Trip to Machu Picchu: what you need to know
A trip to Machu Picchu is ideal for those seeking adventure, nature and history. You will enjoy great landscapes and get to know an ancient culture.
A trip to Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience for any type of traveler. Walking through its mountain trails, learning about the native cultures of the place and seeing first-hand the ruins of what was once a place of splendor, is something fascinating and very interesting. Undoubtedly, the ruins of Machu Picchu are the most emblematic place in Peru.
This impressive Inca city surrounded by temples, platforms and water channels, is built on top of a mountain. Its construction was built with large stone blocks joined together without the use of amalgam.
"Old Mountain" is the meaning of Machu Picchu in Quechua (Inca language). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and receives an average of one million visitors per year.
Trip to Machu Picchu
The citadel is considered a cultural heritage of humanity, recognized as an important political, religious and administrative center of the Inca period.
Because it is a place that receives so much tourism, we recommend that you organize your trip as best you can to enjoy this incredible and ancient destination.
Tourism in Machu Picchu
Where to start this adventure?
Define the date you travel. The ideal season is between April and October. The rest of the year the precipitations can prevent or harm the visit. May is an ideal month for two reasons: the vegetation is still blooming and green as in summer and the number of people is less because the high season has not yet begun.
Machu Picchu can be accessed throughout the year, but at other times you should be prepared with more or less shelter, or with a rain jacket, for example.
Where to stay in Machu Picchu?
The next thing you should define is the accommodation. To be close to Machu Picchu we recommend you stay in the city of Cusco or in the town of Machu Picchu, also called Aguascalientes .
From Lima, the capital of Peru, you have to go to Cusco. You can take a 55-minute plane, or a long-distance bus that will take approximately 22 hours.
We recommend the first option, even if it is a little more expensive, it is not worth wasting a whole day on the bus.
How to get to Machu Picchu
The ruins are very close to Aguas Calientes , a town also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo . To get there there are different alternatives and the best known are:
- The train
- The walk from the hydroelectric
- the inca trail
Train to Machu Picchu
The fastest and most comfortable way to go is by train. There are two companies that offer daily frequencies to Aguas Calientes from Ollantaytambo: PeruRail and Inca Rail. PeruRail is the only one that operates from the Poroy station in Cusco.
Bear in mind that Cusco is located at 3,400 meters above sea level, so it is advisable to take the first day to acclimatize, eat lightly and leave the next day.
The train offers beautiful landscapes from its windows and is ideal for those who prefer not to make the effort of the walk. Prices, schedules and starting points can be found on its official website .
Hike from the hydroelectric
To get to the starting point you must hire a minibus, there are many companies that offer it around the Plaza de Armas in Cusco or on Avenida del Sol.
After a 6-hour journey through roads with amazing landscapes, you arrive at the entrance of the hydroelectric plant, from where you must walk along the train tracks for another 3 hours to Aguas Calientes. The tour is magnificent.
From Aguas Calientes there are two options to get there: walking, or by bus that costs 10 dollars per person.
The climb is up the mountain in a kind of staircase. Depending on your physical state, sometimes it is better to save energy for later. You can go up by bus and walk down to enjoy that landscape as well.
the inca trail
The Inca trail is the most famous option and for which you have to prepare. Those who have done it emphasize that it is a once in a lifetime experience. If your plan is to do it, you must reserve a place at least 5 months in advance.
You cannot go on your own: it is mandatory to hire the tour with a guide and it can be done at any of the tourist agencies in Cusco or online.
Entrance to Machu Picchu
Entrance tickets for any of the routes are not sold at the access control.
In the case of Huayna Picchu, you will not be able to enter this area without the corresponding ticket. Here you can take an impressive photo of Machu Picchu from the heights. The maximum entry capacity is 400 visitors per day, divided into two groups of 200 people according to the designated schedule.
In the case of the Machu Picchu mountain, 800 visitors in two schedules of 400 people. the trails of this mountain are much less complicated than those of Huayna Picchu. Although it is the highest point that surrounds the citadel, its trails can be traveled with children. Here you will also have an impressive perspective of the ancient remains of civilization.
The Puerta del Sol: also called Intipunku, this is the old gateway to Machu Picchu. On the summer solstice the sun illuminates its walls and this is the reason for its name. You will not need any additional tickets to visit it and walk the paths that surround it.
Intihuatana: it is also called the "Sundial". It is a structure made of stone that in the past is believed to have served the Incas as an astronomical calendar. To visit the Solar Clock you will only need the general entrance to Machu Picchu.
Purchase the electronic ticket in advance, checking the availability of spaces online.
discounts
If you are a university student, the requirements are: being under 25 years of age, having a valid university card and studying for a degree.
For the discount for minors from 8 to 17 years old, they must have a valid identity document.
For the inhabitants of the CAN, the discount is also made to foreigners who live in any of the countries that make up this international organization (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia), presenting a valid identity document or passport.
To buy the electronic ticket follow the following steps:
Make the reservation through the page named above, consigning the date of visit, personal data and the route to visit. (The reservation is valid for 3 hours).
Once the reservation is made, you can pay the amount online using a VISA credit card that has the Verified by Visa security system or cancel the amount at one of the authorized offices.
Once the payment is made, you must enter the website www.machupicchu.gob.pe again and enter the Check In tab where you must enter the reservation code number to be able to print the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu according to the chosen modality.
Useful data
It is not mandatory to hire a guide to tour the ruins, but if you want to know the history of the place, the experience of touring with a local guide is magnificent.
There is only a bathroom at the entrance and if you leave they will not let you go back in.
They do not check your backpack and if you want to leave it to avoid carrying it, there is a wardrobe at the entrance.
You can bring water in and it's good to take it with you.
It is important that you bring sunscreen and a hat.
If you want a souvenir you can take a stamp in your passport. It is free and is located at the exit of the park.
Respect this sacred place
Do not write walls, walls or floors. Do not step on the grass of the terraces with prohibited access. Do not pass when there are no passing tapes. Respect and enjoy this sacred and historical place
inclusive tourism
To tidy up your mind a bit and include what you really need in your suitcase and backpack, we count the things to include:
- Comfortable and waterproof clothing
- comfortable slippers
- Coat
- Waterproof poncho or pilot for the rain
- hat or cap
- Sunscreen (we recommend a high factor)
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Cash (most of the positions do not have card payment)
- Photo camera
- Water bottle
