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How to Travel to Machu Picchu

Don’t get lost when you visit the Lost City of the Incas.

Chris Marinaccio/Travel + Leisure

Every year, millions of people visit the imposing and mysterious Incan citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru. But getting to the massive agricultural terraces, intricate stone constructions, and epic hilltop views of this UNESCO World Heritage site isn't cheap, and it involves some trickier-than-usual logistics. Here's how to expertly navigate your way to Peru's most famous destination, plus our top tips for enjoying your visits to the nearby cities of Cusco and Aguas Calientes on your way.

Reasons to Visit

Machu Picchu is one of the world's most dreamed-about destinations . Mystery is at the center of Machu Picchu's appeal, as the city holds many secrets about the ancient Incan Empire. Knowledge-seekers will find plenty of interesting tidbits to mull over about the city's archaeological significance and the various scientific and religious practices of the Incans who built the magnificent site.

Alongside this adventure through time, a trip to Machu Picchu offers an opportunity to experience Peruvian culture and gastronomy . If you stay a while, you can even make trips to many of the country's other historical wonders, like the perplexing and enormous images etched into the hills of the Nazca Valley , the origins of which are not entirely understood. Throw in a few dishes of tangy ceviche, a rainbow-striped mountain , a desert oasis that looks more like a painting than a real place, and many pisco sours to wash it all down, and you've got a fantastic trip in one of the world's most naturally beautiful countries .

Best Time to Visit

Machu Picchu is open year-round. October through April is the official rainy season, but it can rain at any time. And while peak season is July and August, you should always expect crowds. Sundays can be the most crowded, because that's when people who live in the Cusco province are allowed into the site for free, in addition to the daily visitor limit.

Morning? Afternoon? There is no perfect time to visit Machu Picchu. These days, the site is crowded at all hours and the weather is unpredictable. However, during the rainy season, the mornings are most likely to be foggy. Depending on your disposition, fog ruins the view or adds a patina of mystery to it. Afternoons can be slightly less crowded as day-trippers return to the train station for their trip back to Cusco.

How to Get Acclimated to the Altitude

The last thing you need on your day in Machu Picchu is a case of altitude sickness . Wherever you're coming from is probably much, much lower than Cusco (over 11,000 feet) or Machu Picchu (just shy of 8,000 feet). Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, so you can adjust gradually and avoid common symptoms like nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Unless you've booked a trip to Machu Picchu that requires an overnight stay in Cusco, we recommend immediately taking the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo), the town nearest Machu Picchu. Spend a night or two getting used to the relatively low elevation of Aguas Calientes, at about 6,700 feet, then explore Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco. You can also spend time elsewhere in the Sacred Valley, which, by nature, is lower in elevation than the surrounding mountains. Avoid alcohol and physical exertion while acclimatizing and drink as much water or coca tea as you can stand to help your body slowly adjust to the thinner air.

How to Get There

If Machu Picchu is your goal, you will have to fly into the capital of Lima and then catch a connecting flight to Cusco. From there, the easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to take the train to Aguas Calientes, a scenic 3.5-hour trip each way along tracks that run right along the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley, with dramatic canyon walls on either side. However, note that the so-called Cusco train station is actually in the nearby town of Poroy. It's a cheap taxi ride, but give yourself at least an hour to get from central Cusco to the train station. Traffic in Cusco can be brutal and seemingly never-ending road work makes things even more congested.

Taking the Train

Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure

There are three train companies to choose from: Inca Rail , Peru Rail , and the Belmond Hiram Bingham train . The Hiram Bingham service is on a gorgeous train gleaming with brass and polished wood and includes a white tablecloth meal with wine during your journey. It's also much more expensive than Inca Rail or Peru Rail, both of which offer comfortable passage on different types of trains — including ones designed with panoramic windows for an additional fee. Whichever train you choose, book as far in advance as possible. Tickets sell out weeks ahead in some months.

If train tickets from Cusco are sold out, all is not lost. Try to buy another train ticket to Aguas Calientes that departs from the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, or vice versa. Taxis and minivans between Ollantaytambo and Cusco (just over an hour each way) are plentiful. If you have the time, plan an overnight in Ollantaytambo to check out the town, which still features many Incan-built streets and buildings, as well as the archaeological site of the same name. Arrive as early as possible at the site to enjoy the sunrise light and beat the tour buses.

You can also stay overnight in Urubamba, a 20-minute drive from Ollantaytambo, which has a bevy of luxury and boutique hotels such as Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa ; Sol y Luna, Relais & Châteaux ; and Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness .

How to Get Tickets

Even when you buy your ticket in advance, guides are required at Machu Picchu, whether you're on an organized tour or traveling independently. Hire one outside the gates, or make a booking in Aguas Calientes.

To control overtourism at Machu Picchu, the Peruvian government has set up a ticketing system , split up into five different circuits. Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost approximately $42 for adults and $20 for students and minors. When you book online, you will be able to see exactly how many tickets are available for that day. On the day of your visit, you will choose between one of the five circuits. The stricter controls help to protect the site from the effects of too many visitors. Before you book, carefully look at the circuits and see which landmarks they include.

You'll need a separate ticket to climb Huayna Picchu (Circuit 4 + Wayna Picchu Mountain). The view looking down on the Incan ruins is a highlight for many but be aware that some sections of this strenuous trail are very narrow and steep. You'll have the choice of starting your climb between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Go at 10 a.m.; there's a better chance any clouds will have lifted by then.

You can also climb to the peak of Machu Picchu, but this too requires a separate ticket (Macchupicchu Mountain + Circuit 3) and good knees. The trail is almost entirely stairs. You'll have the choice of starting your climb between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Although it was open in the past, you will also need a separate ticket to make the short walk to the Inca Bridge (Circuit 1 or 2 + Inka Bridge). It's less than an hour round trip along a mostly flat trail to check out a precarious trail, now closed, which the Incas built along a rock face. The newest route, as of 2021, to Huchyu Picchu (Circuit 4 + Huchuypicchu Mountain) is also available with a separate ticket. It's shorter and easier than the other mountain hikes and you'll get a unique perspective of the ancient city.

The Inca Trail and Other Treks

Chris Marinaccio/Travel + Leisure

The other way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to walk as part of an organized multiday Machu Picchu trek along the Inca Trail, a section of one of the hundreds of Incan roads built as the empire expanded. It might sound intimidating, but thousands of people make this trek every year. Dozens of tour operators offer Inca Trail hikes to Machu Picchu, with varying durations and levels of comfort (though all require camping). Note that the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu is closed for the entire month of February every year for maintenance.

For a different kind of Peru experience, some tour operators combine a visit to the iconic site with other activities or less-trodden routes to equally impressive sights in the Peruvian highlands. For example, the Inca Jungle Tour combines hiking, biking, rafting, and zip-lining on your way to Machu Picchu, and luxury tour operator andBeyond offers several Machu Picchu itineraries.

You can also drive (most of the way) to Machu Picchu from Cusco to the town of Hydroelectrica (there's a hydroelectric plant there). From there it's a three-hour hike up to Aguas Calientes and then on to Machu Picchu. Many tour companies in Cusco offer this route as a one- or two-day trip using private vans. Some of the most popular alternative routes include Salkantay Mountain, the second city of Choquequirao, and the Lares region.

Salkantay Mountain

For those who prefer a less crowded experience or want to see and experience other aspects of Peru on their way to Machu Picchu, there are many hiking alternatives: the second most popular way to hike to Machu Picchu is around massive Salkantay Mountain, one of the most imposing peaks in the Peruvian Andes at 20,569 feet. Many tour companies offer Salkantay Treks, but Apus Peru, an established and well-regarded Cusco tour company with a focus on sustainable and responsible tourism, offers an express trek , which shaves a day off the normal itinerary for those who want to push their physical limits on their way to Machu Picchu.

Choquequirao

Travelers interested in archaeology should consider the Choquequirao trek with a Machu Picchu extension. This itinerary includes spectacular (but very tough) hiking in the steep Apurimac Canyon and exploration of the Choquequirao archaeological site before arriving in Aguas Calientes and then exploring Machu Picchu.

The Lares Adventure from Mountain Lodges of Peru offers a great combination of Andean hiking and cultural encounters within Quechua communities before arriving in Aguas Calientes to explore the citadel. Other tour companies offer treks through the Lares region, but only this itinerary includes luxury accommodations in their own lodges and full service along the way.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Unfortunately, there are no ancient Incan hotels you can stay in when you arrive at Machu Picchu, and even those who arrive by the Inca Trail usually do so with camping tents. The closest you can get is the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge , which gives you easy access to the site, but you'll be far away from the dining and shopping of Aguas Calientes — either a strenuous 90-minute climb down the mountain or a harrowing 30-minute drive.

Where to Stay in Aguas Calientes

For a luxury stay in Aguas Calientes, you have two main options: the elegant Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo , located near the train station, and design-forward Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel , a boutique property near the foot of Machu Picchu Mountain. But there are dozens of mid-range options, too, plus super-affordable hostels for backpackers like Nativus Hostel , which also has private rooms.

Where to Stay in Cusco

Cusco has more than its share of large, full-service hotels including Inkaterra La Casona , an 11-suite hotel in a 16th-century mansion; Belmond Hotel Monasterio in a former Jesuit seminary; the museum-like JW Marriott El Convento Cusco ; and the stately Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel . If a contemporary boutique is more your style, try El Mercado or Atiq Boutique Hotel .

Best Restaurants

When you're in Machu Picchu, there's a casual cafe and bar with a lovely deck just outside the entrance gates, but the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge's buffet lunch is your only sit-down-restaurant option. It's very good, if pricey. You can always pack your own lunch to eat when you get to Machu Picchu, though, and look forward to a celebratory meal when you make it back to Aguas Calientes or Cusco.

Where to Eat and Drink in Aguas Calientes

As a whole, Aguas Calientes isn't exactly on the cutting edge of Peruvian cuisine. But walk down Av. Pachacutec and you'll find low-key eateries and bars, some serving a selection of Peru's growing crop of craft beers. There are also high-end restaurants inside the two luxury hotels, Inkaterra and Sumaq, which are open to non-guests. More low-key traveler favorites include Restaurante Indio Feliz , serving up French-Peruvian dishes, and Mapacho Craft Beer Restaurant , where you can pair local specialties with craft beer from all over the country.

Where to Eat and Drink in Cusco

Significantly larger than Aguas Calientes, Cusco is one place where you should have no problem finding great restaurants. Cicciolina is a classic tapas bar that feels like a local hangout, serving international and Andean dishes out of an open kitchen. Kion, from the growing Cusco Restaurants group , is a stylish place to enjoy Cantonese cuisine. The decor is Chinese vintage, the flavors are subtle, and the atmosphere is festive.

Chicha is the first restaurant in Cusco from Peruvian superstar chef Gaston Acurio of Astrid & Gastón fame. Located on the second floor of a Colonial building, the restaurant offers haute Andean cuisine (alpaca carpaccio, quinoa with duck) in an airy and well-lit space. After dinner, you can head to Cholos pub near the main plaza, which keeps around a dozen different Peruvian craft beers on tap. Peruvian owner Rodrigo Cardenas is passionate and knowledgeable about all of them.

Best Things to Do in Machu Picchu

When you arrive at the citadel, you'll have to follow the route outlined on your ticket so you may want to study up on some of the city's most exciting sites before you decide. Among the most important are the Sacred Stone, an astronomical clock that corresponds with the spring and autumnal equinoxes, and the Temple of the Sun, which is a great example of the Incans' impressive masonry skills.

During your visit, make sure you have some spare cash (small bills and coins) in your pocket because you will need them to access the only bathroom at the site entrance. You will also need your passport to get into Machu Picchu, which means that to use the bathroom or grab food you should have your passport ready. Hang onto your ticket because you'll need it to get back in. It may seem like a hassle, but you'll be glad you have it on you because just outside the entrance gates, there's a barely marked station where you can get the novelty Machu Picchu stamp in your passport.

On your way to Machu Picchu, you'll also find several interesting attractions in Aguas Calientes and Cusco.

Things to Do in Aguas Calientes

The town takes its name from the thermal springs, which are open to the public for a small fee. You'll also find plenty of souvenir shops at the major market near the train station. While Machu Picchu is the main attraction, of course, you can also visit the Mariposario de Machupicchu butterfly sanctuary .

Things to Do in Cusco

Cusco's pre-Columbian buildings have given this city UNESCO World Heritage status , and its cobblestoned streets, great hotels, museums, nearby archaeological sites, and relaxed atmosphere make it worth spending at least a couple of days here.

Cusco is filled with historic sites both from the Incan and colonial times: don't miss the impressive Coricancha (also spelled Koricancha or Qorikancha), an Incan temple-turned-Spanish church; the Sacsayhuaman Incan ruins; and the Cusco Cathedral. Wander through the streets of the hip San Blas neighborhood, people-watch on the Plazas de Armas, and shop at the San Pedro Market.

Accessibility

Travelers in wheelchairs can access the Peruvian world wonder with the help of tour companies like Wheel the World , which designed the first-ever wheelchair-accessible tour of Machu Picchu. You can contact the company to learn more about their services and their custom wheelchairs that are specially made to travel over the many steps and uneven terrain of the ancient city.

Listen to Travel + Leisure 's "Let's Go Together" podcast for more inspiring stories and adventures celebrating inclusivity in travel!

Packing Tips

Whether you're planning a multiday trek or a quick in-and-out day trip, you should be prepared to dress for mountain conditions . Bring water and a rain jacket, even if it looks like a beautiful sunny day. Speaking of the sun, remember that the ozone layer over Peru is compromised, and that, combined with the elevation, makes the sun extremely strong here, so wear a hat and use plenty of high SPF sunscreen. Keep insect repellant handy as well.

Don't bring drones, umbrellas, walking sticks, or trekking poles since they're all prohibited at Machu Picchu. Travelers who require sticks or poles for mobility can bring them in but only with protective rubber tips over the ends.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the Lost City of the Incas and inspires awe at first sight, especially if you journey there on the Inca Trail . Browse our destination guide below for essential travel details and top attractions to check out on your visit.

Only a few places in the world possess the kind of natural beauty and historic charisma that can capture the hearts and minds of visitors in an instant. Machu Picchu is one of them. Morning or afternoon, rain or shine, crowded or not - the sight of the stone temples and endless terraces set amid green-clad granite mountains never disappoints.

Forgotten after the fall of the Inca Empire and rediscovered 400 years later, Machu Picchu remains shrouded in mystery. Some questions may never be answered, but the former Inca city remains as irrefutable evidence of their highly advanced stonemasonry.

Whether by train or on your own two feet along the Inca Trail, getting to Machu Picchu is part of the adventure. Most visitors spend at least one night in Aguas Calientes, the small town at the base of the mountain from the Inca ruins. We recommend exploring the UNESCO Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and New World Wonder with an expert guide, so you don’t overlook the brilliant engineering features and asserted significance built into the design of sacred temples.

Climate & Weather

Machu Picchu is at the intersection of the Andes and the Amazon, where the mild subtropical climate has warm days and cooler nights. Humidity is also higher than in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Rainy Season Weather at Machu Picchu changes quickly and is unpredictable throughout the year. Similar to other high altitude destinations in Peru, the region has a dry and rainy season, but these conditions changes in the weather aren’t as clearly defined. The dry winter season for Machu Picchu is from April to October, and the wet summer season is from November to March. Remember, the northern and southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons.

Best Time to Visit

• The peak season for Machu Picchu is June, July, and August. These months coincide with the region’s dry season when sunny conditions are most probable and considered by many the best time to go to Machu Picchu. Hotels, entry tickets, and other services fill up quickly, so make your reservations well in advance.
• The low season for Machu Picchu is from December to February during the rainy season. There are fewer tourists and less crowding around attractions within the citadel. Still, the tradeoff is a much higher probability for rain, so don’t forget your raingear.

Geography & Map

• Machu Picchu is located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Cusco in the Urubamba Province of Peru, where the eastern slopes of the Andes meet the Amazon Rainforest. The Inca built their city on a high mountain ridge overlooking the lush cloud forest surroundings. Far below, Urubamba River flows along the valley floor, past Aguas Calientes.
• Elevation 7,970 ft (2,430 m)

Construction for Machu Picchu began at the height of the Inca Empire around 1450 AD. Most scholars agree the mountaintop city was the royal estate of Pachacutec, the powerful 9th king. Others speculate it was a sacred center where the great political, religious, and economic minds of the Inca Empire gathered.

Before the construction of Machu Picchu began, they surveyed the mountaintop site. They built canals to carry freshwater to different sectors of the city. Incredibly, the Inca didn’t use steel or iron tools, nor the wheel, to make the temples, living quarters, and stone steps. Instead, they utilized simple materials such as stone, wood, and bronze. Rows of terraces were also constructed along the mountainsides for support. Without them, Machu Picchu would have tumbled down, unable to withstand centuries existing in a region prone to earthquakes and annual heavy rain.

Less than one hundred years after the construction of Machu Picchu began, during the 1530s, the city was abandoned in the aftermath of the Spanish Conquest. Widespread knowledge of the city was lost to official memory over the centuries except for some locals.

In 1911, Yale history professor Hiram Bingham chanced upon Machu Picchu while looking for the legendary city of Vilcabamba where resistance rebel leader Manco Inca retreated to safety from Spanish troops. After years of silent existence, Machu Picchu had been rediscovered and was flung into the international spotlight.

Today, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary and the most visited attraction in Peru. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism counted 800,200 visitors to Machu Picchu in 2007, when the attraction was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and since then that number has nearly doubled. In 2019, the famous Inca ruins were visited by 1,585,300 people from around the world.

How to Get to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is in a remote region of Peru, and transportation there is limited. No roads connect Cusco and the Sacred Valley with Aguas Calientes, so your only two options are to take the train or trek there.

