a dehumidifier was OK and the room without was moldy. Watch out because the hot water is very limited. At Apu Majestic, most of the 2nd floor rooms have no windows and the first floor rear room has a real ugly view of a neighboring ramshackle building. Ask for a corner room on the third floor and you will be safe. Breakfast was very nice at Apu.
4) If the weather is foggy/cloudy/ you will not see a sunrise at MP, but it's still worth going up very early so you can be one of the 400 people who get to climb Huanapicchu daily.
See my review of Huanapicchu (also spelled Wyana picchu).