We are finally getting settled into our new place in Cavite, Philippines! What's really exciting is that Arlene and I were able to get our first workout in! The home that we moved into about 3 months ago just did not work out unfortunately, and I was never able to get any kind of routine together.
With this new place, we are not 100% settled, but Arlene and I already feel more at home here than our other place in Manila. We will be here in Cavite for at least a year, so I'm very excited to get settled and start having a daily routine. Of course I will still be traveling on video projects when needed, but it's just nice to know that we finally have a place to call home here.
OUR FIRST WORKOUT
Before we left Manila to move to our new place, Arlene and I were doing yoga for a few weeks to get our bodies ready for a new workout program. We are still undecided on which program we will be doing, but yesterday we did a workout called Transform 20, a program designed by one of my all-time favorite Beachbody Fitness Trainers, Shaun T!
I ended up doing the "Stronger" workout, and Arlene ended up doing the 10 minute workout twice. It would be difficult to give my review of the workout because that was my first time doing Transform 20, but I did like it. I don't normally do "step" workouts that incorporate using a step of some sort, kinda reminds me of the old school "Yo Mamma's" workout from back in the 80's ha ha.
To be honest, I am not picky at this point because I just need to get myself moving and back to where I was when I used to run obstacle racing events. No, I am not training for anything, not a race or anything...I'm just training for life, and to be active. I mean I have to keep up with my very active daughter, whoa....she's going to be an athlete and traveler I'm sure =)
I do have to be somewhat fit and have good endurance as I film some of the fastest athletes in the world with my OCRTUBE media project. My ideal workout is something like P90X and running. P90X has always been my "go to", I just love the simplicity of it and the fact that I can do the workouts at home and at the gym. And being totally functional is important to me, I have no interest in glamor workouts, not at all.
These days I prefer working out at home because I would much rather be near my family. I work my business at home, and workout at home. For me, every chance that I can be with my family is a plus, because when I travel for work, I can be gone for a full weekend to two weeks or more. And trust me, I miss them so much when I am gone. Let's not also forget my daughter who lives in Florida, I haven't seen her in so long, I'm hoping to see her very soon!
Focused on my life in the Philippines - New Videos Uploaded Monthly
Today, I think Arlene and I will do another Transform 20 workout just to get a better idea on if it is the best program to do together. We will definitely keep you posted, and if any of you would like to join us, feel free to shoot me a message. It doesn't matter what your fitness level is, you can do the same program that we decide to do, or I can also give you a free fitness assessment and help you find the best program for you. It's just always much more fun working out with a group of people from around the world! =)
Coffee Time with my girls - Figaro at SM South Tower, Philippines
I just wanted to share this video that I posted on youtube a few days ago. Even though I haven't been posting on my new Youtube Channel "Lagalag Mafia" as much as I had planned, I would have to say that I really enjoy creating family videos, I just love re-living the memories!
Originally, I wanted to start my Lagalag Mafia Channel as a way to keep my family posted on my new life here in the Philippines, and trust me, that is and will always be my goal for that channel, but I also would like to share more of my travels with my family as well. Since moving to the Philippines in January 2019, I have been trying to play catch up on work, and just trying to have a routine. I think the most difficult part is the travel aspect of everything. I still travel for video projects, but I also have other video work-related requests which keeps me from really having that routine, because it takes a lot of time during the week, and that's when I normally work on my other online businesses. I think that I just have to tell myself that with what I do with my video projects, online businesess, travel, and family, I will just never have an actual routine until I can stay at home or in one place, and have less on my plate.
I love what I do, and if any of you travel for work and have families, I'm sure that you can feel my struggle =). I can't complain though, because I am able to see my family a lot more, as well as see the world, but I just hope that soon I will be able to take my family along with me as much as I can, and that's what I'm working hard for these days =)
I have always traveled on my own, so my budget wasn't as high, but that's all changing with raising a new family......again =). With Arlene being a traveler/hiker, she is always up for more adventures, so it's time to go back to even more of my work and hustle mindset so that we can do more things together!
Good news though, I just got into the Crypto Trading space and currently doing some training to learn more about the industry. Call me a nerd, but I just have this burning desire to learn about the 1600+ digital currency and decentralized applications out there! I have always believed in doing things all digital, so I am very excited about learning more, and being part of the growth of Cryptocurrency around the world. So stay tuned for some videos on how I'm doing with my trading, and I hope to also help some of you earn a little extra with some Bitcoin Trading.
