My first time in Machu Picchu , and I had great expectations. I was picked up promptly from the hotel by Percy, (very friendly guy), After the long train ride on the Inca Rail train, I arrived in Aguas Calientes at 9 am. I was told I would join my tour group there, but the person that picked me up at the station told me that I would have a different guide and I was supposed to wait at the plaza . I waited for about an hour, and when I finally see the new guide, he told me to wait for another guide, so I was switched again. I didn't leave the town until around 11 am. We finally arrived in MP at 11:30 am. My new guide was unaware that my entrance ticket was for the morning session. I only had 30 minutes to get in!, we he realized this, he told me to go on and enter on my own while the rest of the group , which had afternoon tickets, was using the restrooms and taking their time.
So there I was by myself, taking pictures and trying to make the best of it,
I eventually found the group an hour later, but the rest of the tour was also a disappointment. The guide barely explained things to us, also he would skip important places when they were occupied by other groups. After an hour and a half he left us on our own. We were advised to leave the site early enough so we wouldn't miss our train back to Cusco.
The return train suffered mechanical issues half way .We were stranded for an hour and a half. We didn't make it back until well after 9pm. (We were supposed to arrive at 7:30 pm), Thankfully my driver Percy waited for me. (Thank you, Percy).
He waited for me in the rain while other drivers left.
Machu Picchu is a wonderful place and I wish I would have had a more positive experience. I think every paying customer deserves to be treated with consideration and respect , no matter if it is a single person or a group.
I did not have a way of communicating with the Company's representative, Tania, during the day, since my phone didn't work in Peru.