Train to Machu Picchu

Most travelers choose to take the train to Machu Picchu for the convenience of time and comfort. PeruRail offers different train services - from budget Vistadome, upgrade Expedition, and luxury Hiram Bingham - with several daily morning and evening departures.

Passengers can board the train in Cusco at the Poroy Station (a 20-minute taxi ride from the city plaza) or in the Sacred Valley at the train station in Ollantaytambo and then continue along the tracks to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival at Machu Picchu Station, the final leg of your journey is a 20-minute shuttle bus (ticket required) or uphill walk to the main entrance of Machu Picchu.

• The train from Cusco to Machu Picchu is 4 hours
• The train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu is 2 hours
• The train from Urubamba to Machu Picchu is 3 hours (*limited weekly departures)

You have to travel light when you take the train to Machu Picchu because storage room onboard is limited. Each passenger is only allowed one carry-on luggage that weighs no more than 11 lbs (5kg). Many hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley offer free luggage storage, where you can leave a separate bag filled with belongings you won’t need for this leg of your trip.

Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes town is located 5.5 mi (9 km) from the Machu Picchu archeological site and 1,310 ft (400 m) of altitude lower. From the bus stop located only 3 to 5 minutes walking from the train station in Aguas Calientes, buses ferry passengers between the town and the ruins, using a zigzagging switchback road to go up and down the steep mountainside. Most tours to Machu Picchu include the bus tickets in the total price of the package. Tickets for the bus can also be purchased in Cusco or in Aguas Calientes in front of the bus stop.

The first buses depart at 5:30 am, arriving at the entrance of Machu Picchu just before the gates open at 6:00 am. Lines are usually the longest in the morning between 5:30 am and 6:15 am and when the mid-morning trains arrive from Cusco and the Sacred Valley between 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

Trekking to Machu Picchu

Adventurous travelers should trek to Machu Picchu! Trekking packages are organized so you trek to the famous archaeological site and return by train on the return leg of your journey.

The iconic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most popular trek in South America. The journey takes you through high Andean passes, past lesser-known Inca sites, and culminates with a memorable entrance to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. There’s also the 2-day Inca Trail if you are on a tight schedule or prefer a less demanding walk.

To hike the Inca Trail, you must reserve a permit in advance. There are wonderful alternative treks to Machu Picchu that don’t require a permit if Inca Trail permits are already sold out.

The 5-day Salkantay Trek is an excellent alternative trek to Machu Picchu for travelers who appreciate nature. This Andean trail passes by the imposing snow-capped Salkantay mountain, for which the trek is named, and crosses highland pampas before dropping down into a river valley cloud forest and then onto Machu Picchu. Read more about the Salkantay Trek.

The 4-day Lares Trek is another alternative recommended for trekkers whose interest lies in cultural immersion. Follow a route through the Lares Valley, passing remote villages with rich Andean traditions, beautiful mountain scenery, and lesser-known Inca ruins before touring Machu Picchu on the final day. Read more about the Lares Trek.

Visitor Guidelines

Machu Picchu Tickets

Tickets to Machu Picchu are limited and must be purchased in advance. There are general entry tickets and ones that include the hikes for Huayna Picchu (only 400 daily available) or Machu Picchu Mountain (only 400 daily available). Demand for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain is especially high during the peak June, July, and August dates. Advanced planning - sometimes 4 months in advance - is a must. Reserve your spot at the time you book your Machu Picchu tickets.

Tickets are not sold at the main entrance. If you’ve waited until the last minute, your final opportunity is at the National Cultural Institute (INC) office on the main plaza in Aguas Calientes.

Time in Machu Picchu

The time designated for you to enter Machu Picchu is selected when you buy your tickets in advance. For whichever assigned time indicated on your ticket, you have the full hour to enter the archaeological site. We suggest you arrive at the bus stop in Aguas Calientes at least one hour before your entrance time at the Machu Picchu ruins.

• An entry ticket to Machu Picchu is valid for 4 hours.
• An entry with a Huayna Picchu ticket gives you 6 hours to go on a Machu Picchu tour and do the hike.
• An entry with Machu Picchu Mountain ticket gives you 7 hours to take a guided tour and do the hike. This hike is longer than Huayna Picchu hence why you have more time in Machu Picchu.

Walking circuits around Machu Picchu help control foot traffic. Routes 1 and 2 (indicated in green and red on the map) pass similar attractions but explore different sections of the agricultural zone near the main entrance gate. Route 3 in blue is an alternative walking route so visitors with hiking permits can do Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Travel Tips

What to Bring to Machu Picchu

Here is an essential Machu Picchu packing list:

• Passport and Entry Ticket You need to present both documents at the entrance gate. Bring your original passport.
• Daypack Only small backpacks can be brought into Machu Picchu.
• Water Fill up your reusable water canteen or buy bottled water to bring in your daypack to stay hydrated as you walk around Machu Picchu, especially if you do the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes.
• Clothing Weather changes quickly at Machu Picchu, so it is best to dress in layers so you can add or remove layers as needed. Cloudy conditions quickly turn sunny and vice versa.
• Sun Protection The sun is very strong at Machu Picchu’s high elevation, especially from June to August during the peak of the dry season. Bring sunglasses, sunblock, and a hat.
• Rain Protection During the wet season from November to March, pack a rain poncho or travel-size umbrella in your daypack to be prepared for any unexpected showers.
• Footwear Comfortable hiking boots or athletic shoes with good traction are best for walking around the stone steps at Machu Picchu.
• Camera A camera with a zoom lense gives you more flexibility to capitalize on different angles and capture stone ruins far away.
• Hiking Poles Make sure your hiking poles have protective rubber tips if you want to bring them to Machu Picchu.

What NOT to Bring to Machu Picchu

• Camera tripods, selfie sticks, and drones are not allowed inside Machu Picchu.
• Luggage and large backpacks are not allowed. Many hotels offer complimentary luggage storage. There are also storage lockers at the entrance of Machu Picchu.
• Alcohol is not allowed.
• Baby strollers are not practical with all the stairs at Machu Picchu. Instead, a baby backpack style carrier is recommended.
• Metal-tipped canes and walking poles are only allowed inside Machu Picchu with protective rubber tips.

Safety Tips

Aguas Calientes isn’t known for crime (it is virtually non-existent in Machu Picchu), but travelers should always remain wary of petty theft. This particularly applies when in large crowds of people such as at the train station where pickpocketing can go unperceived by the victim. Never leave bags or other valuable items unattended.

Local Currency & ATMs

From bottles of water to meals at restaurants, prices for food, goods, and services are a bit higher in Aguas Calientes compared to anywhere else in Peru. This is because tourism is the town’s only industry and everything has to be shipped by train. Be sure to budget accordingly. There are ATMs on the major streets, but these are known to be unreliable. Most hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards. There are no ATM machines at Machu Picchu. Read about money in Peru.

Most hotel representatives in Aguas Calientes and staff aboard the train to Machu Picchu speak Spanish and English. Tours are conducted in many languages. All Peru

Things to Do

Huayna Picchu

Machu Picchu Mountain

Temple of the Sun

Intihuatana

Sacred Rock

Temple of the Condor

Stairway of Fountains

Options for Machu Picchu hotels range from 5-star luxury resorts to budget dorms and everything in between. Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel up on the mountain next to the main entrance of the archaeological complex. All other accommodations are in Aguas Calientes and walking distance from the train station.

It’s possible to make a whirlwind Machu Picchu trip in one day. Still, we recommend enjoying this highlight of your trip at a slower pace, if possible. Staying a night or two in Aguas Calientes spaces out the legs of transport to and from Machu Picchu and helps you stay rested for an active day of touring. The following are our Top Pick Hotels for travel to Machu Picchu.

Sumaq Machu Picchu

Avenida Hermanos Ayar Mz 1 Lote 3, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu

Av. Pachacutec 109, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu

Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu

Prolongacion Imperio de Los Incas E - 34, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu

Hotel Pucara

Alameda los Artesanos 1508, Machu Picchu

Restaurants

Eating options outside the entrance to Machu Picchu are convenient, though limited. You can take a pre-made box lunch with you to Machu Picchu (available options depend on your itinerary), eat a buffet lunch at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, or grab a quick bite at the Machu Picchu Snack Bar.

Down the hill in Aguas Calientes the restaurant selection is far more varied. Enjoy a casual sitdown meal in Machu Picchu’s gateway town at one of the following restaurants:

Chullpi Machu Picchu

Incontri del pueblo viejo, indio feliz restaurant bistro, the tree house restaurant, toto’s house, tour packages.

6 days from $ 1249

Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

4 days from $ 989

9 days from $ 2069

Cusco, Inca Trail, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

6 days from $ 1719

Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu & 2-day Inca Trail

16 days from $ 3869

Machu Picchu, Cusco, Titicaca, Amazon, Lima, Paracas, Arequipa & Colca

9 days from $ 1919

Amazon, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Where is Machu Picchu?

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• WORLD HERITAGE

Machu Picchu

Site : Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu Location : Peru Year Designated : 1983 Category : Cultural Criteria : (i)(iii)(vii)(ix) Reason : Machu Picchu is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

Machu Picchu is tangible evidence of the urban Inca Empire at the peak of its power and achievement—a citadel of cut stone fit together without mortar so tightly that its cracks still can’t be penetrated by a knife blade.

The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites—its dramatic location is certainly well suited for any of those purposes. The ruins lie on a high ridge, surrounded on three sides by the windy, turbulent Urubamba River some 2,000 feet (610 meters) below.

Scholars are still striving to uncover clues to the mysteries hidden here high in the eastern slopes of the Andes, covered with tropical forests of the upper Amazon Basin. Machu Picchu appears to lie at the center of a network of related sites and trails—and many landmarks both man-made and mountainous appear to align with astronomical events like the solstice sunset. The Inca had no written language, so they left no record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century.

Landscape engineering skills are in strong evidence at Machu Picchu. The site’s buildings, walls, terraces, and ramps reclaim the steep mountainous terrain and make the city blend naturally into the rock escarpments on which it is situated. The 700-plus terraces preserved soil, promoted agriculture, and served as part of an extensive water-distribution system that conserved water and limited erosion on the steep slopes.

The Inca’s achievements and skills are all the more impressive in light of the knowledge they lacked. When Machu Picchu was built some 500 years ago the Inca had no iron, no steel, and no wheels. Their tremendous effort apparently benefited relatively few people—some experts maintain that fewer than a thousand individuals lived here.

In 1911 a Peruvian guide led Yale professor Hiram Bingham up a steep mountainside and into the history books as the first Western scholar to lay eyes on the “lost city” of Machu Picchu. While indigenous peoples knew of the site, Peru’s Spanish conquerors never did—a fact which aided Machu Picchu’s isolation, and preservation, over the centuries.

Today Machu Picchu is far from isolated. In fact it’s a must-see for any visitor to Peru and the draw that compels many to travel to that nation. Machu Picchu’s management challenge is preservation of the site while making it accessible to all those who hope to experience an incredible part of Inca history.

How to Get There

On his first trip to the site Hiram Bingham walked for six days. Today many choose to follow in his footsteps by hiking to the ruins on the legendary Inca Trail. It’s an experience like no other, but one no longer necessary. Train trips from Cusco take only a few hours.

When to Visit

• Nat Geo Expeditions

Mountain archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Johan Reinhard offered this tip on how to escape the crowds that typically fill the site by midday. “I traditionally climb to the top of a nearby peak with a pack lunch and wait till the crowds are gone,” he wrote in National Geographic Traveler .

How to Visit

For the fit there is simply no substitute for traveling to Machu Picchu the way the Inca themselves did—on foot. Today the Inca Trail winds through the mountains and along the path of the ancient royal highway. More than 75,000 people make the trip each year and along the way experience some of the associated sites that were part of the Inca network in this area.

It’s no longer possible to do the trek independently. Due to heavy use (and subsequent environmental impact) the trail has become heavily regulated. Visitors must sign up with an organized group to tackle either the classic four-day route or a recently added two-day option.

Related Topics

• WORLD HERITAGE SITES
• ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
• ARCHITECTURE

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Visit Machu Picchu: A first timer's guide

• Machu Picchu

By Peru specialist Nik

Just shy of 600 years ago, a small plateau between two lushly forested peaks high in the Andes became a building site for the Inca Empire’s greatest city.

This citadel in the clouds was abandoned only 100 years later but Spanish invaders never found Machu Picchu. It was left to nature before explorer Hiram Bingham caught wind of it on an expedition in 1911 and decided to investigate. A hidden city protected by the mountains, and still wonderfully inaccessible other than by foot or train, Machu Picchu is now a New Seven Wonders of the World .

My Machu Picchu highlights

I’m often asked if Machu Picchu  really lives up to its name. The emphatic answer is yes, and for two reasons.

Firstly, its buildings — the temples, palaces and houses — are in a remarkable preserved state. The Spanish never ventured up the mountains and so left it untouched.

Moreover, each time I visit Machu Picchu I’m bowled over by the setting. Out of view from the valley, you hear the roar and churn of the Urubamba River 500 m below. A protective wall of mountains surrounds you, which fades in and out of view as the mist falls and lifts. You have the distinct feeling of being high up in the world and part of a very well-kept secret.

Three of my stand-out highlights

The intihuatana stone.

This carved pillar on a square stone base remains a testament to the Incas ’ knowledge and skill as astronomers. The name translates to the 'hitching post of the sun'. The corners point to the four cardinal points, and the stone still accurately indicates the positioning of the sun. If you happen to be watching at noon on either equinox, you’ll notice the stone’s shadow disappear for just a moment, as designed by its creators.

The Royal Tomb

This cave-like building is thought to be where sacrificial or burial rituals were performed, and there have been more than 100 skeletons excavated here. Just to the left of the tomb lies a series of ceremonial baths fed by a sophisticated aqueduct system — another reminder of the impressive masonry skill of the Incas.

Climb Huayna Picchu

You can climb Huayna Picchu, the witch’s hat of a mountain that stands guard behind Machu Picchu, as long as you book it well in advance as part of your admission ticket. Your ticket will show your allocated time slot to start the walk, and it takes about an hour to reach the top.

I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like heights — the last stretch of path narrows with no barrier to separate you from the edge. The reward comes from the view at the top, which our guides generally agree is the best place to see Machu Picchu from above. You could opt to climb part of the way to still get the knock-out view, albeit from a lower level.

Video: Our expert tips for visiting Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu: a first timer's guide

A first timer's guide to Machu Picchu.

Where to stay in Machu Picchu

I’d highly recommend an overnight stay at Machu Picchu or Aguas Calientes if you want to get up to experience the ruins early the next morning.

The Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel close to the entrance of Machu Picchu, a mere stroll away. Staying here ensures you’re best placed to avoid traveling time at the start and the end of the day, though this convenience comes at a considerable price tag.

Aguas Calientes has a good range of hotels. The buses start to roll out of town up to Machu Picchu early enough for you to arrive just after the gates open, and well ahead of visitors coming by train. Staying locally also is helpful if you want to visit the site more than once. Mist clinging to the peaks can be completely bewitching, but visibility can be changeable 2,450 m above sea level. A second visit can give you a completely different set of conditions to enjoy as you explore the architecture, and time to climb Huayna Picchu.

How to get to Machu Picchu

Your most common route to Machu Picchu is flying into Peru’s capital city, Lima , before transferring to an internal 1h 15m flight to Cuzco .

Cuzco sits at the base of the Andes in the southeast of Peru. It was the capital of the Incas and is the leaping-off point for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley , the one-time heartland of the Inca Empire. You can reach Machu Picchu from Cuzco on the train or by trekking.

A small town, Aguas Calientes, has sprung up in the valley below Machu Picchu. It serves as the disembarking point for the train or a gathering place after you’ve completed the Inca Trail  and descended from Machu Picchu.

From as early as 5am buses leave here to travel up the windy road cut into the mountainside to the entry gates of Machu Picchu.

When is the best time of day to visit?

Machu Picchu is often busiest between 11am and 3pm when most train and bus visitors arrive, so the opportunity to see the site in the morning or at dusk could allow you to have a more meditative experience and better light for photography.

Machu Picchu by rail

The train journey from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes offers you the chance to see dramatic, natural scenery as you make your way through lush valleys and past rugged peaks, following the course of the Urubamba River.

There’s a variety of rail services, from regular carriages with comfortable seating, Vistadome services with panoramic windows through to the luxury Hiram Bingham train with fine dining and entertainment.

You can break up your journey mid-point by stopping or staying overnight at Ollantaytambo  in the Sacred Valley, once an important administrative center for the Incas. The remnants of a sturdy fortress, complete with terraces, dominates the town. You would travel into the valley by road and then take the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu by foot

Trekking vacations to Machu Picchu are ideal if you want to immerse yourself fully in the hugely varied landscape of snow-capped mountains, sapphire lakes, terraced fields and emerald-forested slopes.

Our guide on trekking vacations in Peru introduces a range of routes and distances so you can find a trip that’s tailored to your fitness level, the number of days you have available to explore and your preferred accommodation.

With group and private treks ranging from 1 to 12 days, you can cover the Inca Trail, Salkantay (known as the ‘alternative Inca Trail') or the Mountain Lodges of Peru route at a pace that suits you once you’ve had time to acclimatize to the altitude.

There are regulations restricting the number of walkers allowed on the Inca Trail. Only 500 people are allowed to start the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu each day, and this includes the porters. Permits sell out notoriously far in advance, so it’s essential to plan your trip as early as possible if you want to walk the Inca Trail.

A little note on altitude

Machu Picchu stands at around 2,450 m above sea level, and Cuzco at 3,400 m. At these heights, there’s 20 per cent less oxygen in the air. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms of altitude sickness are very mild (a little sleepiness or a slight fuggy head) and wear off after a day or two, but it can make doing anything energetic feel like a struggle.

Our Peru specialists can give you personalized recommendations about how to acclimatize ahead of your trek and combat any altitude sickness during it.