My latest news on my workouts with Arlene, we are still trying to finish up our 3 Week Yoga program, and I think we should be done by this week. Again, it's taking us awhile to finish because of how busy I am, but we've also been doing other workouts in and around the yoga program, so that's not all we're doing =). After we have completed our yoga program, we may go into the 21 Day Fix program, or something called a Little Obsessed =) Keep in mind, Arlene really hasn't done a proper workout program before, and after having a baby, she cannot go straight into anything hardcore, so with those workouts that I mentioned above, they would be perfect. As for me, yes I fell a bit off the wagon (I hate myself for that btw), so either of those programs would be considered an on ramp to getting my fit back. All in all, I'm just excited to be doing a workout program with Arlene.
Anyways, here is my latest VLOG, and I promise I will try to post more, at least for the people who enjoy my videos, I will try to bring you more content. =)
Had such a blast at this local race! One of my favorite things to do is to support the local races everywhere that I go. The family who owns Forza were super hospitable to me, and the drive they have to be successful was absolutely inspiring.
Arlene and I made a nice little weekend family vacation and stayed in Taguig a little before and after filming the Forza Obstacle Run event. We went to one of our favorite filipino restaurants called Heritage at the SM Aura, so friggin good!!! My friends, if you are ever in the Philippines and would like to really try some authentic filipino food prepared with high quality ingredients, make sure to go to Heritage, just note that the staff only speak tagalog, so just bring me along with you, and I can translate for you ha ha =)
Oyo 128 Hotel in Taguig, Philippines
(Only $33 USD for two nights)
Heritage Restaurant - SM Aura
So anyways, here is a quick 3 minute video recap that I did for my OCRTUBE.com media project, tell me what you think =)
Oh and of course I just wanted to give a shout out to my Patreon Supporters, and Media Sponsors for always helping me with my project all over the world.
Here is my activity tracker during the filming of the Forza Obstacle Run
Related Links:
- I use Beachbody on Demand to help me train to film races around the world, you can get a free 14 day trial here (USA, UK, and Canada only unless you have VPN)
- Need motivation and tips for staying healthy and active? Make me your Free Online Coach, click here!
- Get CASH BACK every time you book your travels here
When I posted this TITLE to one of the Facebook groups along with my photos from this Luxury Helicopter Tour by Himalayan Trekkers, I was very surprised to receive over 2,000+ likes!
Yes, it was definitely an amazing trip, and the company Adventure Mission Nepal (Himalayan Trekkers) really hooked it up! I spent a total of 30 days in Nepal......and it was NOT enough time!
During my time in Nepal, I was able to film a couple video projects and stay productive. The one thing that`some people forget is that when you are a long term traveler, you can't just stop working, unless you are one of those trust fund kids, or as rich as the ZUCK. As for me, I have to work as I travel =)
The one thing that`I really loved about Nepal, other than the fact that it's the HIGHEST place on earth, was the people and the culture. So many people travel to different countries and because of time constraints, they only have time for the touristy activities and don't delve into the culture of the local people, and for me, that makes all the difference.
Anywho, I just wanted to share with you the video that I created for Himalayan Trekkers in Nepal, and if you ever make it to this magical place, I would like to encourage you to head on over to Adventure Mission Nepal and mention my name, you might save some cash and score some free stuff! =)
You guessed it =) One of the TOUGHEST workouts from the Insanity Max 30 collection, Friday Night Fight Round 2! But hey, it was all worth it, we got our asses kicked and felt good right after!
Here's a quick 2 minute video edit from our workout that`we did in Paranaque, Philippines. These guys will soon be my partners once my affiliate company expands over to Asia, exciting times!
One of the best things about working out is doing it with friends!
I've been based in the Philippines to expand my cause-related media project here in Asia, but in between the film work and family time, I try to keep my fit on which is difficult sometimes when you don't have a set schedule, especially while traveling.
When I finally get a workout in, it's always good to invite people to workout with you. When I did T25 Total Body Circuit (a few weeks ago), I invited some friends and we had a blast! And although the workout was only 25 minutes, trust me....we still got our butts kicked!!
My buddy Daniel was kind enough to invite us over to his condo to get this workout in, I think next time I will bring some swim shorts to take a dip in the nice pool!
