How to Experience Machu Picchu

As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu is almost synonymous with Peru. Built in the 15th century, this Inca castle was abandoned sometime after the Spanish invasion and remained unexplored until 1911, when American scholar Hiram Bingham III and a group of Peruvian explorers stumbled upon it in a cloud forest about 50 miles northwest of Cusco. Why it was built and why it was abandoned remains a mystery. Here’s what you need to know when to visit, including when to leave, where to stay, and how to get there.

Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

The peak season for Machu Picchu is the dry winter months from June to August. Since hotels in Aguas Calientes (a town at the foot of Machu Picchu) need to be booked months in advance and tickets are limited daily to enter the archaeological site, it’s best to consider the off-season months of April, May and September and October, when there are fewer crowds and an average temperature of 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

The low season coincides with the summer rainy season in Machu Picchu, which runs from November to March every year. Although the archaeological site is open year-round, if you plan to hike, keep in mind that the entire Inca trail is closed every February due to bad weather, safety concerns, and planned annual maintenance work. The rainy season in Machu Picchu is no joke – plan accordingly.

Adapt to the Altitude of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is 7,972 feet above sea level and Cusco is higher (just over 11,000 feet above sea level). To avoid the effects of altitude sickness, including nausea and severe headaches, follow these tips:

Consider flying to Cusco and heading straight to Aguas Calientes as it is around 6,700 feet above sea level, staying a night or two to acclimatize to the high altitude before visiting Machu Picchu. Stay hydrated as much as possible. Avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise for the first few days.

How to Get from Cusco to Machu Picchu?

Although Machu Picchu is only 50 miles from Cusco, there is no direct road between the two places. The easiest way to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco is to take a train from Cusco’s San Pedro, Vanchak or Poroyi Station to Machu Picchu Pueblo Station in Aguas Calientes. It takes less than four hours.

The main operators are PeruRail and Inka Rail, which offer a variety of luxury and economy options. For example, PeruRail operates the luxury Hiram Bingham Belmond train, which runs between Cusco’s Poroy station, Ollantaytambo station and Machu Picchu Pueblo station every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There’s a 1920s Pullman carriage with wooden details and polished brass, a viewing car, and live music and pisco sour in the bar car. Expensive – round-trip tickets start at around $1,000– but include Machu Picchu tickets (with a guide), lunch and dinner on the train, and more.

If you choose to explore the Sacred Valley before heading to Machu Picchu, you can take the train to Aguascalientes from Ollantaytambo (a small town that preserves the original houses, streets, and waterways of the Incas), which takes about two hours. (Many trains departing from Cusco also offer dual-mode options, including buses from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and trains from there to Aguascalientes.)

From Aguas Calientes, a 30-minute bus ride up the hill to Machu Picchu. Online adult fares are $15 round trip, but many travel agencies include bus tickets and Machu Picchu tickets in their packages. (It’s also possible to hike from Aguascalientes to Machu Picchu and back, but it’s very steep and takes 90 minutes each way.)

How to Hike to Machu Picchu

For an extra challenge, active travelers can also take a multi-day hike or a shorter hike to Machu Picchu. (Whichever route you choose, be sure to spend a few days acclimatizing to the altitude before you go.)

The most famous hiking trail is the Inca Trail, a centuries-old route that stretches from the Sacred Valley to the Andes Mountains at over 13,000 feet above sea level. Hiking this route requires a permit and an official guide, so booking both through a travel agency is easiest. The most classic route is a four-day, three-night hike from Ollantaytambo, which includes porters carrying luggage and camping, as well as cooks preparing three meals a day.

The Peruvian government restricts access to the Inca Trail to 500 people a day, including porters. This provision protects local ecosystems and fragile sites, and ensures that trails are not overcrowded. However, don’t worry if passes for the summer peak season run out: there are various other trails leading to Machu Picchu. Here are some suggestions for bookable trips to the classic Inca Trail, as well as some lesser-known walking tours that also include a visit to Machu Picchu.

Luxury Inca Trail with Alpaca Adventure

Alpaca Expeditions is a company that is 100% owned by Peruvian indigenous peoples. It offers a classic four-day, three-night hike from the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu starting at $750 per person, but the deluxe version of the tour includes, among other things, upgraded tents with air cushions and camping beds and cotton sheets with duvets (bring your own sleeping bag is not available here).

Alpaca Expeditions will arrange transportation on the first day from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo to the start of the 82-kilometer trail. For the return journey back to Cusco, luxury Hiram Bingham Belmond train tickets from Aguascalientes are also included.