Travel insurance for Machu Picchu treks

It’s important to check whether your travel insurance  will cover you for treks at altitude, especially if you’ve previously bought a policy to cover you for a number of trips throughout the year. It’s possible to buy specialist trekking travel insurance, and this tends to fall into pricing categories based on the altitude and length of the trek you wish to take on.

Where to eat at Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes has a plentiful selection of restaurants to suit your tastes and wallet. One of our current favorites is Indio Feliz, an award-winning restaurant serving Peruvian dishes  with a French twist tucked away in a side street.

You can also try Peruvian street food if you time it right. Every Sunday, slow cooked chicharrones (hog roast) is sold until it’s all gone. I tried it on a recent trip and the meat was amazingly succulent, with the best crackling I’ve ever tasted.

The best time to visit Machu Picchu

July and August is peak season, when the highest number of visitors are taking on the Inca Trail or wandering around Machu Picchu.

The Andean foothills are at their driest at this time of year too, with the rainy season taking place between November and March.

We favor visiting throughout the dry months of April to October, but it’s worth avoiding the July and August peak period if you’re not tied to traveling at this time.

It should be noted that the Inca Trail is closed to walkers during the month of February so restoration work can take place.

Trips to Machu Picchu

We’ve created a selection of itineraries  that visit Machu Picchu as well as some of Peru's other highlights.

I’d suggest you need at least 9 days in Peru to take in Machu Picchu and the surrounding Incan ruins, with time to explore Cuzco before or after.

With a little extra traveling time you can extend your journey to cover time in the Peruvian Amazon , Lake Titicaca or the Colca Valley.

Tailor-make your trip to Peru

Discover Machu Picchu

8 days from $7,500pp

Luxury Peru tour

13 days from $12,750pp

Icons of South America: Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Iguaçu Falls & Rio

11 days from $13,450pp

Start thinking about your experience. These itineraries are simply suggestions for how you could enjoy some of the same experiences as our specialists. They’re just for inspiration, because your trip will be created around your particular tastes.

Further reading

• Trekking to and around Machu Picchu
• Peru’s Inca wonders beyond Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu plus one: tried-and-tested South American combinations
• Video: Helen's travels in Peru
• Trekking vacations in Peru: the best hikes (that aren’t the Inca Trail)

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Machu Picchu: get to know Peru's icon of Inca civilization

Sep 16, 2020 • 6 min read

Machu Picchu is more than just a pretty picture © Bérenger Zyla / 500px Images

In the past decade, Peru has remained on the radar of adventurous and mindful travelers thanks to the Latin American country’s incredibly diverse ecosystems, terrain and cultures – not to mention award-winning restaurants and a mouthwatering street food scene – that supply endless explorations.

To top it off, there’s that ancient mountain, Machu Picchu , in the Sacred Valley, once the heart of the Inca Empire, that never seems to go out of style. Located at an altitude of nearly 8000 ft (some 2430m) above sea level, at the nexus of the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, Machu Picchu has only continued to gain international interest since its rediscovery in 1911. In fact, it is one of the most sought-after archaeological sites in all of South America .

Understanding the appeal and majestic quality of the high-altitude site however requires more than swiping through Instagrammable images: we must first uncover the meaning, history and importance of Machu Picchu.

Editor's note: check local travel restrictions before booking any trip and always follow government health advice.

What is Machu Picchu?

Meaning "ancient mountain" in Quechua, one of Peru’s many indigenous languages, Machu Picchu transformed from a simple summit to a sacred site during the rule of the Inca Empire in the mid 15th century. Located about 45 miles (75km) northwest of Cuzco city , the trek to Machu Picchu is a big draw for travelers, though it was this countryside setting that allowed the Incas to hide from potential invaders.

Thousands of steps – some of which were cut into over 100 staggered terraces – lead up to an expansive stone citadel complete with plazas, ritualistic and sacrificial areas, and an elaborate irrigation system. There were also living quarters for Inca royalty and a fleet of guardsmen, servants and about a thousand people more. While it is uncertain if Machu Picchu served as a seasonal retreat or long-term residency for the Inca elite, the site managed to incorporate all of the ancient culture’s core elements: agriculture, astronomy, spirituality and a harmonic society.

Though restoration has been an ongoing task for the past half a century, it is undeniably impressive that any of the structures have remained after a lifetime of heavy rains and frequent earthquakes – not to mention, the footsteps of thousands of daily tourists. Such a feat is owed to the ingenious Inca engineers and architects who not only insisted in building a sturdy underground foundation and tiered cropland to prevent landslides, but had also directed stonemasons to carve and smooth massive granite stone in such a precise manner that they could be pieced together without the use of mortar or any sort of melding agent. 

Incredibly advanced and organized, the Inca civilization continues to be a topic of marvel for modern archaeologists and history buffs – and Machu Picchu, specifically, has been a revealing portal to help us understand the ancient culture and history of Peru. 

History of Machu Picchu

An icon of Inca civilization, Machu Picchu in its prime was truly fit for a king – or, more accurately, an emperor. While there remains some speculation, it is commonly believed the citadel was built for Inca Pachacuti (also referred to as Pachacutec) who ruled from 1438 until his death in the early 1470s. The ninth Inca ruler, Pachacuti would begin an era of conquest that marked the development of the Inca Empire (or Tawantinsuyu), the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.

Archaeologists estimate that the construction of the mystical mountain city began around 1450 and took decades to complete. Not even a century after the first stone wall had been erected, however, Spanish conquerors began to gain ground in what is today considered the Cuzco region. Remote and off the radar, the tropical mountain top was safe from unknowing Spanish intruders yet was nonetheless abandoned by its people who sought safer ground.  

Would Machu Picchu then be completely forgotten? Not necessarily. In 1911, American explorer Hiram Bingham arrived in the Sacred Valley and was guided along the Urubamba River and up the now famous mountainside to the citadel (which he mistook for Vilcabamba ) by a duo of local peasant farmers. Though quite overgrown with dense jungle, Machu Picchu had not been a secret to locals – it was, however, a delightful surprise for curious internationals who, having read of Bingham’s so-called discovery in his 1913 book, would begin a longstanding wanderlust tradition of dreaming of Peru.

In the past half a century of its modern history, Machu Picchu has garnered titles such as Peruvian Historical Sanctuary (since 1981), Unesco World Heritage Site (1983), and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (2007). 

Special features of Machu Picchu

●    Temple of the Sun The curved wall of this temple’s tower was built upon and integrates a large ceremonial stone that rests at the base, forming a cave-like area. This temple was used to honor Inti, god of the Sun, and light pours in through the eastern-facing windows during both winter and summer solstice. It is one of many great examples of the Inca dominance in astrology, religion and design. 

●    Inti Watana Also spelled "Intihuatana", the Quechua name of this peculiar-shaped ritual stone means “hitching post of the sun” and is set in what has been designated as the "Urban Sector" of the citadel. Likely used as a sundial or astronomic calendar, the 2-m-high slab is marked by a protruding tab pointing to the magnetic north. With this tool, the Incas would have been able to track the movement of the sun and the seasons. For example, the longest shadow appears during winter solstice (June 21, in the southern hemisphere), allowing them to project agricultural and ritualistic activities.

●    Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón This museum may be small but it’s not to be missed, even though many visitors are unaware of its existence. A 20-minute walk from Aguas Calientes , the small town at the base of Machu Picchu, it has a dynamic display to better understand the building methods used by the Incas and the excavations that took place centuries later. Afterwards, stroll through the museum’s Botanical Garden.

●    Huayna Picchu While its name is lesser known by international standards, Huayna Picchu is commonly mistaken in photos for its more famous sister peak (it is the one towering over the leveled areas filled with stone ruins). Though a steeper and riskier hike, the physically fit should not skip the opportunity to trek a bit further and catch an incredible view of Machu Picchu and the entire land of the Incas from the top of Huayna Picchu.

Planning your trip to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions . While the reopening date has yet to be confirmed, new protocols will be put in place to ensure the safety of travelers as well as the conservation of the historical site. The new social distancing rules – smaller tour groups, fewer visitors allotted per hour, trains and buses at 50% capacity – mean the typically crowded site will provide travelers with a greater opportunity to connect to the natural and spiritual world that surrounds, just as the Incas would have wanted.

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Responsible trekking in Peru: what you should know about workers' rights for porters    Peru's top 10 adventures    Offbeat adventures in Cuzco and Peru's Sacred Valley   

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Machu Picchu Guide 2024 exclusive insider tips written by PERU HOP experts

Machu picchu 2024 – everything you need to know.

Machu Picchu 2024 – What agencies DON’T tell you! The most detailed guide ever written on Machu Picchu with tours, trekking, and train options explained in full and updated every 2 weeks.

Machu Picchu is fully open. We recommend Yapa Explorers (see website here ) for tours and treks. It is not recommended to try visit Machu Picchu without a tour (ticket and guide issues – more info below).

Have a stopover in Lima? Want to visit the only Desert Oasis in South America or Peru’s mini-Galapagos all in 1 day. Check our Day Tours from Lima here .

Machu Picchu is only accessible from the city of Cusco, which you can reach by bus or air travel.

Traveling by Bus to Cusco: Peru Hop have buses in all directions to and from Cusco allowing you to Discover the Real Peru along the way.

Traveling by Air to Cusco: Latam Airlines are the best option. Make the most of any stopover in Lima with a Day Trip from Lima to discover some hidden gems of Peru.

Where is Machu Picchu

Compare Trekking

Getting to Machu Picchu by Train

Getting to Machu Picchu by Bus

Machu Picchu Facts

what to bring

to machu picchu

to bring to

machu picchu

Machu picchu safety tips

WHERE IS MACHU PICCHU

Cusco is the main access point for Machu Picchu. From Cusco, you need to reach Aguas Calientes. Aguas Calientes can be reached via train, trek, or else a combination of bus and walking. Once you get to Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu lies at the top of the mountain above the small town.

Getting from Cusco to Aguas Calientes

There are 3 options for you to choose from –

• Trekking from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
• Taking the Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
• Taking the Bus from Cusco to Aguas Calientes(Not recommended)

Getting From Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

• Walk up the steep hill (around 2 hours, semi-difficult)
• Take a bus (quite expensive for a short journey)

Note: If you book a tour to Machu Picchu (via a trek or train), most companies will have a local guide assisting you with getting from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and then up to Machu Picchu.

Important: To access Machu Picchu, you MUST have an entrance ticket purchased in advance…they are NOT sold at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Tickets are usually included as part of any tour or trek to Machu Picchu. Tickets are limited, so it is recommended to book a tour or trek at least a week in advance.

It is NOT recommended to buy your own ticket and make your own way to Machu Picchu, as it will end up probably costing more money and being a lot of hassle. You cannot enter Machu Picchu without hiring a local guide, and figuring out the transport can be a pain. For this reason we recommend a tour or trek.

Be careful with the company you choose for a tour or trek. There have been hundreds of tourists scammed in the past. Usually if a price seems too cheap to be true, it usually is.

We recommend the following formal companies who have years of experience and good feedback from our 250,000 customers:

• 1 Day Tour by Train: Yapa Explorers
• 2 Day Tour by Train: Yapa Explorers
• 4 Day Inca Jungle Trek: Yapa Explorers
• 4 Day Salkantay Trek: Yapa Explorers

Visit our guide to Machu Picchu tickets for more information about how to get your tickets.

COMPARE TREKKING OPTIONS

Multi-day treks.

• Treks are ideal for those who want to experience what it was like to be an Inca
• 3 to 4 days of walking required
• All treks start in Cusco and end at Machu Picchu so there is no other planning needed
• Trekking companies include transportation back to Cusco after your visit to Machu Picchu
• Most treks are all-inclusive (transport, food, accommodation, etc) but make sure to check your itinerary
• MAKE SURE to book with reputable companies. AVOID “too cheap to be true” prices.

The Classic Inca Trail

• Most famous trek to Machu Picchu
• Must book 6 months in advance due to number of permits
• Considered to be a difficult trek
• Sleeping in tents every night
• Closed every year in February
• Prices range from $600-$1500
• 4 Days of trekking, stopping at famous Inca sites along the way

Check tour operators, compare prices and book your trek here!

The Inka Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu

• Combination of trekking and adventure sports
• Medium level difficulty (3 days is easier than 4 days)
• Treks available all year round
• Booking 2-3 weeks in advance is usually fine
• Prices range from $250-$350
• 4 day option includes trekking on a part of the official Inca Trail

Check out tour operators, compare prices and book the trek here!

The Salkantay Trek

• 4-5 full days of trekking
• Incredible scenery as the trek passes through the Cordillera Vilcabamba
• Difficult trek- some say harder than the Inca Trail
• One of the best treks in the world according to National Geographic
• Prices range from $280 to $450

The Lares Trek

• Visit native Andean communities
• See stunning mountains, glacial lagoons, hot springs and cloud forest valleys
• Prices range from $200 to $400
• Departures every few days

Day Hikes Inside Machu Picchu

Once inside the citadel, you have the option to climb either Huayna Picchu (the famous peak seen in pictures of the citadel) or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Huayna Picchu

• The highest peaked mountain of Machu Picchu
• There are Inca structures on the top
• Reaches an altitude of 2,720m.
• 50-minute hike to the top of the mountain.
• Difficult hike- a good level of fitness is required

Machu Picchu Mountain (Montaña Machu Picchu)

• Located at the southwest end of Machu Picchu.
• A longer trek than Huayna Picchu- around 1 hour 30 to the summit
• Less steep and less crowded than alternatives
• Offers great views over Machu Picchu and surrounding area

IMPORTANT NOTE : All treks to Machu Picchu start in the historic center of Cusco. If you’re still deciding how to get to Cusco, Peru Hop is the recommended way to get there. Find all their passes here !

GETTING TO MACHU PICCHU BY TRAIN

2 day train.

• Arrive in Aguas Calientes on day one and spend the night there
• Trek or take the bus up to Machu Picchu early in the morning
• Prices range from $200-$350

1 Day Train

• Leave Cusco at 3/4 am, catching the first train to Aguas Calientes
• Take the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu
• Explore the citadel and return to Cusco a few hours later
• Prices from $300

Check out tour operators, compare prices and book the train here!

GETTING TO MACHU PICCHU BY BUS

2 day bus/walk.

• Take the bus from Cusco to Hidroelectrica (the last stop) via Santa Maria
• 3 hour trek alongside the train tracks to Aguas Calientes
• Spend the night in Aguas Calientes and either trek or get the bus up to the citadel early the next morning
• Walk back to Hidroelectrica and drive back to Cusco
• Can be dangerous because of the quality of the roads and driving
• Prices range from $150 to $200

MACHU PICCHU FACTS

• In Quechua, the language of the Incas, Machu Picchu means old mountain. Huayna Picchu, on the other hand, means young mountain.
• You can get your passport stamped for S/.1 at the entrance of Machu Picchu for an original souvenir.
• The building technique that the Incas are so famous for is called ashlar. Stones are cut in such a way that they fit perfectly together without even having to put mortar between them.
• Machu Picchu also served as an astronomical observatory. The sacred Intihuatana stone indicates the two equinoxes and twice per year, the sun sits directly over the stone creating no shadow.
• Because of erosion, only 500 people are allowed on the Inca Trail each day and in February, the trail gets closed for maintenance.

WHAT TO BRING TO MACHU PICCHU?

• Your passport! You cannot enter without it!
• Your ticket to Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu / Huayna Picchu Mountain.
• Some money for a passport stamp (s/1), bathroom (S/1) and for souvenirs you may want to buy as well as dinner or lunch at the restaurant (expensive).
• A camera (and maybe a selfie-stick).
• Good walking shoes.
• A lunchbox and some snacks.
• Sunscreen and/or small foldable umbrella depending on the weather.

WHAT NOT TO BRING TO MACHU PICCHU?

• Tripods are not allowed at the historical site. You can leave yours in the lockers outside.
• Professional cameras are not allowed. Permits for professional cameras are over $300 so avoid bringing a professional-looking camera in to save some money.
• You cannot come to Machu Picchu with your travel backpack. Only smaller models are allowed so leave your backpack in Aguas Calientes if you’re stuck with it. You can pay a hotel a small amount of money to take care of it.
• Walking sticks are not allowed unless the person needs them.
• Only small foldable umbrellas are allowed so avoid bringing a big umbrella with spikes.

MACHU PICCHU SAFETY TIPS

• If travelling to Machu Picchu on your own, you will probably go by minibus or taxi (at least part of the way). They often drive dangerously on narrow roads on steep cliffs with hairpin turns. Accidents happen all the time so try to avoid travelling like this or at least make sure not to drive after sun down or during rainy season.
• Tour operators need two certificates, one from the city and one from the tourist board. Make sure they have one of each hanging in their office.
• Like all touristic sites, keep an eye on your valuable items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is machu picchu.

Machu Picchu is located 80 km from the City of Cusco , Peru in South America. The nearest town is Aguas Calientes which you can get to by train or by walking.

What is Machu Picchu?

It’s the most impressive archaeological Inca ruin in South America, named a World Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1983, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the World. Machu Picchu is a city of stone, built in the middle of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, without the use or help of wheels or iron tools. Most of the citadel’s structures remain intact today, which is why many consider it the perfect example of the Incas’ brilliant engineering.

How to get to Machu Picchu?

You can get to Machu Picchu by bus, train or walking. Traveling from Lima to Cusco by bus is the best way to discover Peru and avoid altitude sickness.

Once in Cusco, you would have to make your way by train or bus to Aguas Calientes Town, where you finally can take a public bus to the Citadel.

You can also make your way on the Classic Inca Trail trek, the Inca Jungle Trek or other famous treks.

How high is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. Cusco , on the other hand, has an elevation of 3,400 meters. If you are coming from Lima we recommended making your way with Peru Hop buses to progressively acclimatize to the height.

How to get Machu Picchu Tickets?