Here's a quick video of our workout, and if you need some extra motivation and accountability (I know we all need it sometimes), then feel free to message me for some free online coaching and advice! Looking forward to meeting you =)
I've been doing P90X for over 7 years now. I do it from home, the gym, outdoors, hotels and in groups! People always ask me about my workouts, and yes..I am open to all workouts, but what has worked for me all these years with my obstacle racing, traveling, hiking and running has always been the classic and simple P90X, nothing fancy....just good old weight lifting and running.
"Let me help you start an online fitness business and travel the world"
What`people do not know is that P90X can be modified to everyone! It doesn't matter about your surroundings, or your fitness level, and its all about being functional. P90X is definitely not a "cookie cutter" workout as some people say it is. Yes, you can follow the workout DVD's or streaming workouts, and even then, you can still modify the workouts. You can even message someone like me who can help you learn how to use P90X at the gym, outdoors, or how to also integrate with your other workouts.
I owe SO MUCH to this program, and I don't ever see myself not doing P90X. With hundreds of workouts already available from this program and through Beachbody on Demand, and more coming out every year, trust me...you will not ever run out of exercises =) Join me sometime or ask me how to try some workouts for FREE! But I'll have you know, free doesn't mean easy =)
Here's a quick video of my friend German and I doing a modified P90X Chest, Shoulders and Tri workout outside with no weights. Still kicked our butts!!
Mt Daraitan was a short but very challenging hike. Considered a 4/9 hike, I would definitely not recommend this for beginners unless you are very, very determined. The trek to the top is pretty steep, but if you make it to the top, it is well worth it. Mount Daraitan is 2,424 in elevation and is a great day hike from Manila.
If you would like to give this hike a try, feel free to message my girlfriend and www.PinayHikes.com, I promise you that`she will give you that`true, off-the-beaten path, local experience. Keep in mind, she only caters to solo female travelers and couples, so if you fit into that category, give her a buzz :)
Here's a quick video of our adventure at Mt Daraitan.
So I'm sure that you all have seen all the photos and Beachbody Coaches promoting the new program called the 80 Day Obsession. And most of you are thinking, "80 Days!!!!" But I assure you that if you are truly serious about making a change, and hoping to make health and fitness a lifestyle, I will have you know that this will be the one to do it for you.
Just a couple benefits right off the bat: for the first time, the workouts will be done in real time! And you will never do the same workout during the 80 day duration! I know most people get bored after doing the same workouts every week, well.....problem solved =). There is also a meal plan and of course, online 24/7 accountability!
I wanted to post this quick blog on some Real Results from the first 80 Day Obsession test group, and these are my amazing friends, that's the cool part! I think it's nice to see results from other people, but when you actually know them, it makes it much more BELIEVABLE right? =)
So enough about them, what about you? Are you ready to make a change? Are you ready to do something different and get into my next online test group, then feel free to message me here, and I will give you some FREE advice and provide you with options.
Much success to you, and looking forward to helping you reach EPIC results!
~ I am a Full Time Online Beachbody Coach who travels the world filming cause-related video projects. At one point in my life, I was miserable, almost an alcoholic, drowning in debt, and out of shape! Beachbody saved my life. Now I am here to help anyone who is ready to live better physically and/or financially. Looking forward to meeting you!
I know that I haven't been blogging as much as usual, but I assure you that I am still here! =) I am currently in the Philippines working on some video projects, and I will most likely be in Asia for a total of 4-5 months.
So what am I doing here for that long you ask?
Well, I pretty much travel all year long filming obstacle course race events and at the end of the year, I really try to focus more on filming cause- related projects such as mission trips, charities and even adventure tours focused on getting people active. The donations that I have received from my OCRTUBE media pursuits go 100% straight into these great causes, and it just makes what I do much more meaningful =).
With "Save Payatas" Family
So far the toughest challenge for me has been getting on a consistent workout plan because lately I've just been on the go all the time, I mean all the time. Most days I find myself just going out for a run and doing push ups and burpees along the way. When I finally slow down, I love to use my Beachbody on Demand app and really get in a good workout. Sometimes I will try to find a nearby gym or outdoor park to workout in, but it's just been too crazy, I would much rather workout at my hotel or airbnb.
Workout Online Anytime, Anywhere - Free Beachbody on Demand Trial
All in all, it's the beginning of a long journey here in Asia. I will try to at least blog about one or two times per week to keep you guys updated specifically about my health and fitness journey during my travels. If you want more on my OCRTUBE project and what I do "behind the scenes" with my PayOCRforward missions, then simply go here: www.PayOCRforward.com, and of course you can watch my obstacle racing videos by clicking here.
