Visiting Machu Picchu: How to Make the Most of Your Trip to ‘The Lost City of the Incas’
Situated high in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu is an archaeological masterpiece and there is good reason it features on bucket lists of travelers around the globe.
The deep valleys and towering rugged peaks encompass the spectacular ruins that will leave you speechless as you walk through the stonework structures, contemplating their history and their mystery. A day spent in Machu Picchu will undoubtedly ensure you fall in love with Peru (in the unlikely event that you hadn’t already).
Here, we cover some of the tips for traveling to Machu Picchu to help you make the most of your time at this iconic site.
You can visit Machu Picchu at any time of year but it’s important to consider the seasonality while planning your visit. Peru has two distinct seasons, the wet season (November to March) and the dry season (April to October). Although it still rains in the dry season, you have a much better chance of getting clearer, drier weather.
With better weather comes more visitors, but whenever you decide to visit, its imperative that you book well in advance. The site typically has over 6,500 visitors in a given day so you’ll need to purchase tickets with plenty of time to minimize queuing and avoid disappointment.
Tip: If you are planning on taking the Inca Trail to the ruins, ensure you steer clear of visiting in February, typically the wettest month of the year, where the trail is closed for maintenance.
When packing for your trip to Machu Picchu, there are a few must-haves:
It’s also recommended you take your passport with you, just outside the entrance there’s a station (blink and you’ll miss it) where you can get the novelty Machu Picchu stamp to mark your visit.
From Aguas Calientes
The closest settlement to Machu Picchu is Aguas Calientes, and from here you can catch the shuttle bus to the site entrance.
From Cusco
Cusco is the gateway city to Machu Picchu. If you are traveling from the city, you can catch the train from Poroy Station, a journey of approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.
From Ollantaytambo
We highly recommend you explore the Sacred Valley before or after your visit to Machu Picchu, and Ollantaytambo is one of its main hubs.
The 1.5-hour train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is an experience in itself. One of the highest train routes in the world, each wagon has a see-through roof offering some breathtaking as you travel through The Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Via The Inca Trail
Hiking The Inca Trail is an experience that if you choose to embark on, you’ll carry close to your heart for the rest of your life. At each twist and turn of the majestic path, you’ll experience a different world, full of wildlife, ruins and glorious views.
The 4–5-day hike (depending on which you choose) is a challenging, but overwhelmingly rewarding route. It concludes with an incredibly climactic, early morning view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate at Inti Punku.
If you choose to embrace your adventurous side and take the trail, you don’t need to be an athlete but a moderate level of fitness is needed as you can probably guess, there are a few hills to climb! Ensure you break in your walking boots and pack a few blister plasters before you set off.
You’ll need to book your tickets months in advance to secure your spot, which will include a permit and a set of guides and porters to ensure the utmost safety and enjoyment of your trip.
Aguas Calientes
Better known as Machu Picchu Pueblo (town), Aguas Caliantes is located just 30 minutes away from the historical site. The town offers a number of hotels and restaurants and is the ideal rest-stop before or after your visit. Two of the best places to stay in Aguas Calientes are Sumaq and Inkaterra. Both lie in tranquil corners of the town and provide luxurious settings to unwind in, with lush greenery as your backdrop. There’s nothing better than returning from a day’s adventure in Machu Picchu to an indulgent spa treatment, exquisite Peruvian meal, and peaceful night’s sleep.
Sanctuary Lodge
The most perfectly placed hotel for exploring the ancient Inca Citadel, this hotel is the only overnight accommodation that is situated close to the site. A stay at Sanctuary Lodge is the best way to beat the queues and is certainly worth considering factoring into your trip’s budget, especially if you want to experience Machu Picchu at sunrise or sundown golden hours.
While you’re visiting Machu Picchu, you might want to consider hiking one of the iconic mountains in the vicinity. Each of them offers their own uniqueness while boasting impressive views of the citadel from their summits.
Putucusi
When you reach the peak of the Putucusi, you’ll be greeted by the glorious views of the sacred city of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu Valley and the Urubamba River. The 2-hour hike requires a fair bit of physical effort and moderate hiking experience as the near-vertical scales require sure footing.
On your way to the top, you’ll pass through abundant vegetation and flora including Alisos, Pisonayes Q’eofias, puya, ferns, palm trees, and over 90 different species of orchids.
Huayna Picchu
Standing 2,720 meters above sea level, the cone-shaped mountain of Huayna Picchu sits behind the ruins. At a glance, it appears to be a steep and challenging traverse, but it is easier than it looks and is often climbed by families with children. Reaching the peak of Huayna Picchu offers some impressive, panoramic views of the ruins. The ascent takes around an hour.
Machu Picchu Mountain
For an alternative hike that takes you even higher than Huayna Picchu, you can climb Machu Picchu Mountain. This route tends to be less busy, so you will have more of the path to yourself. And because it isn’t as well-known, you can buy your ticket last-minute, which is perfect if you’re the spontaneous type!
