Funny you from Santa Fe. I went to St. John’s there. I did the Inca Trail route and after talking to people who did one or the other (took the train/bus in or walk the trail) the Trail seemed to be the winner by far. I would avoid the lodge at the base of the city entrance and stick with something in Aguas Calientes. You’ll cut your cost by 1/5. Honestly, hotels and dining all looked the same. It’s a town revolving around the tourist trade. I used Amazing Peru tour company to book three weeks of white water rafting, Amazon camping and Inca Trail/Machu Picchu. I cannot recommend them enough. No problems, wonderful people. Good luck.