Machu Picchu - future guide

GETTING THERE

Step 1 — Fly to Cusco

• All trips to Machu Picchu start in Cusco, Peru
• Most flights connect through Lima — flight from Lima to Cusco is about 1.5 hours
• Uber is available at the airport and throughout Cusco — affordable and reliable
• Cusco sits at 11,000 feet elevation — spend 1 to 2 days here to acclimatize before heading to Machu Picchu
• Drink lots of water or chew coca leaves like the locals to help with altitude sickness

Step 2 — Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes

• Two train companies run the route — Peru Rail and Inca Rail — both use the same tracks
• Book train tickets well in advance — they sell out faster than Machu Picchu entry tickets
• Budget car on Peru Rail costs around $130 round trip — perfectly comfortable
• Train from Cusco takes 4 hours, from Ollantaytambo takes 2 hours
• Luggage restricted to one carry-on under 11 lbs per person — leave extra bags at your hotel in Cusco
• Peru Rail — https://www.perurail.com/
• Inca Rail — https://incarail.com/en/
• Alternative — Colectivo bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo then train from there — slightly cheaper

Step 3 — Trekking Options

• 4 day Inca Trail — most iconic trek in South America, ends through the Sun Gate into Machu Picchu — permit required well in advance — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/trekking-inca-trail/
• 2 day Inca Trail — shorter and less demanding — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/trekking-inca-trail-2days/
• 5 day Salkantay Trek — no permit required, passes snow-capped mountains and cloud forest — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/trekking-salkantay/
• 4 day Lares Trek — cultural immersion through remote Andean villages — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/trekking-lares/

Step 4 — Stay in Aguas Calientes

• Stay at least one night here rather than attempting a same day round trip from Cusco
• Town has hot springs, good restaurants, and an artisanal market
• Get your Machu Picchu passport stamp here in town — not at the ruins themselves
• Prices are higher than elsewhere in Peru — everything is shipped in by train

TICKETS

Machu Picchu entry

• No tickets sold at the entrance — must buy online in advance — https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
• Select a timed entry slot — strict about entry times both before and after
• General admission valid for 4 hours from entry time — around $97 per person including round trip bus
• Huayna Picchu hike add-on — only 400 permits per day, gives you 6 hours total — book months in advance
• Machu Picchu Mountain hike add-on — only 400 permits per day, gives you 7 hours total
• Last minute tickets available at the INC office on the main plaza in Aguas Calientes if sold out online

Best time to visit

• Peak season June to August — best weather, sell out fastest, book 4 months in advance
• Dry season April to October — sunny conditions most probable
• Wet season November to March — fewer crowds, lower prices, higher chance of cloud cover
• Morning entry slots recommended — typically sunny in the morning with rain coming in the afternoon
• 9am to 10am entry is ideal — locals say the light hits the mountains best around 10am

GETTING UP TO THE RUINS

Bus option — recommended

• Buses run from Aguas Calientes directly to the entrance — 20 minute ride
• Buy bus tickets online in advance on the same site as entry tickets — https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
• Print paper copies of all tickets — some visitors have had issues with digital only
• Arrive at the bus stop at least one hour before your entry slot
• Buses run from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Hike option

• Camino Pitonal trail goes directly up the mountain
• About 1,279 feet of elevation gain — strenuous, takes 2 to 3 hours
• Early morning slots mean starting the hike before sunrise — bring a headlamp

INSIDE MACHU PICCHU

Before you enter

• Use the bathroom before going in — no bathrooms inside the ruins, 2 soles to use facilities outside
• Eat a big meal beforehand — no food inside and you will be walking for hours
• Apply sunscreen — elevation makes UV exposure very intense
• Apply bug spray — sandflies and mosquitoes are bad especially on the hiking trails

What to bring

• Passport — required for entry, no exceptions
• Water in a reusable canteen
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
• Rain poncho or small umbrella during wet season November to March
• Comfortable hiking boots or athletic shoes with good grip
• Bug spray
• Small daypack only — large bags not allowed

What not to bring

• Tripods, selfie sticks, drones
• Large backpacks or luggage
• Alcohol
• Strollers
• Food

Things to see inside

• Sun Gate — original entrance to Machu Picchu, reached via the Inca Trail
• Huayna Picchu — the dramatic peak in most photos, one hour hike to the summit, steep and narrow
• Machu Picchu Mountain — longer and higher than Huayna Picchu, 360 degree views from the top
• Temple of the Sun — only semicircular structure in the ruins, aligns with the sunrise on the winter solstice
• Intihuatana — ancient astronomical stone used for observing the sun
• Sacred Rock — massive granite monolith carved to mirror the silhouette of the mountain across the valley
• Temple of the Condor — natural rock formations shaped into a condor with outstretched wings
• Stairway of Fountains — 16 linked fountains fed by natural springs, still flowing today

Walking the ruins

• All paths are one way — you cannot walk backwards
• Choose your route carefully before entering — research which circuit covers the sights you want
• Best panoramic viewpoints are at the beginning — take your time here because you cannot return
• Watch for llamas — they roam freely throughout the site
• 4 hours is plenty of time to see everything at a relaxed pace

WHERE TO STAY IN AGUAS CALIENTES

• Sumaq Machu Picchu — 5 star, spa, restaurant, exceptional reviews — https://www.booking.com/hotel/pe/sumaq-machu-picchu.html
• El MaPi — 4 star, great location, excellent reviews — https://www.booking.com/hotel/pe/el-mapi.html
• Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu — 3 star, reliable and comfortable — https://www.booking.com/hotel/pe/casa-andina-standard-machu-picchu.html
• Pucara Hotel — budget friendly, excellent reviews — https://www.booking.com/hotel/pe/pucara-machu-picchu.html
• See all hotels — https://www.peruforless.com/hotels/machu-picchu

WHERE TO EAT IN AGUAS CALIENTES

• Chullpi Machu Picchu — Peruvian fusion, trout ceviche, grilled chicken — 140 Av. Imperio de Los Incas
• Incontri del Pueblo Viejo — homemade pasta and wood fired pizza — Av. Pachacutec block 6
• Indio Feliz Restaurant Bistro — Peruvian classics with a French twist, river trout and grilled chicken — Calle Lloque Yupanqui 103
• The Tree House Restaurant — Peruvian fusion, mushroom and goat cheese ravioli, alpaca tenderloin — Calle Huanacaure 105
• Toto's House — all you can eat buffet, large groups, live music evenings — Av. Imperio de Los Incas 600

MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE

• Machu Picchu entry tickets — https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
• Bus tickets up to the ruins — same site as entry tickets
• Peru Rail — https://www.perurail.com/
• Inca Rail — https://incarail.com/en/
• Inca Trail permit — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/trekking-inca-trail/

TOUR PACKAGES (Optional)

• Heart of the Inca — 6 days, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu — from $1,459 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/machu-picchu-peru-6-day-tour
• Machu Picchu Express — 4 days — from $1,119 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/peru-packages-machu-picchu-express
• Classic Inca Trail — 9 days — from $2,419 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/inca-trail-machu-picchu-9-day-tour
• Rainbow Mountain and 2 day Inca Trail — 6 days — from $2,219 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/machu-picchu-short-inca-trail-vinicunca-6-day-tour
• Discover Peru — 15 days, full country — from $4,229 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/lima-nazca-arequipa-machu-picchu-puno-amazon-15-day-tour
• Machu Picchu and Jungle Adventure — 9 days — from $2,079 — https://www.peruforless.com/packages/cusco-machu-picchu-amazon-9-day-tour
• See all tours — https://www.peruforless.com/machu-picchu-tours