The Machu Picchu Mountain hike takes around 4-5 hours, round-trip. Some scrambling is required, and it isn’t recommended for children and the elderly.
Tip: Be sure select the appropriate ticket type and speak to your Atelier specialist if looking to include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain on your tour.
Huchuy Picchu
During your visit to Machu Picchu, you could opt for a hike up Huchuy Picchu, or ‘Little Mountain’ in the Quechua languages. It’s a relatively easy hike of just 1 kilometer, which takes around 1 hour. From the summit you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the citadel.
Inca Bridge
Another special highlight at Machu Picchu is the Inca Bridge. Located on the western edge of the site, this wooden bridge clutches the side of the mountain on a path built by the Inca. In case of invasion, they would raise the bridge so that intruders couldn’t enter their sacred home.
To get there, you walk for 1 kilometer to the western part of the archaeological site.
Tip: Access the Inca Bridge is only available with certain ticket types and at particular times of year. Speak to your Atelier travel specialist to find out more.
When you visit Machu Picchu, there are three different routes or “circuits” to explore the archaeological site, and you’ll need to choose the appropriate ticket type to suit your preferred circuit in advance. This is to protect the ancient Inca citadel as well as ensuring both the best possible experience and safety for all visitors.
To avoid overcrowding, there are parts of Machu Picchu that only become accessible to the public in high season, between June 1st and October 15th, to avoid overcrowding. No matter when you’re visiting the site, we’d recommend booking your ticket at least 2-3 months in advance.
You can choose from the following ticket types and circuits, depending on your level of mobility, how much time you will have at the site, and how much of it you want to explore:
Circuit 1: The Panoramic Route
Taking roughly 3-4 hours to complete, Circuit 1 takes you to some of Machu Picchu’s unmissable viewpoints in its upper area, including an iconic photo opportunity from the famous Guardian’s House overlooking The Lost City. From here you can also see the Temple of the Sun and Sacred Plaza, though for even better elevated views it’s possible to add Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, and an area around Machu Picchu Mountain to your tour too.
Fo adventurous types (and adults only), adding the Inca Bridge to your route is recommended. Certain sections of this circuit are open all year, though if looking to include the Inca Bridge and Inti Punku on your tour these can only be accessed between 1st June and October 15th.
Circuit 2: The Inca City Circuit
Circuit 2 is the most complete tour of Machu Picchu, taking you through the archeological site and its main areas—all complete with views out from the city walls themselves. If choosing the Inca City Circuit you’ll visit the Temple of the Sun and Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, Sacred Rock, the Water Mirrors and agricultural area to get a full sense of Machu Picchu’s majesty from within.
It’s worth noting that the complete tour takes around 3 hours and while there is a shorter route available, Circuit 2 cannot be combined with wider trails around Machu Picchu Mountain.
Circuit 3: The Royalty Circuit
Machu Picchu’s Circuit 3 takes in some of the citadel’s lower areas, including the agricultural terraces, Temple of the Moon and Grand Cavern. The Temple of the Moon is one of Machu Picchu’s most important sites, as you’ll see on the Royalty Circuit as well as Condor Temple, The Temple of the Sun, Sacred Rock, House of the Inca, and more.
Taking around 3-4 hours to complete, Circuit 3 is a good option to explore Machu Picchu and can also be combined with sister mountain Huayna Picchu (adults only) for stunning views back across the Lost City. If you take this option as well as the full route around all lower levels and the Grand Cavern (technically considered a 4th circuit), you should expect to add around 2 hours to your tour.
As with Circuit 1, additional areas are opened between 1st June and October 15th to allow for the extra visitors.
Altitudes of the Machu Picchu region
Machu Picchu is a mountainous area of Peru, so you can expect fairly high altitudes here. These are the heights above sea level of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains and important sites:
Here are some of our bonus tips from our Peru experts to make your visit as smooth and enjoyable as possible:
1. Be flexible
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are high in demand, especially during peak season or long holidays. Consider traveling during a less busy period for a quieter experience. If you do travel during the peak season, make sure to book far in advance.
2. Remember your documents
Your Atelier´s Travel Designer will request the following information to secure the most accurate schedules according to your itinerary: full name, passport number, date of birth and nationality. Once issued, tickets are not refundable.
If your entrance was issued with an expired document, make sure to bring the old one together with the new valid one.
3. Ride in a luxury train
Don´t miss the opportunity to board one of the luxury train services to Machu Picchu, the Belmond Hiram Bingham. This is a one-of-a-kind experience with entertainment, cocktails and fine dining onboard. You even have the chance to ride in a private carriage for an ultra-luxurious and discrete ride to the lost city of the Incas.
No matter how you choose to experience Machu Picchu, these ancient ruins will offer an experience that will last with you for an eternity. Speak to an Atelier travel specialist today and let them take care of your visit to this Peruvian masterpiece.
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