This blog here is primarily focused on how to be and stay active, having an entrepreneur mindset, and of course, my travel adventures, so if you're into that, stay tuned =)
Also, if any of you would like to join me online and workout with me while I travel, just send me a quick message and I can add you to my free mobile app group for motivation and accountability. Trust me, I need it too, so let's stay active together! =) All fitness levels and goals are welcome, I have something for everyone!
Safe travels and stay active my friends!!
Live, Eat, Travel, Work anywhere around the world!
The new 80 Day Obsession which launches on Beachbody on Demand on January 15th, 2018 will be geared towards chiseling those abs, getting lean, and getting that nice round booty. Now of course this cannot happen in 21 days, or even 60 days. The creator of 80 Day Obsession, Autumn Calabrese (21 Day Fix Creator) said that in order to get that lean look with a nice round booty, it will take 80 days and sheer commitment. So are you ready?
The workouts will be a bit extreme and will last anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour. You'll be following a specially calibrated macro-nutrition plan perfectly timed to produce amazing results at each phase of the program.
EQUIPMENT
You will need small hand weights, Beachbody Strength Slides, as well as Resistance Loops. All of this will be available here now or very soon =)
80 DAY OBSESSION STARTS JANUARY 15th, 2018
What's cool about this program is that it will be the first program to be in REAL-TIME. Starting on January 15th, each new workout will be posted for you to do along with the cast. It will be like Autumn coming to your home every single day to get you in shape! Day by day, you will feel like part of the action, following along with Autumn and the cast as they progress through the program.
- Those who want to a leaner, firmer, more sculpted body
- Women looking to add some curves without bulking up
- Anyone who wants a tighter, more defined booty, and flatter abs
- Fitness fans looking for a intense, holistic workout they can day at home
The good news is that you can start getting your mind right night and prepared for this program by getting on Beachbody on Demand now. With over $6,000 worth of online workouts, you will have workouts, clean eating recipes and even a support group to help you prepare for this 80 Day Obsession. Get your 14 Day Free Trial here now!
WHAT IS BEACHBODY ON DEMAND?
BOD (Beachbody on Demand) is a platform that allows you to digitally stream every type of Beachbody workout program from 21 Day Fix, PIYO, P90X, Insanity, Focus T25, Body Beast, Yoga, and 700+ world famous workouts that have helped millions transform their lives. BOD also includes it's own cooking show, workout schedules, online community, nutrition guides, and of course your own personal online coach to keep you accountable. Try it RISK FREE here!
GET READY WITH THE 5 DAY "A LITTLE OBSESSED" INTRO PROGRAM
Want to make sure that you are ready for the 80 Day Obsession? Or just wanna sample what the program is all about? Autumn has created a 5 Day Intro to the 80 Day Obsession called "A Little Obsessed" which will launch on December 20th, 2017. It's made up of 5, 30 minute workouts, and features moves from the full program. If you already have a Beachbody on Demand account, you will be able to check it out for free! Don't have BOD?Get it here!
A Little Obsessed - 5 Day Intro starts on Dec 20th, 2017
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything! Message me here =)
Located within the Phoenix Mountains Preserve in Phoenix Arizona, the Summit Trail on Piestewa Peak is one of the most popular trails which overlooks the City of Phoenix and surrounding areas. The 2.3 mile trail is considered difficult and recommended for experienced adventurers or motivated beginners.
Address:
Phoenix Mountains Preserve - Piestewa Peak
2701 E Squaw Peak Dr.
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Although it was pretty hot when I started hiking a little after 10am, I still had a great time hiking. There are some shaded spots so that you can take some breaks. I recommend getting there early to beat the heat, and don't forget to bring some water and a light snack!
After your hike, take a little break and head on over to the Trailhead Bike Cafe for some Cold Brew Coffee or cold beverages!
Feel free to check out my quick video below, I also included my short hike up the Tempe Butte, also known as the "A" Mountain. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to message me =)
"A" Mountain Address:
100 S Mill St.
Tempe, Arizona 85281
It's so funny that I just now heard of the term "overlanding", which is word used to describe off-road camping. I've been doing this for years now, and are you telling me that it's cool now?? =) I thought it was pretty cool before! =)
I was introduced to this concept of "roughing it" when I started to travel a lot on the road to film various obstacle course racing events in North America. I was looking for the most economical way to travel without spending a lot of my hard earned cash on fancy hotels. I was at a race one weekend, and someone asked me where I was staying, and I told him that I'm not sure yet, I haven't booked anything, and he said why book when you have an SUV like what you have here?