You should buy your Machu Picchu Tickets at least 6 months before your trip. Tickets are sold on the official government website, can be paid with credit or debit cards and are NOT sold at the entrance gate.

What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

Consider visiting Machu Picchu from April through May and from September through October. The high-tourist season months are June, July and August when it doesn’t rain.

When was Machu Picchu discovered?

Machu Picchu wasn’t exactly ‘discovered’ because local people have always known about its existence. In 1911, the American explorer Hiram Bingham made public his findings and -wrongly- called it ‘The Lost City of the Incas’.

Nine years before Bingham had arrived, the Peruvian Agustin Lizárraga had found the ruins and left his signature on one of the walls of the Three Windows Temple in the Citadel. You can also discover Machu Picchu for yourself with Peru Hop passes.

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Home » The Ultimate Machu Picchu Travel Guide

The Ultimate Machu Picchu Travel Guide

• 23 January, 2022
• by Konsti Sobon
• Reading time: 9 minutes

The Lost City of Machu Picchu is one of the most iconic archeological treasures in all of South America. Tucked away in the cloud forests of the Andes, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders.

Today, its mountain top location, finely crafted stonework, and ancient history make Machu Picchu Peru’s most sought-after destination.

Ready for an adventure? Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know before you head off to one of the world’s most famous man-made wonders.

Plan Your Visit

Machu Picchu is the most popular Inca site in Peru, which means that you need to plan your visit well in advance.

When planning for Machu Picchu, there are some key milestones to hit before you start packing. For an enjoyable adventure, your first steps should be focused on deciding on the best time to go and how to best adjust to the altitude difference.

Here are some pointers to help you kick-start your planning.

The ancient citadel of Machu Picchu is open all year round. Before booking, though, it’s sensible to note how much rain (and slippery paths) you are willing to handle.

Peru has two main seasons: dry and wet. The peak travel season coincides with the region’s dry season – from April to September. During this time, the Machu Picchu weather is usually milder, making it easier and more comfortable to walk the ancient paths of the Incas.

Our travelers enjoying their time at Machu Picchu and making use of our guide’s great photography skills.

During Peru’s wet season (October/November to March), Machu Picchu, and the trails leading to it, are typically less crowded. During those months, rainfall and storms can be unpredictable and heavy, so this might not be the best time to hike to the site.

That said, rain at Machu Picchu rarely lasts for more than 2 hours, so whenever you choose to go, you’re unlikely to be covered in rain during your entire visit.

Note: When planning your itinerary, remember that the trails to Machu Picchu are closed during the entire month of February due to restoration work.

How To Get Acclimated

Altitude sickness is triggered by a rapid change in elevation. At higher altitude destinations, such as Machu Picchu, the oxygen is less dense and, if not properly acclimated, your body will have a tough time adapting to the lower air pressure and oxygen levels.

Because altitude sickness symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting, you’re going to want to acclimate before you embark on any adventure in Peru.

To let your body adjust, be sure to acclimate in Cusco (a captivating city near Machu Picchu) for at least a couple of days. Other tips to help you with high elevation include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids (before and during your stay in Peru)
• Stocking up on coca leaves and coca products
• Eating lightly, but including a sufficient amount of carbohydrates and vegetables
• Consulting your doctor/pharmacist on suitable altitude sickness medication

Top Sights to Visit

Machu Picchu is an archaeological gem and a fantastic example of the architecture, agriculture, and engineering of the Incas. Adding to that, the site is located atop a mountain ridge, between the two peaks of Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu.

Apart from the ancient citadel, those peaks are among the best sights to visit during the Machu Picchu day tour and witness the site from above.

This picture offers great overview of where Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu and the actual Machu Picchu site is located.

Machu Picchu Mountain

At Machu Picchu, you can opt for an additional hike to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (the two mountains situated in front and behind the site). Some of the main differences between Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu include the elevation level and the duration of the hike.

Machu Picchu Mountain sits at an elevation of around 3,082m (10,111ft) and climbing up to the top and back will take you around 2.5 – 3 hours. Huayna Picchu, on the other hand, has an elevation of 2,693m (8,835ft) and the hike takes 1.5 – 2 hours to complete.

Although you’ll need to purchase an extra ticket, hiking up Machu Picchu Mountain (as pictured below) offers an unforgettable view of the surrounding landscape.

Huayna Picchu

The Huayna Picchu Mountain rises in the northern area of Machu Picchu. It is also featured in the background of some of the most famous photographs of the site. Many historians believe that this mountain was a sacred place for performing religious ceremonies and giving offerings to the gods.

Just like the Machu Picchu Mountain, climbing up the Huayna Picchu Mountain will require a separate entrance ticket.

To get to the top, you will need to follow a strenuous trail with some narrow and steep sections. The panoramic view of the ancient Incan ruins, however, is something that you’re unlikely to forget.

The Sun Gate

The Sun Gate, also known as Inti Punku, is another site that deserves a visit. Offering a fantastic view over the whole of Machu Picchu, the Sun Gate hike is a fantastic alternative to Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu.

The viewpoint is located to the side of Machu Picchu Mountain at an elevation of 2,720m (8,924ft).

The Sun Gate is the only additional hike at Machu Picchu that is free and it’s absolutely worth it.

If you’ve embarked on one of the Inca Trail hikes, you will enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, where you’ll also get your first glimpse of the mysterious Lost City of the Incas.

If you’re coming from Aguas Calientes, you can get to Inti Punku once you’ve entered the site. From the Guardhouse at Machu Picchu, you can climb to the viewpoint in about 1,5 hours.

Trails to Machu Picchu

Some of the most mesmerizing scenery in the world can only be reached by foot, and Machu Picchu is no exception.

Undoubtedly, two of the most mesmerizing Machu Picchu treks are the Inca Trail and the Salkantay Trek. Here are some things you should know before booking your hike.

The Inca Trail is by far the most popular way of how to get to Machu Picchu .

The classic Inca Trail tours follow the route the ancient Incas took. As you hike your way to the ancient site, you’ll notice that a big portion of the original stonework along the way is still in place. You will also pass through mesmerizing mountains, alpine tundra, and cloud forests.

The Salkantay Trek is an excellent alternative to the Inca Trail tour. Although the Inca Trail offers more ruins along the road, the 5-day Salkantay Trek tour is often less crowded and offers nature-rich experiences with a wide variety of breathtaking scenery.

Hiking past the majestic Salkantay mountain and sleeping in the sky domes are some of the things that make this trip really unique.

Not for the faint of heart, the Salkantay Trek will take you to altitudes above 4,600m (15,091ft), the flora and fauna of the Andean jungle, and the sacred Salkantay Mountain before reaching Machu Picchu. Before hopping on your trip to Machu Picchu, check out which trail could be the best for you !

Food and Lodging

Whether you’re going on a day trip or a multi-day hike in the Salkantay Mountain, an overnight stay at Aguas Calientes is highly recommended if you want to experience Machu Picchu early in the morning.

Because of its proximity to Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes has a whole range of hotels, restaurants, cafes, and small shops.

It’s also good to know that food is not allowed inside the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Be sure to have a good breakfast before heading off.

Expert Tips

• Because Machu Picchu is a very popular destination, it’s best to book your tour as far in advance as possible.
• For additional hikes (such as the Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu), there is a limited number of tickets sold per day. Remember to book on time as spots aren’t guaranteed.
• If you plan to hike to Machu Picchu or visit the sites around it, wear proper trekking shoes to help avoid accidents.
• The weather in the Peruvian Andes can be unpredictable. Be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, and rain gear.
• Water is not available inside Machu Picchu. You can buy bottled water just outside the site or bring your own water bottle.

Which Tour Should I Choose?

Overall, your hike experience will depend on a number of factors, such as your fitness level, hiking experience, and your hike group’s approach.

To help you figure out the best itinerary for you, here’s our rundown of the most popular tours to Machu Picchu.

The train to Machu Picchu is one of the most special train rides ever for many travelers.

Day Tour to Machu Picchu

The day tour to Machu Picchu is the fastest way to get to the site. The tour starts at Cusco and a big portion of it is done by train. While this trip makes for a long day, the amazing sites that you’ll see are well worth the effort.

The main benefit of the day tour is that it gives travelers who want to visit just Machu Picchu – or are not up for a hike – a chance to explore and learn more about the site with an experienced tour guide.

With this in mind, there is a lot of traveling involved in a single day and you’ll need to leave your hotel as early as 2:45 am.

2-Day Tour: Overnight in Aguas Calientes

If you’re a little short on time, but still want to see the most important highlights of the area, we recommend the 2-day tour to Machu Picchu. Check out our post about why combining Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu is a must before planning your tours.

This is the perfect way to pack in a mini adventure, during which you will get to soak into the local Inca culture and get the right context before visiting the ancient citadel.

At the end of your tour to the awe-inspiring Sacred Valley on day 1, you will get to take the train to Aguas Calientes, where you can have a good night’s rest before heading off to Machu Picchu. Also, the cost of a Machu Picchu trip in 2022 with us will be much better!

Combining the Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu is one of the best tour combinations you can do.

Multi-Day Tours

The amount of breathtaking scenery and ruins accessible from Cusco leaves adventurers with no shortage of options. If you want to explore more of the area and local Peruvian culture and traditions , you should definitely consider a multi-day tour.

The Best of Cusco in 3 days is a tour that features trips to three different destinations – the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Rainbow Mountain (Palccoyo or Vinicunca). The tour allows you to choose the order of the trips as you see fit and, if preferred, take a day off in between.

The Best of Cusco in 4 days tour features all the trips and benefits of the 3-day tour plus a day trip to the mystical Humantay lake. With glistening turquoise waters set in front of a snowy mountain, the Humantay Lake is a perfect place to experience nature at its finest.

If you have some time to spare, the Best of Cusco in 5 days is an excellent choice. The tour includes all trips featured in the 4-day tour, as well as a Cusco City tour. During the Cusco City tour, you will explore Cusco’s must-visit sites without being rushed. Together with a professional guide, you’ll get to discover the city’s best spots and hidden gems.

Ready to Explore the Lost City of the Incas?

Whether you hike your way up to Machu Picchu through one of the ancient Incan trails or hop on a bus from Aguas Calientes, first impressions of the site rarely disappoint.

Taking a guided tour is a great way to bring the place to life, learn more about its history and the incredible Machu Picchu facts , and take a peek at the Inca’s astonishing ingenuity.

Feeling adventurous? Check out our Machu Picchu tours and find the best itinerary for your journey.

Related Tour

Private machu picchu 1-day tour by train from cusco.

A tour to Machu Picchu is what many people call their most beautiful experience in Perú…

• Machu Picchu expert guide with great photography skills.
• Reach the ruins before the crowds.

“Our Machu Picchu tour was absolutely perfect. No delays in the pickup, a proper organisation & communication prior to the tour, a competent & happy guide and of course a stunning site: Machu Picchu itself”

Omar Asif 5 May, 2022 at 10:22 am

This is very compact and useful! Thanks for the interesting insights and that will help us to plan our Peru trip.

Oliver from Exploor 5 May, 2022 at 1:30 pm

Thank you Omar, we’re happy to hear that the content helps! If there’s anything else you need, feel free to shoot us a message! 🙂

Jennifer Morley 13 March, 2022 at 5:26 pm

Which train company do you guys recommend, Peru Rail or Inka Rail?

Oliver from Exploor 14 March, 2022 at 9:35 pm

Hey Jennifer! We’d recommend and mainly work with Peru Rail! Feel free to check our post about the different train options . Hope this helps 🙂

Carol 28 February, 2022 at 12:33 pm

We are short on time and have around 4-6 days to visit Lima&Cusco.

Any tour recommendations or what would be the best tour itinerary for us?

Konsti from Exploor Peru 1 March, 2022 at 6:45 am

Hello Carol, thanks for reaching out to exploor! In case you are staying for only 4-6 days in Peru I would highly recommend you the following itinerary: 1. Arrival in Lima (probably afternoon) 2. Flight to Cusco (get used to the altitude) and discovering during our Cusco City tour the best sites such as San Pedro Market, San Blas neighborhood, Sacsayhuaman etc. 3. Sacred Valley 4. Machu Picchu 5. Rainbow Mountain Palccoyo or Vinicunca 6. Flight back In case you are interested to learn more about this adventure feel free to visit the tour page: https://www.exploorperu.com/tour/3-day-trips-from-cusco-sacred-valley-tour-machu-picchu-tour-alternative-rainbow-mountain-trek/ in addition to that you can request our guided Cusco City tour.

Let me know if you have any further questions. Best, team exploor

Josh 27 January, 2022 at 10:18 am

Veryyy interesting! This complete guide is really helpful for our trip to Peru in May. Is it possible to get assistance with finding the right hotels for Cusco and Lima?

Oliver from Exploor 28 January, 2022 at 5:52 pm

Hey Josh, glad the content is useful for you guys! Yes of course, feel free to send us an e-mail to [email protected] and we’d be happy to help you out. 🙂

Leave a comment

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10 Best Things To Do In Machu Picchu, Peru

No trip to Peru would be complete without a visit to the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu, and there are quite a few wonderful hikes and other things to do in Machu Picchu if you have the time.

This 15th century citadel of the Inca Empire is as fascinating as it is photogenic, and it’s still hard to believe people once lived in such an amazing place.

After snapping some photos at the iconic viewpoint, it’s well worth your time to tour the ancient ruins, meet the friendly llamas, and hike some of the spectacular mountain trails surrounding the Machu Picchu citadel.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the top 10 best things to do in Machu Picchu Peru!

Table of Contents show Best Things To Do In Machu Picchu 1. See the iconic viewpoint 2. Explore the ruins 3. Meet the llamas 4. Hike Huayna Picchu 5. Hike Machu Picchu Mountain 6. Hike Huchuy Picchu 7. See the Sun Gate 8. See the Inca bridge 9. Explore Machu Picchu Town 10. Hike the Inca Trail More Things To Do In Machu Picchu Best Machu Picchu Tours Where To Stay At Machu Picchu Best Time To Visit

Best Things To Do In Machu Picchu

1. see the iconic viewpoint.

When you arrive at the entrance to Machu Picchu, the first order of business is to see the iconic viewpoint at the Guardian’s House!

This is the first and best view anywhere in the Machu Picchu complex, and it’s where all of the amazing postcard photos are taken. From the edge of the terrace, you have a perfect panoramic view of the Machu Picchu ruins and the mountains in the background.

It’s almost impossible to take a bad picture of Machu Picchu here. If there happens to be fog or rain when you arrive, just wait awhile, because this is common early in the day and it usually clears up later in the morning.

Seeing this iconic viewpoint at the Guardian’s House is one of the first and best things to do in Machu Picchu!

Naturally this spot gets very crowded with tourists throughout the day, but there’s a lot of standing room on the terrace, so you usually won’t have to wait for photos. By afternoon, most of the tourist herds have thinned out.

The Guardian’s House is a modest little stone shack with a thatch roof, and like the name implies, it once served as a lookout post above the Inca citadel in ancient times.

To reach the Guardian’s House, make a left turn as you enter Machu Picchu and follow the signs uphill for about 15 minutes until you find the top of the terraces.

When you reach the viewpoint, you can stay awhile to take photos and enjoy the view, and then you can continue touring the rest of the ruins.

Green terraces surrounding the Guardian’s House

2. Explore the ruins

After you’ve seen the Machu Picchu ruins from above at the famous viewpoint, it’s time to start exploring them up close!

One of the first sights you’ll pass is the main gate of the city, which happens to be another popular photo spot since it beautifully frames the peak of Huayna Picchu mountain in the distance.

This was apparently an intentional design feature by the Incas.

3. Meet the llamas

Almost two dozen llamas currently live at Machu Picchu and walk the citadel grounds freely during the daytime, chomping on grass as they go.

These animals are furry, friendly, and will usually let you take pictures of them. Sometimes you’ll see little baby llamas hanging out with their parents too.

If you’re lucky, one of the llamas might even photobomb your pictures of Machu Picchu by posing in the foreground, giving you a truly epic photo opportunity!

Llamas were domesticated by the Native American people for thousands of years. Their poop made good fertilizer, and the wool was used for clothing.

Our favorite Machu Picchu llama. There are dozens of friendly llamas wandering freely in Machu Picchu!

4. Hike Huayna Picchu

The Huayna Picchu hike is a bucket list adventure that takes you to the top of Wayna Picchu (the iconic mountain behind Machu Picchu), and at the summit you get to see original Inca buildings and epic panoramic views.

Don’t be too scared by the nickname — even though these have been dubbed the Machu Picchu Stairs of Death (for their steepness and narrowness), there have been very few accidents over the years, and overall it’s quite safe as long as you don’t goof off.

In spite of its difficulty, this trail is in high demand and it’s limited to only 400 hikers per day, so you often have to book several months in advance to get a spot.

If you only do one hike in Peru, it should be this one. The Huayna Picchu hike is undoubtedly one of the top 10 best things to do in Machu Picchu!

Read More: Huayna Picchu Hike

The dizzying Machu Picchu ‘Stairs of Death’

The peak of Wayna Picchu mountain

5. Hike Machu Picchu Mountain

If you want a challenge, try climbing ‘Machu Picchu Mountain.’ This is the highest peak in the area, and it’s the toughest to climb. The summit elevation is 3,082 meters (10,111 feet).

The hike takes about 3 hours total, and there’s quite a bit of elevation gain (around 550 meters or 1,800 feet), so it’s a tough uphill slog all the way. It’s challenging, but not dangerous.

This mountain is not as sought after as Huayna Picchu, but it’s a great hike nonetheless, with stunning views of the whole Machu Picchu area from high above.  

6. Hike Huchuy Picchu

The Huchuy Picchu mountain trek is a nice option for people wanting a short, easy hike in Peru that gives you great views of Machu Picchu from above.

It’s a new trail that was just opened in 2021, and it takes you along a 15th century Inca stone staircase to the top of a peak called Huchuy Picchu (which means ‘little mountain’ in the Quechua language).