I was like, sleep in my truck? Are you crazy!!!
The funny thing is that I couldn't find any accommodations that was within my budget, and that was near the event site, so I ended up sleeping in my truck that night.
I woke up and said, wow, that wasn't that bad, and I saved some money, now I can eat a steak ha ha!! From that point forward, I ended up getting more creative and learning about really using the resources that I had to save me the most money to take me to the next destination. I bought camping supplies, a cooler, some workout equipment, and I officially became an OVERLANDER! A minimalist now for almost 3 years, this way of travel was just right up my alley, and I loved it.
OVER TWO YEARS LATER
I'm still traveling the roads as a nomad, saving money, and enjoying the outdoors. My overland vehicle (which is a lender vehicle mind you) is not all decked out with a TEMPUI tent on the roof, but I am keeping things simple. I occasionally book rooms at budget hotels, hostels and Airbnb's when I need to get some work done with some fast internet, but you will mostly find me at camp sites.
The fact that I love working out with nature as well, just makes this lifestyle perfect for me. Thanks to my Beachbody on Demand Digital library, my gym comes with me everywhere!!
I will be on the road starting from Florida (tomorrow), and heading to the west coast as far as California, and then up to Canada, and then back to Florida before heading to Asia mid-November. The plan is to visit various state and national parks during the week, and then work on film projects on the weekend. I will also be working my online coaching business because heck, without that, I would not be able to travel all the time =). Besides, being able to help people while I am going through my own life journey is priceless! I still can't believe that I help people get fit for a living by using my smartphone, it's so surreal!
Anyways, my trip begins tomorrow morning after I spend some quality time with my daughter today! She is still in class as I am writing this post =) I will also be stopping by north west Florida to see my parents for a day, but after that, the adventure begins, so excited!! =)
So if you see me on the road, camp site, working out, race event etc., feel free to hop on and hop off with me. Life is not so much about the places that you visit, but the people that you meet along the way.
So I just came back from a trip in South America and I heard about all of the things that were going on with Houston Texas. I was like WHOA, how can I help, and is it safe for me to go to Texas for my next film project in Mountain Home, TX?
I don't watch the news too often, because heck I don't even own a TV, so when the news hits social media, you know it's big! The amazing thing is that once there is a natural disaster, the options for helping is in the hundreds. SO HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK RIGHT?
And it doesn't matter what you do, everything counts! Whether you are making a trip to help out hands on, donating food and/or supplies to your favorite charity, or giving through monetary ways, it's whatever you can do to help.
So where do I start with this?
Before all the craziness started, and Harvey hit the fan, I originally announced that I would be starting a new online test group for this new upcoming challenge called "5 Days of Hard Labor". The online test group is set to begin on September 5th, and I'm not really going to get into what it is, but you can get more details by clicking here.
This post is focused on how we can help HOUSTON.
This is the exciting part, I just found out that the CEO of the company that I work with (Beachbody) will be donating $1 to America Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief for everyone who does ONLY 1 WORKOUT from the "5 Days of Labor" challenge. How cool is that!!! In fact, up to $100,000 will be donated. One of the coolest things about what I do, there are always wonderful ways to giving back to the community =)
So now instead of me just being able to rip people off the couch like you and your friends through my online test group, I am now able to give back to the people of Houston, now how's that for killing two birds with one stone!!! =) The best part is that YOU CAN JOIN ME on this FAB mission! =)
SO HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE AND HELP HOUSTON
It's very simple. If I am already your Free Coach, and you have a Beachbody on Demand account, then you're all set, just message me and let me know that you are ready to start the "5 Days of Hard Labor" on September 5th, and the CEO Carl will donate on your behalf. You just have to make sure that you do at least one workout, I'm sure that you can do that! =) Up to $100,000 will be donated to Houston, and all you have to do is make a decision to do one workout!
Make sure to request to be added to my exclusive mobile app group if you're not already added, this is optional of course, and always free!
If you would like to participate, and I am NOT your Free Coach yet, you can simply go here and just click on the FREE TRIAL link. When you do that, I will automatically be your Free Coach, and you will be able to try out the "5 Days of Hard Labor" workouts for free on Beachbody on Demand. Being that the free trial is for 14 days, you will be able to actually do the workouts twice if you wanted to, along with the other $6,000 worth of workouts inside the digital library. You will love it, I promise you!