This hike may not be as esteemed as the one at Huayna Picchu mountain, but it’s quite a bit easier, and the views from this mountain summit are similarly wonderful.

Entrance tickets are required for this hike, so you’ll need to grab these in advance by reserving them online.

Read More: Huchuy Picchu Hike

A stone staircase on the Huchuy Picchu hike

Summit views at Huchuy Picchu

7. See the Sun Gate

Also known as Inti Punku, this is a moderate hike to a scenic viewpoint at an Incan gate, which originally served as the main entrance to Machu Picchu. Because of its location on the ridge, it’s also believed that the rising sun would pass through this gate at certain times of the year.

Hiking to this sun gate from the Machu Picchu citadel takes about 2 hours round trip, and there’s a decent elevation gain of 290 meters (950 feet). However, the trail is quite a bit easier than Machu Picchu Mountain, and overall it’s one of the more tame hikes in the area.

At the top is a nice viewpoint where you can see Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains and valleys. The view here is similar to what you see at the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain, although it’s not quite as high, at 2,720 meters (8,924 feet).

For hikers arriving from the Inca Trail, this gate is one of the last stops on the trail, and it’s the first place where you can see the citadel of Machu Picchu.  

8. See the Inca bridge

It’s well worth an easy little detour to see the bridge that once served as a secret back entrance to Machu Picchu.

Nowadays it’s not possible to walk on the bridge for safety reasons, but it’s still a fascinating sight to see. The bridge is a simple wooden plank spanning a gap on the cliff with a 600 meter drop below it, and in ancient times they would retract the bridge, making it impossible for invaders to enter Machu Picchu.

The short path to the Inca Bridge starts near the Guardian’s House (at the famous Machu Picchu viewpoint), and you can reach the bridge in about 15 minutes of walking.  

9. Explore Machu Picchu Town

Most travelers skip over Aguas Calientes, the tiny tourist town below Machu Picchu, but it’s worth a bit of exploring if you have time.

Also known as ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’, this little town is packed with hotels, restaurants, and shops to check out, and there are also hot springs where you can relax after hiking at Machu Picchu. A couple of great eating places are Cala Tratoria and Inka Wasi Restaurant .

Aguas Calientes can be a great place to buy souvenirs. Sure, the prices are a little bit on the high side compared to other places like Cusco and Ollantaytambo, but you can still haggle, and the selection is immense. We bought lots of neat goodies in Machu Picchu Town that we never saw anywhere else in Peru.

If you want to step out of town and enjoy nature, you should visit the nearby Mandor Valley, where you can see birds, butterflies, flowers, and a nice waterfall.

You can find all kinds of Peru souvenirs in the town of Aguas Calientes (aka ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’)

10. Hike the Inca Trail

Most visitors to Machu Picchu will arrive the easy way, coming by train and then taking the tourist bus up the curvy road to the citadel.

However, if you really want to make a grand entrance to Machu Picchu, consider the Inca Trail. This is an iconic multi-day hike in Peru that takes 1-7 days (depending on where you start), and it ends at the Machu Picchu citadel.

Much of the trail is on roads that were originally built by the Inca Empire, and along the way you can see old Inca ruins, blue alpine lakes, and some of the highest glacier covered mountains around Cusco.

This is a great way to combine Machu Picchu with some of the other top sights in the area, and you get to relive a bit of Inca history at the same time.

Book Now: Inca Trail 4-Day Trekking Package

More Things To Do In Machu Picchu

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 best things to do in Machu Picchu Peru!

Don’t forget to check out my other Peru travel blogs and hiking guides before you go!  

Best Machu Picchu Tours

If you want a prearranged tour for your visit to Machu Picchu, there are plenty of good online options.

GetYourGuide has full day tours of Machu Picchu starting from Cusco (private or with a group), as well as spectacular mountain hikes like Huayna Picchu , which requires an advance booking anyway since it's so popular.

We used this company for lots of tours and activities in Peru, and they're great. Highly recommended!

Where To Stay At Machu Picchu

Hotel Ferre

Flower's House

Hotel Taypikala

Machu Picchu Land

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Machu Picchu depends on what you’re looking for:

☁ Rainy season runs from November to April. This isn’t the best time for hiking, although I wouldn’t write it off completely. We’ve done lots of hikes at Machu Picchu in the rainy season and generally had fine weather. The rain usually comes in the afternoons or evenings, so it’s not too disruptive, but bring a poncho just in case.

☀ Dry season runs from May to October. The days are more sunny during this time, and there’s a lot less rain. This is generally the best time to do hikes at Machu Picchu. However, it’s also the high season and the busiest time to visit, so you’ll need to book everything well in advance, especially if you plan to do one of the special hikes.

Keep in mind Machu Picchu is located in a tropical cloud forest, so it doesn’t always follow the national weather patterns of Peru, and rain can come at any time, although it usually doesn’t last too long.

Happy travels! Regardless of when you decide to visit Machu Picchu, you’re sure to see some spectacular sights!

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Thank you for sharing this amazing list .

One of the most beautiful places. Incredibly sunny and nice to visit. Recommend!

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• Description

Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Sanctuaire historique de Machu Picchu

À 2 430 m d'altitude, dans un site montagneux d'une extraordinaire beauté, au milieu d'une forêt tropicale, Machu Picchu a probablement été la création urbaine la plus stupéfiante de l'Empire inca à son apogée : murailles, terrasses et rampes gigantesques sculptent les escarpements rocheux dont elles paraissent le prolongement. Le cadre naturel, sur le versant oriental des Andes, fait partie du bassin supérieur de l'Amazone, riche d'une flore et d'une faune très variées.

معابد ماشو بيتشو التاريخيّة

على ارتفاع 2430 مترا، وفي موقعٍ جبلي في غاية الجمال، وسط غابة مدارية، من المرجح ان يكون ماشو بيتشو الابداع البشري الأبهى في أوجّ عظمة عهد الإنكا: أسوار مرتفعة وباحات ودرابزينات عملاقة تنحت الصخر لتبدو وكأنها امتداد طبيعي لها. ويشكّل الاطار الطبيعي على المنحنى الشرقي للأنديز، جزءًا لا يتجزّأ من حوض الأمازون الداخلي الغني بنباتات وحيوانات متنوعة.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

马丘比丘古庙位于一座非常美丽的高山上，海拔2430 米，为热带丛林所包围。该庙可能是印加帝国全盛时期最辉煌的城市建筑，那巨大的城墙、台阶、扶手都好像是在悬崖峭壁自然形成的一样。古庙矗立在安第斯山脉东边的斜坡上，环绕着亚马逊河上游的盆地，那里的动植物非常丰富。

Santuario histórico de Machu Picchu

Ubicado a 2.430 metros de altura en un paraje de gran belleza, en medio de un bosque tropical de montaña, el santuario de Machu Picchu fue probablemente la realización arquitectónica más asombrosa del Imperio Inca en su apogeo. Sus murallas, terrazas y rampas gigantescas dan la impresión de haber sido esculpidas en las escarpaduras de la roca, como si formaran parte de ésta. El marco natural, situado en la vertiente oriental de los Andes, forma parte de la cuenca superior del Amazonas, que posee una flora y fauna muy variadas.

マチュ・ピチュの歴史保護区

source: NFUAJ

Historisch heiligdom Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu ligt 2.430 meter boven de zeespiegel in het midden van een tropisch regenwoud, in een buitengewoon mooie omgeving. Het was waarschijnlijk de meest verbazingwekkende stedelijke creatie op het hoogtepunt van het Incarijk. Het lijkt of haar reusachtige muren, terrassen en glooiingen op een natuurlijke manier zijn uitgehouwen in de rotsformaties. De stad is een zeldzaam voorbeeld van hoe men ruw, bij de omgeving passend materiaal gebruikte binnen de architectuur. De natuurlijke omgeving van Machu Picchu – op de oostelijke hellingen van de Andes – omvat het bovenste stroomgebied van de Amazone met zijn rijke diversiteit aan flora en fauna.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief Synthesis

Embedded within a dramatic landscape at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization. Recognized for outstanding cultural and natural values, the mixed World Heritage property covers 32,592 hectares of mountain slopes, peaks and valleys surrounding its heart, the spectacular archaeological monument of “ La Ciudadela ” (the Citadel) at more than 2,400 meters above sea level. Built in the fifteenth century Machu Picchu was abandoned when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was not until 1911 that the archaeological complex was made known to the outside world.

The approximately 200 structures making up this outstanding religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centre are set on a steep ridge, crisscrossed by stone terraces. Following a rigorous plan the city is divided into a lower and upper part, separating the farming from residential areas, with a large square between the two. To this day, many of Machu Picchu’s mysteries remain unresolved, including the exact role it may have played in the Incas’ sophisticated understanding of astronomy and domestication of wild plant species.

The massive yet refined architecture of Machu Picchu blends exceptionally well with the stunning natural environment, with which it is intricately linked. Numerous subsidiary centres, an extensive road and trail system, irrigation canals and agricultural terraces bear witness to longstanding, often on-going human use. The rugged topography making some areas difficult to access has resulted in a mosaic of used areas and diverse natural habitats. The Eastern slopes of the tropical Andes with its enormous gradient from high altitude “Puna” grasslands and Polylepis thickets to montane cloud forests all the way down towards the tropical lowland forests are known to harbour a rich biodiversity and high endemism of global significance. Despite its small size the property contributes to conserving a very rich habitat and species diversity with remarkable endemic and relict flora and fauna.

Criterion (i): The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is the articulating centre of its surroundings, a masterpiece of art, urbanism, architecture and engineering of the Inca Civilization. The working of the mountain, at the foot of the Huaya Picchu, is the exceptional result of integration with its environment, the result from a gigantic effort as if it were an extension of nature.

Criterion (iii): The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a unique testimony of the Inca Civilization and shows a well-planned distribution of functions within space, territory control, and social, productive, religious and administrative organization.

Criterion (vii): The historic monuments and features in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are embedded within a dramatic mountain landscape of exceptional scenic and geomorphological beauty thereby providing an outstanding example of a longstanding harmonious and aesthetically stunning relationship between human culture and nature.

Criterion (ix): Covering part of the transition between the High Andes and the Amazon Basin the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu shelters a remarkably diverse array of microclimates, habitats and species of flora and fauna with a high degree of endemism. The property is part of a larger area unanimously considered of global significance for biodiversity conservation.

The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, as the natural and human-made attributes and values that sustain its Outstanding Universal value are mostly contained within its boundaries. The visual ensemble linking the main archaeological site of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu with its striking mountain environment remains mostly intact.

It is desirable to extend the property to encompass an even broader spectrum of human-land relationships, additional cultural sites, such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and a larger part of the Urubamba watershed would contribute to strengthening the overall integrity. In particular, the value for the conservation of the many rare and endemic species of flora and fauna would benefit from the inclusion or a stronger management consideration of the adjacent lands. A considerable number of well-documented threats render the property vulnerable to losing its future integrity and will require permanent management attention.

Authenticity

Upon the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu at the beginning of the sixteenth century, vegetation growth and isolation ensured the conservation of the architectural attributes of the property. Although the design, materials and structures have suffered slight changes due to the decay of the fabric, the conditions of authenticity have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911, and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed practices and international standards that have maintained the attributes of the property.

P rotection and management requirements

The state-owned Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is an integral part of Peru’s national protected areas system and enjoys protection through several layers of a comprehensive legal framework for both cultural and natural heritage. The boundaries of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are clearly defined and the protected area is surrounded by a buffer zone exceeding the size of the property.

The Management Unit of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM) was established in 1999 to lead the strategies contained in the Master Plans, which are the regularly updated governing documents for the management of the property. UGM was reactivated in 2011 and is comprised of representatives of the Ministries of Culture, Environment and Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Regional Government of Cusco, serving as the President of the Executive Committee, and the local municipality of Machu Picchu. A platform bringing together key governmental representatives at all levels is indispensable for the management of a property which forms part of Peru’s very identity and is the country’s primary domestic and international tourist destination.

Notwithstanding the adequate legislative and formal management framework, there are important challenges to the inter-institutional governance and the effectiveness of management and protection of the property. The dispersed legislation would benefit from further harmonization and despite existing efforts the involvement of various ministries and governmental levels ranging from local to national remains a complex task, including in light of the sharing of the significant tourism revenues. Tourism itself represents a double-edged sword by providing economic benefits but also by resulting in major cultural and ecological impacts. The strongly increasing number of visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be matched by an adequate management regulating access, diversifying the offer and efforts to fully understand and minimize impacts. A larger appropriate and increasing share of the significant tourism revenues could be re-invested in planning and management. The planning and organization of transportation and infrastructure construction, as well as the sanitary and safety conditions for both tourists and new residents attracted by tourism requires the creation of high quality and new long-term solutions, and is a significant ongoing concern.

Since the time of inscription consistent concerns have been expressed about ecosystem degradation through logging, firewood and commercial plant collection, poor waste management, poaching, agricultural encroachment in the absence of clear land tenure arrangements, introduced species and water pollution from both urban waste and agro-chemicals in the Urubamba River, in addition from pressures derived from broader development in the region. It is important to remember that the overall risks are aggravated by the location in a high altitude with extreme topography and weather conditions and thus susceptibility to natural disasters. Continuous efforts are needed to comply with protected areas and other legislation and plans and prevent further degradation. There is also great potential for restoring degraded areas.

• Machu Picchu
• Protectedplanet.net

Miscellaneous Documents

• Arqueología del Santuario Histórico Nacional y Sitio Patrimonio Mundial de Machu Picchu: Estado de la Conservación y Propuestas para un Plan Maestro 1993

State of Conservation (SOC)

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• Machu Picchu: complete guide to fully enjoy your trip

Take this recommendations so that you have an unforgettable experience.

Machupicchu, Cusco Credit: Eduardo Cayo / PromPerú

peru.travel

Reaching the most important tourist destination in Peru is not an easy task. Its special geographical location, added to the large number of people it receives daily, require some planning, and also, a  a series of recommendations so that the experience is totally pleasant, without going over for any kind of setbacks.

The reason: this destination presents a wide variety of offers and packages that include all kinds of routes, accommodation and timetables, so a precise search is essential in order to choose the best option. To do this, we invite you to take a look this guide with useful tips so that you can enjoy this archaeological sanctuary to its fullest.

When to visit?

Many tourists who arrive in Machu Picchu usually coincide with sudden rains and a cloudy climate that sometimes prevents them from enjoying the wonderful view that the valley presents. To avoid this happening to you, the ideal time to visit the Inca citadel is between April and October, given that during these months the Cusco region goes through a dry season full of sunny days with temperatures ranging from 20° C during the day and 10° C at night.

However, if you go between November and March, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have a negative experience. During these months you could take advantage of a smaller presence of visitors and also enjoy a great green landscape often accompanied by a shimmering rainbow.

How to get there?

There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu. The fastest and most comfortable is by train with an approximate travel time of three hours. The trains depart every morning from Ollantaytambo and arrives in Aguas Calientes (closest town to the citadel), offering all kinds of services and amenities. If you wish to acclimatize before leaving, Aguas Calientes has multiple lodgings and a craft market for those who choose to take a day of rest. Otherwise, there are minivans that would take you to Machu Picchu if you prefer to continue.

Another alternative is going on foot along the road. Many tourists reserve this route in advance for everything it represents. If you are a lover of trekking and adventure, this experience will undoubtedly leave you ecstatic. It’s about a three to five-day excursion that will demand your maximum effort but it will be worth it because of the beautiful landscapes you will enjoy.

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to Machu Picchu is by train, with an approximate travel time of three hours. Credit: Shakedown Team / PromPerú.

How to hire a tour guide?

Due to the extension of Machu Picchu and in order to safeguard its integrity for visitors, it is mandatory to hire the service of a tour guide. This person not only will provide you with information you may did not know about the history of the Incas and the enigmatic origin of the citadel, but will assist you under any unforeseen event that may occur.

What to include in your backpack?

To enjoy a walk through the sanctuary, you need to take your passport or identity card with you and pack some comfortable items such as lightweight trekking shoes, a raincoat (in case of rain), sunscreen, a camera, repellent and a bottle of water that will help you cool down during and after the tour.

Be a responsible tourist

Finally, the most important recommendation for all visitors is to take care and preserve this complex. When visiting this sacred and historical place, try to comply with all the disposals and security measures without violating the warnings and prohibitions. Visitors must be aware of the cultural value that Machu Picchu represents so that future generations can enjoy and learn from its history.

Sources: El País / La Nación / Peru.com / El Mundo Ok / Boleto Machu Picchu / Guia de viajes

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Machu picchu tours: how to get there and tips for visiting.

Here is everything you need to know to plan a trip to Machu Picchu.

How to Get to Machu Picchu

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A hike around Machu Picchu is a must-do if you're visiting Cusco, Peru.

Note: Some of the below destinations may be affected by the civil unrest in Peru. Check with the U.S. Department of State before traveling.

Machu Picchu is thought to be one of the largest and most impressive Incan cities of its time. Today a UNESCO World Heritage Site with expansive ruins open to visitors, it sits high on a peak in the Peruvian Andes and is accessed via train or on foot. Here are some tips to help you navigate a visit to this incredible archeological site.

What is Machu Picchu? Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan city that was abandoned by the Incas after the Spanish conquest. The ruins feature about 200 structures that were used for religious, agricultural, astronomical and ceremonial purposes, though exactly how remains a mystery. It's believed that between 300 and 1,000 people inhabited the city and the area was devoted to the worship of the sun god.

Where is Machu Picchu? Machu Picchu is located in the Peruvian Andes within a tropical mountain forest at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level. Cusco , the nearest major city, is less than 50 miles southeast of Machu Picchu.

When was Machu Picchu built? Historians believe that Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century.

How do you get to Machu Picchu? Machu Picchu can be reached a variety of ways, including hiking the Inca Trail with a tour company, by train or by bus.

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu? The site is located in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, where the rainy season runs from November to March. To avoid rain, travelers may want to visit during its dry season from April to October. Travelers say that June through August tends to be the busiest, so opting for shoulder months like May or October may help avoid crowds.

Know Before You Go

• What: Machu Picchu tours
• When: Machu Picchu is accessible daily with entrances from 6 a.m. to noon or noon to 5:30 p.m. During the month of February, the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance and is inaccessible to visitors.
• Cost: Entrance tickets cost approximately 152 Peruvian soles (about $45) for adults; 77 soles (around $23) for students.
• Must-know tip: To tour Machu Picchu, you must purchase your ticket online in advance and print it out as no tickets are sold at the site. Experts and fellow travelers recommend purchasing your ticket several months in advance as there only 2,500 visitors allowed per day. If you choose to visit with an organized tour company, the company will take care of reserving and purchasing the ticket for you.
• Website: https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio

When visiting Machu Picchu, you will be given a specific time you can enter the site. Key attractions include the Temple of the Sun, the Room of the Three Windows, the water irrigation system and the Royal Mausoleum. There is an additional fee to visit the mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, which surround the old city, should you want to hike trails there. After you purchase your ticket – either to Machu Picchu or the site with one of the mountains – be sure to print your ticket and bring it with you along with identification, such as a passport.

Restrooms are located outside the entrance and cost about 2 soles (around 60 cents) to use; there are no restrooms within Machu Picchu. There's no visitor center, but Peru's Ministry of Culture does have an office in Aguas Calientes, a town that acts as the gateway to Machu Picchu. There are also a variety of restaurants in Aguas Calienties to refuel after your trip. Be aware, you also may not be allowed to bring single-use plastics (like sandwich bags) or large bags into the site. If you do bring a large bag, there is a bag storage facility near the site's entrance where you can leave your bag for a small fee as you explore the site.

Machu Picchu is located less than 50 miles northwest of Cusco, a Peruvian city which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cusco can make a great base for your visit to Machu Picchu as many organized tours to the site begin here.

Since Machu Picchu and Cusco sit at high elevations, almost 8,000 feet above sea level, travelers should prepare for altitude sickness. Talk to your doctor before your trip to make sure your body can handle the altitude change. When you arrive, help your body adjust by getting plenty of rest for the first few days, avoiding alcoholic beverages and drinking lots of water to remain hydrated. You should also plan to wear insect repellent and plenty of sunscreen for the trek. Travelers also recommend dressing in layers and wearing pants and long sleeves, even if the weather is warm, as the mosquitos are known to be relentless.

Tour Options

Though you can opt to visit Machu Picchu (and make the necessary travel arrangements) by yourself, a guided tour can help streamline the process. Multiple tour operators offer daytrips to Machu Picchu. The majority of these tours originate in Cusco and leave early in the morning (at or before 5 a.m.). You'll be taken via bus to the town of Ollantaytambo, where groups board trains to Aguas Calientes. From Aguas Calientes, groups board a bus to Machu Picchu. Travelers generally spend approximately two hours at the site before they begin the trip back to Cusco. Exact tour prices vary, though you can expect to spend approximately $300 per person (including train tickets, bus fare and a guided tour of the site). Travelers generally enjoy the tours, extolling the knowledgeable guides, and appreciate the ease by which they could see Machu Picchu. Others caution selecting your tour company carefully as experiences can vary wildly from company to company.

Travelers can also opt to hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu on their own via the Carretera Hiram Bingham. The approximately 4-mile journey is a steep climb and can be completed in around 90 minutes. Though an option, most travelers say the walk is long, difficult and lacking in scenery.

Tourists who have ample time, or have a true adventure streak, can hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The approximately 25-mile trail takes about four days to hike and ends at Machu Picchu. To hike the Inca Trail, you must go with a tour company or hire a guide, as it is no longer permitted to hike the trail on your own. Keep in mind that the trail closes each February for maintenance. Tours can last as little as two days (for an abbreviated journey along the trail) or more than a week to experience additional Peruvian sites.

There are a variety of other attractions and ancient sites nearby Machu Picchu that you may want to add to your itinerary. Titicaca Lake, located at more than 12,000 feet above sea level, is the largest lake by volume in South America. The town of Cusco also has much to see, including cathedrals , temples and a plaza used in Incan times , along with many archeological sites. Take advantage of the Cusco Tourist Ticket (also known as Boleto Turistico del Cusco), which grants access to many of Cusco's attractions for one fee.

Getting There

You can reach Machu Picchu by foot, train or bus, though if arriving by train, your ride will end in Aguas Calientes and you will need to ride a bus or hike approximately 4 miles to access the site. You can take a train from one of several stations near Cusco to the city of Aguas Calientes and then ride a bus to Machu Picchu. (Note: Since these train stations are outside Cusco city proper, you'll need to take a bus to get to them). The train ride via Peru Rail takes about four hours and you can choose from a variety of train types, each with a different price point to accommodate any travel budget. Tickets for Peru Rail are available at PeruRail.com.

You can buy bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in advance in Cusco at the Consettur offices, which helps you avoid lines at the actual bus stop. Buses depart from Aguas Calientes approximately every 15 minutes beginning at 5:30 a.m. daily until 3:30 p.m. Visitors recommend getting in line for the bus several hours before your scheduled entrance time at Machu Picchu as lines can be extremely long. Some travelers report getting in line three hours before their scheduled entrance time. You'll also likely encounter lines to take the bus from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes.

Additional tour options:

• CuscoPeru : Full-Day Private Machu Picchu Guided Tour from Cusco. View & Book Tickets »
• Viajes Pacifico : Machu Picchu Day Trip. View & Book Tickets »
• Viajes Peru : Day Tour to Machu Picchu The Inca City. View & Book Tickets »
• Machupicchu Latin America : 2-Day Tour: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Train. View & Book Tickets »
• Inkayni Peru Tours : Full day. View & Book Tickets »

Looking for more information on Machu Picchu? Check out the U.S. News Travel Cusco guide .

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , Peru

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The Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

 Chris VR / TripSavvy

If you're traveling to Peru chances are your plans could include a visit to Machu Picchu. After all, the ancient archaeological site is the most visited tourist attraction in the entire country, drawing more than a million travelers each year.   The best time to visit Machu Picchu is May to June or September to October, when the weather is nice and crowds are thin, but the site is well worth a visit any time of the year.

History of Machu Picchu

Dubbed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World , Machu Picchu is the rare tourist attraction that actually lives up to its massive hype. Located 50 miles northwest of the Peruvian city of Cusco , the ancient mountaintop citadel was originally built sometime around 1450 for the Incan emperor Pachacuti. A century later however, the site was abruptly abandoned for unknown reasons.  

For centuries the fortress was unknown to the outside world until an American explorer by the name of Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911. He spent the next several years excavating the site from the surrounding jungle and mapping its walls and buildings. Bingham's discovery fired the imagination of people across the globe, turning Machu Picchu into one of the best known archeological sites on the planet.

Later, Machu Picchu would be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and would begin welcoming tourists. Most come via a train out of Cusco, although the more adventurous will hike the Inca Trail to arrive at the fortress via an old road that was used by the Inca themselves.

Visiting Machu Picchu

Nestled high in the Andes mountains, Machu Picchu is open to visitors all year round. That means you can make plans to visit the site no matter when you will be in Peru. Of course, what part of the year is best to accommodate your specific needs depends on several factors, including weather, size of the crowds you're willing to deal with, and how you want to get there.

Visiting During Rainy Season

The rainy season in Peru runs from November into April, bringing gray clouds, frequent rain showers, and the occasional storm with it. In fact, it rains nearly every day during this period, which keeps crowds to a minimum, but can also make a Machu Picchu visit a very soggy affair. On the other hand, the rainy season also brings the warmest weather too, which means that conditions are generally comfortable when the rain isn't falling.

While rain is an ever-present threat at this time of the year, the upside is that the number of visitors to the site is much lower. That makes it easier to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace, although you'll definitely want to pack a rain jacket .

Of special note, January through March are the absolute rainiest of all of the months, so keep that in mind as you make your travel plans.  

Visiting During Dry Season

Peru's dry season tends to run from about mid-April to the end of October, with cooler air, bright blue skies, and plenty of sunshine dominating the forecast. The improved weather tends to usher in an influx of visitors to Machu Picchu as well, with more travelers arriving at the site on a daily basis. Cooler temperatures are also a part of the dry season however, particularly in the early morning and later evening. Rain showers aren't completely out of the question either and heavy afternoon mists occur on a regular basis too.

Travelers visiting during this time of the year have a better chance of enjoying a clear, sunny day, although they'll have to deal with larger crowds as well. If you don't mind sharing Machu Picchu with a few thousand of your closest friends, this might be a good time to go.

Visiting in High Season

The high season for Machu Picchu — which is to say its busiest period in terms of number of visitors — comes in July and August. Those months fall right in the middle of the dry season and generally have the most stable and predictable weather of the entire year. Of course, that is exactly why most people choose that time to visit the mountain fortress, leading to some of the largest crowds found at the site all year long.

If you absolutely don't want to deal with crowds, than avoid going during these months. However, if your primary goal is to have the best chance at good weather, than this is when you should book your trip. Just be prepared to wait in line and share the space with plenty of others.

Visiting in Shoulder Season

The so-called shoulder season is when travelers can expect the best mix of weather and crowds, with a good chance of dry conditions and a fewer people. For Machu Picchu the shoulder season takes place in May, June, September, and October. During those months, the chance of rain remains at a minimum and while the crowds remain large, they are not nearly as massive as those found during the high season.

Those looking to optimize their time in Machu Picchu, while still giving themselves the best chance at good weather, the shoulder season is a safe pick. There is a high likelihood that you'll avoid rain and the site won't be completely overrun with other travelers.

Hiking the Inca Trail

As already mentioned, Machu Picchu is open year round and travelers can make plans to visit during any month of the year. But if your goal is to hike the Inca Trail to Incan city you'll want to avoid visiting in February. The trail is actually shut down for the entire month to perform routine maintenance on the route to ensure that it stays safe, scenic, and sanitary. You'll just have to book your trek in one of the other months of the year based on the weather and the size of the crowd you want to contend with.

Best Time of Day

No matter what month of year you choose to visit Machu Picchu your experience can be altered substantially depending on what time of the day you go. The site is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. each and every day, with the largest crowds arriving later in the morning and staying until mid-afternoon.

Savvy travelers can arrive there first thing in the morning and take advantage of the smaller crowds or plan to get there late in the day as other tourists begin to filter out. Taking advantage of this strategy may mean you have to book a night at one of the local hotels, but it could be totally worth it in order to spend time in such an iconic destination with fewer people around.

The best time to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu is in the shoulder season, either between May and June or between September and October.

Peru's rainy season lasts from November to April, which can make the hike to Machu Picchu wet and muddy. However, crowds tend to to be much thinner.

Machu Picchu experiences its busiest season in July and August, because these months fall right in the middle of the dry season and the weather is more predictable.

Peru Telegraph. "How many tourists visited Machu Picchu in 2018?" Retrieved February 12, 2021.

Ancient History Encyclopedia. "Machu Picchu." Retrieved February 12, 2021.

Weather Spark. "Average Weather in Cusco, Peru, Year Round." Retrieved February 12, 2021.

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A First Timer’s Guide to Visiting Machu Picchu, Peru

There are a few useful things to know before visiting Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. In this blog post we’ve collected them together, including where to buy your tickets, visitor number restrictions, ticket prices, circuit options and what you can and cannot bring with you.

There are also multiple ways you can reach Machu Picchu from Cusco which we’ve detailed in this blog post . The list includes hiking, trekking and also non-hiking options, so make sure to give it a read before your visit.

If you’d like to see our adventures, then check out the Machu Picchu video on our  YouTube Channel. For more Peru videos check out our Peru Playlist .

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something. Clicking these links won’t cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! Learn more about our affiliate policy.

Table of Contents

Introducing Machu Picchu

Tucked away to the northwest of Cusco, Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

According to historians, Machu Picchu was built by the Inca. The site consists of more than 150 buildings including houses, temples, sanctuaries and baths.

Whilst it was built in the 15th century nobody really knew about the site until Hiram Bingham found it in 1911. Although, based on some evidence, he probably wasn’t the first one to have been to the site since it was abandoned. However, he was more vocal about his discovery and wrote a book called  ‘The Lost City of the Incas’  that gained a lot of attention and started bringing in visitors.

Many believe that Machu Picchu was a royal estate and a sacred site for the Inca nobles. Based on the stunning landscape surrounding the site, we can totally see why Inca leaders would pick this spot for their estate.

Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit Machu Picchu every year, making it the most visited place in the whole of Peru.

How to Get to Machu Picchu from Abroad

If you’re arriving from a foreign country, you’ll need to get to Lima , the capital city of Peru and then to Cusco .

1. How to Get to Lima

There are two main ways to reach Lima: by plane or by bus, depending on how far you’re coming from.

By plane  – Obviously the easiest and least time consuming way to reach Lima is by flying to Jorge Chavez International Airport. Depending on where you’re coming from, there are many direct flights between Lima and other major cities in North, South and Central America. From Europe you can fly direct to Lima from Amsterdam, Paris or Madrid.

Top Tip  – Book your flight ticket with  WayAway,  a flight aggregator that provides you with the best rates on airline tickets.

Click here to get 10% off from your WayAway Plus membership plan,  which gives cashback on flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, and more.

By bus – If you’re coming from neighbouring countries, then you can opt to take an international bus to Lima too. There are a lot of different companies that provide these services such as Peru Hop , Transzela and Grupo Ormeño .

Bus travel between countries in South America is a popular and affordable way to get from A to B for locals and backpackers alike. Travelling by bus will also give you the chance to stop at other places of interest along the way. Our main online sources that helped us to find bus routes and companies operating to and from our next destinations were  Busbud.com  and Rome2Rio .

Are you planning where to go next in Peru? If so, then make sure to read our detailed guide on how to travel by bus in Peru.

2. How to Get from Lima to Cusco

Cusco is basically the tourist capital of Peru and the closest big city to Machu Picchu. There are a few ways to get there from Lima.

If you’re short on time, you can consider flying to Cusco. However, if you have more time, we recommend getting to Cusco over the course of a week or more, so that you can stop at some unmissable locations along the  coastal regions of Peru ,  Arequipa  and   Lake Titicaca.

Cusco has an airport called Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport that offers both domestic and a few international flights. You can fly direct to Cusco from Lima and other cities such as Arequipa, Trujillo, Juliaca, Ayacucho, and Puerto Maldonado. The only international destination where you can fly directly to Cusco is from Santiago, Chile. Airlines that operate at this airport are: Avianca, LATAM Peru, Sky Airline Peru, and JetSmart Peru.

By Private Bus (Peru Hop)

If you’re on a south of Peru tour, then  booking a Peru Hop bus pass  might be a great option for you. It’s a safe and favoured bus company by many and has lots of perks which you can read about in our  bus guide to Peru.  Peru Hop buses normally travel from  Lima  to  Paracas , then to  Huacachina   in one day. The bus leaves Huacachina the next day to  Nazca , where you can get an overnight bus to  Arequipa   to visit the  Colca Canyon.  From Arequipa, you can even travel to Puno and visit  Lake Titicaca  before boarding an overnight bus to Cusco.

By Public Bus

If you’re not travelling with Peru Hop, then you can take a public bus to Cusco too. Bus companies such as  Cruz del Sur, Civa or Oltursa  provide services from Lima and other cities such as Arequipa or Puno. The tickets cost anywhere from £15 to £40 ($US 18-50) depending on the time of day and bus company you pick.

Note.  It takes nearly a day to reach Cusco from Lima by bus. However, you can opt to break up your journey and see other places. For example, bus journeys from Arequipa are only around 10 hours long and from Puno they are around 7 hours. You can  buy y o ur ticket online  or at the bus station. Note that your bus might leave from a different terminal depending on the bus company.

You can find bus routes and companies operating to and from your next destination on these websites:  Busbud.com  and  Rome2Rio .

3. How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco

So, you’ve made it to Cusco by one way or another. Now, we recommend doing some sightseeing in the city for a day or two to adjust to the high altitude. After acclimatising, you’ll need to get to a small town called Aguas Calientes. It’s located quite literally at the foot of Machu Picchu.

At this point you’ll most likely already know how you’re going to be visiting Machu Picchu but let’s quickly run through your options. There are a few ways to reach Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu from Cusco:

• Day-trip without hiking (normally as part of an organised tour or independently).
• Multi-day trip without hiking (normally organised independently via train travel).
• Multi-day trip with hiking from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (usually organised independently, but can opt for a group tour too).
• Trekking to Machu Picchu (normally done with a group tour, but some can also be completed independently).

We discuss all these options in greater detail in this blog post.

4. How to Get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes is located at the foot of the Inca citadel. There are two main ways to reach Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes: by bus or on foot.

You can hop on a bus departing from here . The first bus leaves at 5:30 AM and drops you off in front of the entrance gate after zigzagging up the side of the mountain for about 20-25 minutes. You can expect long queues especially from mid-morning and in the high season. A one way ticket is $12 USD per person and you can also buy a return ticket for $24 USD.

Note that most tours will include your bus ticket to the site, but they don’t always include a return one back to Aguas Calientes. Always double check whether an outbound bus ticket is included to avoid a surprise hike up to Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn. You can always buy an extra ticket at the entry gate for your return journey or hike back down to Aguas Calientes.

If you’re looking for the most affordable option, then you can just hike up to Machu Picchu and then back down to Aguas Calientes. You’ll need to follow the yellow route on this map.

It is a 3.3 km / 2 mi (one way) route and is very easy to follow. However, almost the entire way consists of steps, so be prepared for that. Aguas Calientes is located at 2,040 m (6692 ft) above sea level and Machu Picchu is at 2,430 m (7972 ft). This means that you’ll gain around 400m of elevation if you choose to hike up to the Inca citadel.