Being your Free Coach simply means that I will be able to give you advice, motivate you, keep you accountable to your goals, and just be there for you, online anytime! HOUSTON, WE NOW HAVE A SOLUTION!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
That's okay too =) Just connect with me here on Facebook, or simply message me!
So there are a lot of ways to visit the Sacred Valley, and although I feel that the best way to experience Machu Picchu is by partaking in one of the 1-11 day treks, there are far easier ways for the non-hikers. If you are the adventurous kind like myself, there are about 6 off the beaten treks to take, anywhere from the Inca Trail (1-4 days), to the Salcantay Route - 5 to 8 days (Mount Salcantay reaches up to 20,500 feet high), to even the Lodge Trek where you rough it during the day, and sleep in lodges at night (7 to 11 days). I didn't have that much time unfortunately, but I just wanted share with you my little journey on how I visited the Sacred Valley, and how I did it on a budget. If you're rich with FAT POCKETS, then that's great, take me with you because I would love to go back! One day I plan go back and do the Salcantay Route!
I arrived in Lima, Peru via bus from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Of course you can fly, but like I said before, I do things on a budget so that I can travel 7+ months out of the year. You can of course fly straight into Lima which I will do next time, but I actually had a film project in Ecuador, so that is why I was there. Ecuador was amazing btw, if you ever go there, you must visit Banos!
From Lima, you can either fly or take a bus to Cusco, which was once the capital of the Inca Empire, and now the main hub to Machu Picchu. I took the bus and it ran me only about $28 USD, which I booked via a website called Busbud.com. It took 21 hours, so if you don't have much time, you may want to fly. You will find various bus companies, but I chose CIVA because it was much cheaper, but still had good reviews, and it ended up beating my expectations. CIVA also has different categories of buses such as ECONO, SUPER, and if you have a little bit of extra money to spend, EXCLUCIVA is where it's at! Just FYI, the buses in Peru are known to sometimes be better than a lot of the airlines! I mean, the buses will feed you up to 3-4 meals depending on the distance. You'll be lucky to get pretzels from an airline these days! I don't mind taking the buses because you are able to see more of the country, and I really enjoy seeing different parts of the places I visit. With flying, you miss out on a lot of amazing scenery.
Cusco ended up being a lot bigger than I expected, which I really didn't like. I gravitate towards the smaller towns and villages. Although I didn't care for Cusco as much, there is still plenty to do, and activities to book prior to visiting Machu Picchu. One thing that I wasn't able to do, but wished I did was visit Rainbow Mountain. It's about 2-3 hours outside of Cusco, but definitely worth the trip if you have the time. Just to warn you, the trek is about 6 days if you want to do it the right way, and get this, some people say the level of difficulty is MUCH higher than trekking up Machu Picchu! There are also one day treks to Rainbow Mountain, but I only recommend that if you have limited time.
Rainbow Mountain - Photo Credit: Forbes
GETTING BACK ON TRACK
From Cusco, the goal is to get to Aguas Calientes, which is the main town at the bottom of Machu Picchu. Yes, it is that tough to reach Machu Picchu, that's why it's one of those places that you have to visit. There is NO DIRECT way to visit the Sacred Valley, it's a journey, and one that you can customize yourself.
I recommend buying your Machu Picchu Tickets at least a week in advanced!
Okay, so prior to Cusco, I originally purchased a train ticket to get me from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, but come to find out, the train station that I booked with (Inca Rail) was about 2 hours away in a place called Ollantaytambo. I think there is a rail company in Cusco (Peru Rail) that goes from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, but not sure, if there is one, it is definitely going to be pricey, because the train option is not cheap, unless of course you're rich =).
Ollantaytambo is where most of the 4 day treks start from. The best way to get to Ollantaytambo if you are on a budget is to take one of the combi buses (local passenger mini vans) from Cusco. Yes, you can take a taxi, but you will get ripped off. Even if you find a good deal with a taxi ($20-40), it WILL NOT beat the price of only 10 soles ($3 USD) if you take the local mini van. Again, the ride from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is about 2 hours. There is also a bus that can take you from Cusco to a stop called "Hydroelectrica" just a bit before Aguas Calientes for about $30+ R/T (you can probably find cheaper rate at $20 I heard), but you still have to trek about 2 hours to get to Aguas Calientes, the trek isn't that difficult, mostly flat dirt and gravel road.
To get to the combi mini buses in Cusco, they are located at the corner of Ave Grau and Calle Pavitos. There is no specific time they leave, they try to fill up the buses to make more bang for the buck. The mini buses leave as early as 2:30 am daily, no reservations needed, just show up with your 10 soles!
From Ollantaytambo, I took the Inca Rail to Aguas Calientes, and this was the most expensive part of my journey, it was about $116 R/T, and that was the cheapest (Executive Ticket). Inca Rail does provide a complimentary beverage, snack, and a piece of chocolate for the 55 minute or so journey. If you chose a different ticket such as the Presidential, I think you get a fancy meal, and some cocktails.
Ollantaytambo is a really cool place, I would stay here over Cusco, they even have their own National Park (costs 70 soles, about $20 USD) and various hikes.
The Inca Rail dropped me off right in the middle of Aguas Calientes, where it was only a 5 minute walk to my guesthouse that I stayed at which set me back only $17 per night (Don Andre). Yes, there are some fancier places to stay, but my ass isn't going to be in the hotel, my plan was to explore, not to admire my bed linens.
Have a better Machu Picchu Experience, get in shape before hiking up!
Now if you read this far, you saw that I recommended that you purchase your Machu Tickets at least one week in advanced right, well I didn't ha ha. I actually purchased mine the day before. Here's the reason why. The main website (see above) that you purchase the tickets from is really crappy, and what I mean by that, it is very difficult to navigate, and if you are not spanish, the website does not work very well in english. I even tried to book my ticket in spanish format, but it still didn't work. Come to find out, it was my Visa Card. They only take certain visa cards, and mine happened to be the wrong one =) At that point, I tried booking with a ticket agency just to get it over, but even they were horrible to deal with, and charged outrageous booking fees, up to $20 more than what the original tickets cost. So what did I do? As soon as I arrived to Aguas Clientes, I went straight to the offices of the Regional Directorate of Culture, and I bought my ticket directly from them, with no fees! Just FYI, they only take cash, so make sure that you have some SOLES, or get some at an ATM which is near the main plaza. There is also an office in Cusco where you can purchase your tickets directly as well, that is if you are having issues with the website. But again, please do not do what I did, because you might not be so lucky. Get your tickets at least one week in advance =).
I recommend getting the Machu Picchu + Mountain Ticket, it only costs $61
There are two mountains to choose from, either one is great!
The mountain views are amazing, and you get some serious extreme exercise!
I recommend spending at least two nights in Aguas Calientes because depending on how you make it to Machu Picchu, you may need some time to recover.
SO YOU FINALLY MADE IT TO AGUAS CLIENTES!
Aguas Calientes is where most of the 4 day treks end up before heading up to the hike up to Machu Picchu. If you are doing the same thing that I did, you can start hiking up from Aguas Calientes (the hike from Aguas Clientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu is FREE). The hike is about 1 1/2 hours on average if you are taking your time, or you are out of shape. It is pretty much straight vertical with some flats that crossover some of the shuttle bus double tracks. If you do not want to do the hike up from Aguas Calientes, you can take the shuttle bus which is about $10-12 each way. Be warned though, there is a long line for the shuttle buses no matter if you have a shuttle ticket or not. Let's put it this way, it was faster for me to hike up and down versus waiting in line for a shuttle.
I purchased the Machu Picchu + Mountain Ticket (Montana Mountain or "Old Mountain") because the more popular one "Huayna Mountain" was all booked up way before I started looking at tickets. If I am not mistaken, the Huayna Mountain is shorter but steeper, and has some actual ruins, versus the "Old Mountain" is longer, still very treacherous, but without any ruins atop the mountain. The average hike time to the top of the "Old Mountain" is about 2-3 hours. If you are in pretty good condition, you can do it in far less time, my buddy and I did it in exactly one hour.
If you are not doing a multi-day trek to Machu Picchu, I recommend doing the hike up from Machu Picchu, then one of the mountain peaks, the Inca Bridge, the village, and then hike back down to Aguas Calientes. After that, you'll be craving a CusQuena Beer, maybe a few of them!
And that's how I did Machu Picchu on a budget. You don't have to spend a lot of money to see this "Wonder of the World", you just have to be adventurous, do a little bit of research, and be willing to be independent of tour companies to save some cash. If you have any questions, feel free to message me, but most of all, go out and explore, it's a beautiful world out there! =)