Important Things to Know Before Visiting Machu Picchu

A few years ago a lot of new visitor rules were introduced to help preserve the site. These also aim to ease over-tourism impacts on Machu Picchu and perhaps make it a more sustainable place to visit.

Limited Daily Visitor Numbers

In 2021 – potentially due to COVID-19 related health concerns – the number of daily visitors allowed to enter Machu Picchu was reduced. These limitations are still shown on the website, so it hasn’t just been a temporary action.

This is great because it’ll definitely help ease the impacts of over-tourism. However, as a visitor, you’ll just need to plan ahead and book your tickets in advance of your visit. As of writing this post (July 2023), the Ticket Machu Picchu website states the following visitor numbers:

• Machu Picchu Only: 3,000 people per day.
• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu: 200 people per day.
• Machu Picchu + Mountain: 400 people per day.
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu: 200 people per day.
• Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge: 400 people per day.

Entry Fee to Machu Picchu

There are different types of admissions to Machu Picchu. The below prices only apply if you’re a foreign visitor. Note that there are different discounts available, so check out the official website to see if you’re eligible.

• Machu Picchu Only (Llaqta Machupicchu Circuit 1, 2, 3 or 4): S/. 152 / $42 USD per person.
• Machu Picchu Circuit 4 + Huayna Picchu: S/. 200 / $55 USD per person.
• Machu Picchu Circuit 3 + Machu Picchu Mountain: S/. 200 / $55 USD per person.
• Machu Picchu Circuit 4 + Huchuy Picchu: S/. 152 / $42 USD per person.
• Machu Picchu Circuit 1 or 2 + Inca Bridge: S/. 152 / $42 USD per person.

We explain the difference between the 4 circuits in this section.

Normally the tours and treks will include your entry fee to Machu Picchu, but it’s always worth double checking before booking. Please also note that entry to Machu Picchu is not included in the Boleto Turistico .

If you’re visiting independently, it’s likely that you’ll have to hire one of the guides at the entrance. Our online research came up with mixed answers regarding whether or not you can enter the site without a guide. Since we visited as part of the Salkantay Trek , we automatically had a guide with us. If you’ve visited Machu Picchu independently recently, please let us know in the comments below about your experience.

Where to Buy A Ticket to Machu Picchu

Unfortunately you cannot buy a ticket to enter the site at the main entry gate. This means that you’ll have to buy your desired ticket in advance. Luckily, there are quite a few places and ways you can get hold of a ticket to Machu Picchu:

Cusco . You can buy your ticket in person at the Ministerio de Cultura located at Casa Garcilaso on Calle Garcilaso. The office is open from Monday to Saturday between 7 AM and 8 PM. Make sure to have your passport, your payment card and any proof of a potential discount such as a student card.

Aguas Calientes . You can find the ticket office at the Machu Picchu Cultural Centre on Av. Pachacutec. It’s open from Monday to Sunday between 5 AM and 10 PM. Again, have your passport, and a valid student card if applicable. Apparently you can only pay by cash here, so withdraw the amount you’ll need before you leave Cusco or just buy your ticket in Cusco.

Online . If you already know the dates when you’re planning on visiting Machu Picchu, you can just buy your ticket online. This can be done via the Ministry of Culture’s website. You’ll have to have some patience with the site because whilst the main page has Spanish and English options, the ticketing page will only be in Spanish. We recommend using Google Translate on the website. You can also buy the tickets from third party sites but expect them to be slightly more expensive.

Tour . If you book an organised day tour or multi-day trek, your ticket will be included in the price. Be aware though that if you want to hike up to any of the additional mountains you’ll need to let the company know in advance and they’ll probably charge you the extra fee.

Visiting Hours of Machu Picchu

There are also some new entry schedules you should bear in mind when booking your Machu Picchu ticket. There are currently 9 different time slots you can pick from to enter the Inca site:

• Early Morning: 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM.
• Mid-Morning: 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM.
• Early Afternoon: 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM.

Depending on which circuit you picked, you can only spend around 4 hours at the site. It’s also worth noting that once you’ve exited the site, you cannot re-enter without buying a new ticket.

Machu Picchu Circuits

As part of the new rules you’ll have to stick to a certain route or circuit around the site. There are 4 different circuits you can choose from:

Circuit 1. You can visit the upper and lower parts of the Inca site. You’ll go through the viewing platform with the iconic Machu Picchu view. However, you won’t walk past features like the Sacred Square, the Intihuatana or the Sacred Rock. You can combine this circuit with the Inka Bridge.

Circuit 2. This one allows you to visit the upper and lower parts of the archaeological site, see the iconic views and it also includes all the important features such as the Intihuatana. It is probably the best one to pick if you don’t want to hike up any of the mountains. You can combine this circuit with the Inka Bridge.

Circuit 3. With this one you can only visit the lower part of the site. It includes most main features such as the Inka House, the Temple of the Sun, the Water Mirrors and the agricultural area. This ticket can be combined with Machu Picchu Mountain and also allows you to re-enter the site once. However, you won’t be able to access the upper platform.

Circuit 4. It is a very similar route to Circuit 3 around the Inca Citadel. This ticket is normally combined with a hike to Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu.

You can check out the exact routes for each circuit on this website.

Other Important Things to Know

Bring your original passport. They’ll need to see your original passport in order for you to enter Machu Picchu. You’ll need it to buy your entry ticket and even your bus ticket. Make sure the name matches the name on your ticket too. If you’re doing any of the treks make sure to have it in a waterproof case the entire time to avoid ruining it.

You’re not allowed food. You can bring a reusable water bottle, which we highly encourage so you can stay hydrated. However, you cannot bring any food with you. So, make sure to have a filling breakfast before your visit.

You’re not allowed certain tech. Tripods, drones, selfie sticks and big backpacks aren’t allowed either. Leave them at your accommodation because you’ll get caught by an eagle eyed guide.

Toilets. There are toilets for S/.2 just before you enter the site. We highly recommend using them because there won’t be any once you’re inside. Plus, with the new rule, you can’t re-enter Machu Picchu, so you’ll be forced to hold it. For reference, we waited for 2 hours just for the fog to clear and then we still had a nearly 2-hour tour around the site.

Use insect repellent. There are definitely some bugs at Machu Picchu just waiting for their free buffet style snacks to arrive on site. We generally recommend covering most of your skin, or wear bug repellent.

Be respectful. It goes without saying that you should respect the site and other visitors. After all, these new rules were implemented for a good reason. People’s behavior can be questionable sometimes so don’t be the one doing something against the rules.

Make sure to check the prohibited list of items when purchasing your ticket.

Best Months for Visiting Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has two seasons, a dry and a wet season. The dry season is from April to October , and the wet season is from November to March.

The peak season for visiting Machu Picchu is June, July, and August. During this time the weather conditions will normally be dry and sunny. However, this is also the busiest time of the year, which means that tickets and tours can sell out quickly. Therefore, make sure to book your Machu Picchu ticket and/ or trek in advance.

Of course there are way less tourists visiting the country in the wet season. Things like tours and accommodations will have cheaper price tags and availability will be better at this time. However, the weather conditions can be quite wet, so be prepared for that.

For reference, we visited in April, which is just when the rainy season ends. It’s a great month to visit because there are generally less tourists about and the weather conditions are improving, giving a higher probability for a sunny visit. September and October can also be considered good months to visit for the same reason.

Note. The Inca Trail is closed during February for maintenance work. Other treks might close too or certain parts won’t be accessible due to weather conditions during this time, so bear that in mind before visiting Machu Picchu. The site itself will be open but you might not be able to see much due to thick fog or heavy rain.

Best Time of the Day to Visit Machu Picchu

As discussed above, Machu Picchu has hourly entry slots between 6 AM and 2 PM. So, which slot is best to book your ticket for?

Well, firstly, if you’re visiting as part of an organised tour or trek, then you don’t have too much say in the matter. You’ll normally get an early morning or mid morning slot so you can catch your train back to Cusco later in the day.

If you’re visiting Machu Picchu independently, your entry ticket will be dependent on how you’ve arrived to the site in the first place. For example, if you did a hike from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, you’d need to start your hike back around 10:30AM to catch your transport around 2 PM. In this instance, you would need to book the earliest entry slot possible.

If you’re taking a train back to Cusco from Aguas Calientes then you can book a slightly later slot depending on your departure time.

It’s worth noting that the early slots are normally less busy but quite a lot of the trekkers will arrive during this time. The Inca site gets even busier from 10-11 AM when day trippers normally arrive. It’s also worth noting that Machu Picchu can be covered in thick fog in the morning. Due to the limited time you’re allowed to stay for and the one-way system, you can’t get back to the iconic viewpoint once you’ve left it. We were waiting for two solid hours for the fog to lift and reveal Machu Picchu to us!

Where to Stay When You Visit Machu Picchu

You might stay at different locations depending on whether you’re doing a day trip or multi-day trip to Machu Picchu. Normally, organised day trips will leave from and return to Cusco , so you won’t need to book any accommodation.

If you want to get to Machu Picchu on your own, we suggest staying a night either in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes. Aguas Calientes is the closest place you can stay to Machu Picchu. Normally, multi-day treks will finish in this town too.

There are lots of accommodation options in all three places with plenty of amenities such as shops, bars and restaurants.

Other Posts You May Like:

• 10 Best Ways to Get to Machu Picchu
• 10 Best Day Trips from Cusco
• Hiking in the Sacred Valley Without a Guide or Tour (Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray and Pisac)
• The Ultimate 3 Week Peru Itinerary – How to Plan a Trip to Peru

Final Thoughts on Visiting Machu Picchu for the First Time

So you might be asking if Machu Picchu is actually worth visiting at all? There’s no denying that the site gets a large number of visitors, and with the new rules there really is no way to avoid the crowds. If you go in the shoulder season it’ll definitely be better, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll ever have the site all to yourself.

If you visit Machu Picchu with the mindset that there will be a lot of people, the whole experience will be much better. Focus on the site instead of others and you’ll have a much better time there.

That first glance of the site will definitely take your breath away. It’s really beautiful and even though you’d probably have already seen countless photos of it, it’s just nothing like seeing it with your own eyes. The surroundings are just as breath-taking as Machu Picchu itself and the site definitely has an energy that you’ll be able to feel despite the thousands of other visitors you’re sharing it with.

Have you ever been to Machu Picchu before? If so, did you read about all this information before your visit? If not, do you think you’re more prepared after reading this blog post? Let us know in the comments below.

Now, let your adventure begin,

Our Top Travel Resources

Accommodation:  For hotels we always use  Booking.com  and  Hostelworld  for hostels. We also book longer stays on Airbnb or  Vrbo.

Flights:  To find the best flight prices we always check  Skyscanner ,  Google Flights  or  WayAway.  Then we also check the airlines’ websites too for comparison.

Car Rentals:  We use  Discover Cars  when we want to rent a car as it compares local, national and international companies.

Activities:  If we book organised tours we always check either  GetYourGuide  or  Viator.

Foreign Currency:  Whenever we can we prefer to pay in local currency and for that we always use our  Wise card.   We can easily withdraw money from the ATM or pay by card at most shops and restaurants.

Travel Insurance: We never go anywhere without travel insurance. You never know what will happen on your trip, so good travel insurance like SafetyWing can protect you in case of injury, illness, theft and cancellations.

eSIM and VPN: To get data abroad we use  Airalo which is an app that allows you to download a prepaid eSIM to your phone in over 190 countries. Make sure to have a VPN to avoid hackers accessing your personal data when using public WIFI. We use  Surfshark  which is the only VPN that offers one account on unlimited devices. 

Remember…It all starts with a Pin…

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16 comments.

My dream to visit! Wonderful pictures. Thank you for the detailed information, I always thought you can only hike there and having never been a multi-day hiker, the trail from Aquas Calientes looks much more doable.

Thank you Anja, it’s really great that there are so many different options to visit Machu Picchu even if you don’t like hiking.

Stunning photos! Enjoyed your video as well. I hope to do this hike someday. Saving for a future trip!

Thank you so much Nikki, we’re glad you enjoyed watching our video too. Hope you can plan your visit soon too.

Wonderful post and great photos. Machu Picchu is high up on the bucket list, so will keep this information handy for when we book.

Thank you so much, we’re happy to hear that you found our post helpful. Hope you can visit in the near future.

This looks like a challenging but ultimately rewarding hike to an awesome site. Your post is so detailed and informative. The video was really good too, giving me a real idea of what it was like for you. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for the positive feedback Maryanne. We’re so happy that you enjoyed our video and found the post helpful too.

This is at the top of my international travel bucket list! Thanks for the detailed post to help me out in the future.

Thank you Ashlea, hope you can start planning your trip to Machu Picchu soon.

Excellent coverage of Machu Picchu. Your video and pro tips genuinely provide value for first-time visitors, letting them know what they can expect. Appreciate the honest review.

Thank you so much Vanessa, we’re glad you enjoyed the video and found all the information useful for a future visit.

I heard that wearing dresses/skirts are not allowed on Machu Picchu – and it’s mostly due to the fact that there is some unspoken (but widely understood) ban on ‘creative photography’ there – This sounds so bizzare and interesting – did you hear about any of this while you were there? 😅

There are some rules about commercial photography, so I assume wearing those beautiful gowns would be considered something like that. I read an article about a couple turning up in their wedding outfits and I guess that’s a big no-go. I’m pretty sure we saw some people wearing dresses though but nothing crazy like you see on IG.

Love your blog. Thank you for such a clear and thorough review. My life partner and I are strongly considering a visit to Machu Picchu in 2024. We both will be 74 years old in 2024. Although we are in reasonably good shape and enjoy good health…. 74 is 74! We have hiked in and around the mountains of Colorado. When we hike we use walking sticks. Are they permitted at Machu Picchu? Circuit #2 sounds like what we’d choose, but our desire is to avoid as many stairs as possible. If we take advantage of as much bus rides as possible, do we still encounter a lot of stairs? Can you even guess how many there might be? Do you honestly think 74 year olds sound be considering this? Thank you!

Hi Bill, thank you for your positive feedback on our blog post. The answer to your question isn’t simple and definitely depends on the individual. Whilst we cannot give you definitive advise, here are two main things you may want to consider: altitude and the fact that unfortunately you cannot use walking sticks or canes at the site.

Altitude can really impact people, so it’s very important that – if you do decide to visit Machu Picchu – you’re both fully acclimatised. Cusco is way higher than Machu Picchu, but the site is still nearly at 8,000ft. In terms of stairs, if you go for Circuit 2, then you’ll have to climb up to the viewing platform that involves quite a lot of stairs. It might be challenging without walking sticks and at altitude.

The fact that you do hike a lot is fantastic and would definitely help you to get through those steps. Perhaps consult with your local GP before you decide to book your trip. They can give you better health related advise and tips. Many tour operators would also have oxygen with them, so we would search for companies that definitely offer this, just in case.

Sorry, we couldn’t be any more help but hope that you do get to go!

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Machu Picchu Tours & Treks

As the mist lifts off the mountains and over the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu evokes an otherworldly feeling

It’s one of the world’s most incredible archaeological sites, with a breathtaking location to match. With all that Machu Picchu has to offer, it’s easy to understand why so many are drawn to the visitor heartland of Peru . The ultimate decision is how to get there. Choose a trek or take the train? You could hike through cloud forests along the classic Inca Trail, fulfill your Andes experience on the Quarry Trail or challenge yourself on the Choquequirao trek – it's up to you. We don’t need to tell you why the adventure is worth your while. Our local leaders will keep you safe, informed and inspired every step of the way.

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Which route is right for you.

With its spectacular natural scenery and profound cultural encounters, the Inca Trail is an international beacon for trekking. Attracting thousands of hikers each year, it's a challenging yet rewarding hike that stays with you for a lifetime. Although rated moderate, the relentless uphill (and downhill) hiking is tough - the fitter you are, the more you’ll enjoy it.

For an impressive hike off the beaten path, consider the Inca Quarry Trail. This lesser-known trek offers the same magical scenery of the Andes mountains, passing through local villages and visiting three smaller archaeological sites the other trails don’t. Another bonus is that the hike doesn’t require a permit – so once you book, you’re set.

Take your boots further with a challenging eight-day hike moving through high-altitude cloud forests, over mega mountain passes and along an ancient trail leading to the well-preserved Inca city ruins of Choquequirao. This trail might be secluded and not for the faint-hearted but it's also one adventure you'll never forget, and that's a promise.

Meet our team

Why choose us.

All our guides are certified local tour guides and trained in-house on Intrepid Safety Policies. Each trekking guide also receives exclusive Intrepid training, provided by mountain rescue experts in the field.

All our guides and trek leaders have been trained by medical specialists in handling altitude illness and are proficient in first aid. Our team carries oxygen cylinders on all treks for emergency use.

Our team members live and work in the Andean region, which means revenue from all our treks benefit the local economy.

We take care of the details, so you can focus more on enjoying the journey. Our tours include all meals, with essential camping equipment and the option to hire additional hiking equipment if needed.

We are proud to have the tick of approval from the Rainforest Alliance indicating that we meet and operate at the highest standards in environmental, social and economic sustainability.

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re traveling to improve the planet.

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Thinking about a trip to Peru but need help comparing it with other ancient sites? Check out our blog:

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Machu Picchu travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

What is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is a magnificent reminder of the power and ingenuity of the Inca civilization.

The ancient citadel, built in the 15th century, was abandoned only 100 years later, and many mysteries remain.

Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1983 and announced as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu makes a lasting impression.

Where is Machu Picchu?

Overlooking the Urubamba River, the site of Machu Picchu sits above the Sacred Valley – located in the Cusco region of Peru.

How can I get to Machu Picchu?

Many travellers fly into the capital of Cusco before taking the train or choosing a hiking tour. The stepping stone to Machu Picchu is Ollantaytambo, about 1.5 hours away from Cusco by bus.

From Ollantaytambo, the most common ways to get to Machu Picchu are:

• Hiking the Inca Trail (one way to Machu Picchu)
• Taking the equally scenic and rewarding Quarry Trail
• Trekking the challenging 8-day Choquequirao Trail

Can I still hike if I take the train?

So, you want to experience the Inca Trail but aren't quite up for the entire hike?

The one-day option takes you by train part of the way where you hop off and trek the trade highway of the ancient Inca empire.

You will arrive at the Sun Gate in the afternoon to take in the views of Machu Picchu.

Is hiking the only way to get to Machu Picchu?

On all of our trips that visit Machu Picchu, you can choose the rail journey instead of the hike – simply specify while booking that you’d prefer the train option. There's no extra cost for this, though please note fees may apply if you decide to change to the train option after your Inca Trail permit has already been purchased.

Learn more about taking the train to Machu Picchu

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

You can visit Machu Picchu all year round.  The most popular time, and therefore the most crowded, is in June and July. 

Low cloud cover during the dry season from April to October also means cold nights on hiking trails, so you'll need thermals for a good night’s sleep. 

The wet season is from November to March. Temperatures rise and the region receives heavy rainfall, so waterproofs are essential if you're hiking. If you don't mind a bit of rain, the plus side is that crowds are smaller. If you want to hike the Inca Trail, note that it closes every year in February for maintenance.

Can you get to Machu Picchu in a day?

Yes, you can. Starting with an early rise in the morning, take a 1.5-hour bus ride to Ollantaytambo, then a 2.5-hour train to Aguas Calientes, followed by a 30-minute bus to Machu Picchu.

You will have a couple of hours to visit Machu Picchu and then return to Cusco the same way.

None of our trips visit Machu Picchu this way, as we believe it doesn’t allow enough time to explore (and really enjoy) the site and the Sacred Valley area.

How high is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is found deep in the cloud forest at 2440 m (7972 ft) above sea level, sitting at 1000 m (3280 ft) lower than Cusco.

What does this mean for you? In terms of altitude, you're unlikely to experience any altitude issues at Machu Picchu itself.

But be aware, trekking to Machu Picchu involves walking up and down several steep stairs, ramps and terraces at various altitudes, which can be strenuous.

Will the altitude affect me?

Most people start to feel the effects of altitude at over 2000 m (6561 ft) regardless of age, gender or fitness level. While our leaders have basic first aid training and are aware of the closest medical facilities, it is very important that you make yourself aware of the causes and effects of traveling at altitude. Monitor your health and seek assistance accordingly.

It is essential to take it easy, drink plenty of water and speak to your group leader immediately if you feel unwell.

We recommend seeing your doctor if you have health concerns before the trip, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are taking any medication.

Do I need a permit to hike to Machu Picchu?

Everyone hiking to Machu Picchu via the iconic Inca Trail or the shorter Inca Trail Express requires a permit. You don't need a permit to trek via the Quarry or Choquequirao trails.

If you do the Inca Trail with Intrepid, our adventure consultants secure your permit for you so you can focus on getting excited – just make sure you have your passport details handy at the time of booking.

Permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so booking well in advance is critical.

We endeavor to purchase your permit within two working days of receiving all necessary information.

What should I pack for Machu Picchu?

For a day trip exploring Machu Picchu, we recommended taking a small backpack with the essentials: sunscreen, hat, water bottle (filled before departing), a few snacks and mosquito repellent. It helps to wear breathable pants, a long shirt and a waterproof jacket – since the UV index is higher in the Andes and the site is prone to rainfall.

If you plan to trek before visiting Machu Picchu, read our detailed packing instructions in your Essential Trip Information.

What is Wayna Picchu?

Wayna Picchu (also known also as Huayna Pichu or Wayna Pikchu) means ‘young peak’ in Quechua – although the mountain appears anything but young, towering behind Machu Picchu.

Known as the ‘stairs of death’, the hair-raising climb takes about three hours to return. More recently, a cap of 400 people a day has been introduced on the number of visitors allowed to climb.

Can I climb Wayna Picchu with Intrepid Travel?

We have performed risk assessments on all our optional activities, and unfortunately, we don't consider climbing Wayna Picchu a safe activity at this stage.

Reaching Wayna Picchu involves climbing steep, narrow and exposed sets of stairs, and we just can't guarantee your safety.

Our leaders are specifically prohibited from assisting you in visiting Wayna Picchu.

What are the toilet facilities like at Machu Picchu?

There are public toilets located at the main entrance of Machu Picchu and none after entering the site – so make sure you time your stop before heading off to explore.

Take some coins with you as there is a small fee to use the toilet facilities.

What does the Rainforest Alliance tick of approval mean?

The Rainforest Alliance is a non-profit organization. It is working to build strong forests, healthy agricultural landscapes and thriving communities.

The green frog seal shows that an enterprise has been audited to meet environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards.

The Rainforest Alliance recognizes Intrepid as one of Peru's top certified tourism businesses.

Can I visit Machu Picchu if I have a disability?

Yes, but of course it will depend on your level of disability, fitness and what support will be available to you.

People who are visually impaired have completed the Inca Trail (with the right support crew, of course).

Contact us to discuss your particular circumstances and we can assess it from there.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

The Best Times to Travel to Machu Picchu

Tucked high into the Andes, in Peru's Sacred Valley at 7,970 feet above sea level, the mysterious Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is an architecturally breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site and absolute South America bucket-list must. Constructed around 1450, this vital religious, political and administrative center was abandoned some 130 years later when the Inca empire collapsed. While local communities always knew it existed, this lost city was later 'discovered' by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Visitors fly into the city of Cuzco, the empire's former capital that's located at an even loftier 10,954 feet above sea level. It's worth spending a few days acclimatizing to the altitude while exploring its fusion of Inca heritage and colonial buildings before moving on toward the continent's most prominent archaeological site.

Take a bus to the town of Ollantaytambo, a two-and-a-half hour winding drive, and stay in this part of the Sacred Valley to enjoy other gems built by the Inca civilization, such as the Maras salt mines and Moray agricultural ruins. This can help minimize lengthy travel times, which can be exhausting to those unaccustomed to altitude.

Those in pursuit of real adventure hike the Inca Trail. The shortest expedition lasts one to two days and starts at a point known as Km 104, although departing from Km 82 for a four-to-five-day trek is the norm.

The Best Time To Visit Machu Picchu

Leaving directly from Cuzco involves an early, 5:30 a.m. start and a four-hour bus-and-train combo to Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly known as Aguas Calientes), a small town located at the foot of the mountain ridge where the ruins lie. Those staying in Ollantaytambo take a 90-minute train ride to the same destination. From there, a zigzagging 30-minute bus ride (or walk), your driver's cheek bulging with coca leaves to cope with the altitude, takes you up to the park entrance.

May through September is the dry season and the best moment for stunning photographic memories with this New Wonder of the World, whose official name is Historic Sanctuary — National Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu . Few clouds will likely interfere with a most-wanted shot with Huayna Picchu, the peak at whose feet the citadel lies. May and September are the quietest months for visitors during this period.

The Busiest Time To Visit Machu Picchu

That said, June through August is the busiest period within this winter time frame, when visitors from around the world descend upon the ruins during the northern hemisphere's summer. It's likely that all 5,940 park visitor permits, granted on morning and afternoon schedules, are booked up well ahead of time, meaning you'll shuffle, rather than walk, around the sights such as Temple of the Sun and the Terrace of the Ceremonial Rock.

When to Visit Cuzco For Events

The largest city in Peru's Sacred Valley, Cuzco respects an array of festivals, religious or otherwise. Depending when Easter falls, the Andean version of Carnival is just as vibrant as its Brazilian neighbor's, while Quyllurit'i, held between May and June, is a local celebration of the stars. Inti Raymi honors the Inca sun god Inti, the most respected deity for that culture.

Pachamama Raymi is celebrated every August 1 throughout the Sacred Valley, when communities give thanks to Mother Earth for recent crop harvests and ask her to bless the forthcoming year.

The Best Time to See Wildlife in Machu Picchu

The February-to-April rainy season has its upside and flora fans will adore observing some of the 400 species of orchids that are in full bloom in February and March. Ask your guide to identify the enchantingly named Wakanki and Wiñaywayna, which translate as 'You Will Weep' and 'Forever Young' in the Quechua indigenous language. Guests staying at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel can spot 372 different types within the lodge's own gardens. Another benefit to rainy season is that you'll be traveling through lush, green valleys.

Those hiking the Inca Trail should keep an eye out for Peru 's scarlet-hued national bird, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, which is one of around 370 bird species observed in the area. Others include the Andean condor and its impressive ten-foot wingspan, as well as an array of zippy hummingbirds. Park visitors will doubtless stumble across a herd of friendly and photogenic llamas.

The Cheapest Time To Visit Machu Picchu

Flights and hotels in Cuzco and the Sacred Valley are at their cheapest between January and March. Rainy season — which can mean anything from light showers to full-on floods — makes the region less attractive to visit and February is the rainiest month, making it more difficult to traverse the park; it's also when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance.

Carriers flying from Lima to Cuzco include Avianca, LATAM, and Star Perú; budget airlines include Sky and Viva. Plans are afoot to construct an airport closer to Machu Picchu in nearby Chinchero, despite the area being a no-fly zone, a decision that's currently causing uproar among local communities, archaeologists, and historians.

For more on Machu Picchu and Peru check out these articles:

• 19 Things to Know Before Your First Trip to Peru
• Travel to Machu Picchu on Points and Miles
• 11 Things to Know Before You Go To Machu Picchu
• How to See Machu Picchu on a Budget
• 6 Only-In-Peru Things to Do on Your Way to Machu Picchu
• How to Visit Machu Picchu With Kids
• 8 Places to Visit in Peru Besides Machu Picchu

For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter .

15 Interesting Facts About Machu Picchu and One About Llamas

T he charm of Machu Picchu has been appreciated by many for years, making it a well-known tourist destination in South America. Many know the destination simply by its most popular inhabitant, the llama. The cultural and historic importance of Machu Picchu is lesser known by its visitors but is of critical importance for the city to be fully appreciated. 

If you plan to visit Peru, these 16 interesting facts (listed from commonly known to least known) about Machu Picchu may increase the quality of your trip and even encourage you to make a few extra stops along the way. 

16. The Name and Meaning of Machu Picchu

The name Machu Picchu translates to ‘old mountain’ or ‘old peak’ in the Quechua language. Quechua was the language of the Inca Empire and is still spoken by about eight million people. It is also currently the most spoken indigenous language in the Americas.

15. The City in the Clouds

The city is located in a cloud forest in the mountains. Machu Picchu is located between the Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest, so the weather is unique and produces a very lush and misty climate even though nearby areas are dry and plain. 

14. How Elevation Helped Preserve the Archaeological Site

The city is an incredibly important archaeological site that has been protected by its mountainous elevation. Machu Picchu was somewhat secluded due to its location and, as a result, evaded attention from traveling conquerors. There were conquistador attacks that sporadically occurred during the time, which the city would have evaded because of the high elevation.

13. Machu Picchu was a Huge Empire

The Inca Empire was one of the largest empires in pre-Columbian America and lasted from 1483 to 1533. In the 16th century it reigned as one of the largest empires in the world and remains the largest native state in the western hemisphere.

12. Transportation to the Ruins

There are only two ways to get to the mountainous ruins. Since the ruins are in a remote location, travelers either have to take a train from Cusco, which drops people off at the base of the mountain then take the bus, walk or hike the Inca trail . The 26 mile trail to Machu Picchu is lined with camp sites for visitors (government subsidized areas of land owned by local families) and local venders, so the trail can be leisurely hiked.

11. Machu Picchu is Internationally Protected

In 2007, Machu Picchu was declared one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The selection process includes more than 100 million people from around the world voting online. On top of this recognition that was announced by the New Open World Corporation (NOWC), Machu Picchu has been a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site since 1983. This means in the event of a natural disaster, war, pollution or funds deficiency that leads to a site’s deterioration, nations that signed the treaty are committed to assisting with emergency aid. 

10. Machu Picchu is the Lost City that was Never Lost

Although Machu Picchu is commonly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas,” it had people living in the area, so it was well known.  It is also technically a citadel located on a mountain ridge, so its coined name is inaccurate.

9. The Construction of the Ruins is Seemingly Otherworldly

The Incas did not use any mortar to construct Machu Picchu. It was completed with the ashlar technique, which is the process of cutting stones with extreme precision so that they stack on one another with no room in between them. The ashlar technique and the carefully shaped doors, windows and walls of Machu Picchu buildings make it practically earthquake proof. Peru has high seismic activity so this was an impressive architectural technique for the time. Because of this innovation, many people think that extraterrestrial beings played a hand in its construction.

8. The Complex Architecture of the Ancient Ruins

Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings. The site, which was built around A.D. 1450, could maintain about 500 to 750 people. This was a relatively small build for the Incas. Two architecturally significant features of the ruins are the rectangular ground plots made for houses (which are an early representation of modern building techniques) and the drainage system, which still works today and carries heavy rainwater through little channels underneath the buildings.

7. Helicopters are Prohibited Near Machu Picchu

To protect wildlife, endangered species and to preserve the ruins, there is a no fly zone above Machu Picchu. As another conservation effort, there is a limit on the number of visitors per day (which is capped at 2,500) and a one-way walking system through the hiking trail. 

6. Scholars Do not Know What Machu Picchu’s Purpose Was

Historians still debate what the purpose of the citadel was because Incas did not have written language and therefore it was not recorded. There are many theories regarding the use of Machu Picchu to this day. Some common theories include that it was a royal estate for an emperor, religious site (due to its high elevation) or served a multitude of purposes.

5. The 100 Year Dispute Between Yale University and The Peruvian Government

Yale professor Hiram Bingham made the western rediscovery of the ruins in 1911 with the help of local farmers. As a result of this discovery, there was a 100 year dispute about artifacts taken from Peru by professor Hiram and his excavation team. The artifacts were the cultural property of Peru and included objects like human remains, ceramics and jewelry. Finally, in 2012, after settling the contractual dispute, Yale returned the artifacts to the Peruvian government. 

4. There are No Information Posts on the Machu Picchu Hike

As an attempt not to clutter the site, there is virtually no information about Machu Picchu at the actual site. To get to the Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón , which provides historical context about the ruins, visitors must take a 30 minute walk down a dirt road near the base of the mountain.  

3. The Incas’ Disappearing Act

The Incas mysteriously abandoned Machu Picchu around 1572, even though it would have been nearly inaccessible for conquerors due to its location. Although Spanish conquistadors eventually ended the Inca Empire, the site was abandoned before that time, so the people’s disappearance remains unclear to scholars.

2. The Foreign Grazers Of Machu Picchu

Llamas are large mammals (weighing anywhere from 290 to 440 pounds at full adult size) related to camels. They are often pictured photo bombing visitors in front of Machu Picchu. The Incas valued them for their wool and nutrient rich poop that was used as crop fertilizer. But, surprisingly, llamas aren’t native to this area in Peru, they were actually brought in specifically for tourism. The preferred habitat of llamas (and alpacas) is evident in their preferences for altitude. Generally, they prefer altitudes of 13,000 feet and above and Machu Picchu’s altitude is just under 8,000 feet.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci Could Have Visited Machu Picchu

Although the height of the Incan Empire may seem like an extremely old time period, it was actually not that long ago. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa during the height of the Incan Empire, around 1503-1506, and Machu Picchu was built around 1450. This may surprise some, since not many historical reference points are provided when discussing the significant advancements of the Inca people. 

Amazon Adventure and Machu Picchu

Amazon Adventure and Machu Picchu - 11 Days | 10 Nights

Journey into the one the world’s most remote regions on an 11-day Peruvian expedition that includes one night in the capital city of Lima, a three-night, guided Amazon River cruise, two nights in the lush Sacred Valley, two nights in colonial Cuzco and one unforgettable night at the majestic “lost city of the Incas” — Machu Picchu. Experience the natural beauty of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and explore ancient Inca history on this incomparable itinerary.

For more information or to reserve your place on tour, please call the tour operator GOHAGAN & COMPANY toll-free at 800-922-3088.

Trip details.

Event Category

Peru Explorer

Trip Dates:  Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Thursday, July 25, 2024

Leader Name:  Damaris Puñales-Alpízar, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Chair, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, CWRU

Trip Pricing: 

$1899.00 PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

$500 SINGLE OCCUPANCY SUPPLEMENT

Trip Details & Highlights

Sightseeing Highlights

• Lima Explore the "City of the Kings" and see the Cathedral, Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, City Hall and visit San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs
• Machu Picchu Journey to the marvelous citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
• Cusco Discover Sacsayhuaman, Coricancha and the famous San Pedro market before enjoying a magical evening featuring an entertaining folklore show
• Lima Enjoy a regional dinner at Mangos restaurant overlooking Lima's coastline
• Sacred Valley Visit the famous Pisac Market where local indigenous communities sell their wares and produce. Learn how to prepare the local empanada. Take a train expedition to Machu Picchu. Visit the workshop of local pottery artist Pablo Seminario
• Temple of the Sun Visit Coricancha, or the 'Temple of the Sun', the most important temple in the Incan Empire
• Lima Feast on an authentic meal at Asnapa restaurant

Trip Inclusions

First class travel Highlights

• All internal air included in trip cost
• An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
• Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• Meals included: 6 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 1 lunch
• Audio Headsets provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries
• City orientation tours
• Variety of Optional Experiences

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

Contact Information

Sarah Doody  904.432.3141 [email protected]

Trip Terms and Conditions

Luminary Society Members

CWRU’s Luminary Society members may receive additional discounts on CWRU Educational Travel programs. For further information on Luminary Society travel discounts only, please contact The Office of Strategic Giving at 216.368.4460.