Peruvian Inca Trail Walking Tour with Mountain Tour Sobek

Before embarking on a four-day, three-night hike of the Inca Trail, the journey to Mount Sobek begins with a two-night trip to the new Las Qolqas Eco Resort in the Sacred Valley, located in a beautiful garden complex just outside the town of Ollantaytambo. Once travelers have adapted to the altitude, they will cross the Urubamba River and start trekking the Inca Trail from 88km instead of 82km for a more isolated experience in most groups. After three nights of tent camping, the tour culminates with sunrise views of Machu Picchu and a full day at the archaeological site before returning to Cusco.

Inca Trail Day Hike with Modern Adventure

For less ambitious hikers, Modern Adventure’s Peruvian Food Tour offers an optional one-day hike on the 6.8-mile section of the Inca Trail as part of its larger 7-day trip. In the morning by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguascalientes, hikers disembark along the Urubamba River and begin their descent into the Andes, passing archaeological sites such as Chabamba and Venewena before descending to Machu Picchu in the early evening through the Puerta del Sol. Afternoon. Guests who choose not to hike will take the train directly to Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu the next day.

Peruvian mountain hut head to Salcantai in Machu Picchu for a hike

Although the 50-mile Salkantay Trek is considered a more challenging alternative route than the Inca Trail, know that each day of a 7-day accommodation tour at luxury travel goods merchant Mountain Lodges of Peru (MLP) is more acceptable. The highlight of the hostel tour is a one-night stay at its own hotels – Salkantay Lodge, Wayra Lodge, Colpa Lodge and Lucma Lodge. After a few days exploring archaeological sites such as Quillarumiyoc and crossing the Salcantai Pass (15,213 feet above sea level), visitors can enjoy a delicious dinner, soak in a Jacuzzi, and enjoy a spa treatment. The last day of the hike consists of spending a morning at Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco in the afternoon.

Vilcabamba Trail and Kandoo Adventures

When Hiram Bingham and a group of Peruvian explorers stumbled upon Machu Picchu, they were actually looking for the city of Bircabamba. With Kandoo Adventures, hikers will spend two days acclimatizing in Cusco before heading to the Sacred Valley for a five-day hike. One of the most scenic and remote routes, the Bircabamba Trail follows the Bircabamba Mountains, where you can enjoy solitude and serious exercise before visiting Machu Picchu on your last day.

Huchuy Qosqo hiking with camel road

The first two days of the three-day walking tour starting in Cusco are dedicated to visiting the historic Incas, Huchuy Qosco, and learning about the history and some of the people who inhabit the area. The last night is spent in the town of Aguas Calientes, after which the Camel Route team will take you to Machu Picchu.

Of course, many Machu Picchu tours do not require multi-day hiking. Although both travel agencies such as G Adventures and Intrepid offer Inca trail hikes, visitors can also book tours through them that skip these trails, including a tour of Machu Picchu by train and bus combination described earlier.

Machu Picchu Tickets

Machu Picchu is open daily from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and international adult tickets start at 152 Peruvian soles (about $42). Admission to Machu Picchu itself is included in the cost of most walking tours and tours. If you’re not traveling in a group, keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase timed tickets in advance and you’ll have to hire a certified guide. (There is a guide at the entrance.) Also, don’t forget your passport, which you need to use to verify the name on your ticket.

In addition to establishing five one-way loops to help control crowds, Machu Picchu has also placed strict limits on the number of visitors allowed per day. (If you want to photograph the classic postcard landscape of Machu Picchu, you’ll need to choose the first or second ring.) Currently, the main castle has fewer than 3,000 tickets per day, so be sure to buy tickets as early as possible. If you want to hike to the peaks of Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu’s iconic landscape, there are fewer empty seats. (Only 200 people are allowed to hike per day.)

Best time of day to visit Machu Picchu: arrive in Aguas Calientes the night before and catch the first bus that departs at 5:30 AM so you can be one of the first to arrive on site. Similarly, if you head in before closing in the late afternoon, you’ll encounter fewer crowds.

What to wear (and what to stay at home): The sun is also very strong at high altitude, so hats and sunscreen are a must. But no matter how sunny the weather, it’s also wise to bring a raincoat in case of heavy rain, as umbrellas are not allowed on site.

Rules to follow: After a German tourist fell to his death in 2016, the park now bans jumping photos and strictly enforces them. Other big taboos include eating in non-designated food areas, sitting on sacred ruins, and touching their stone surfaces.

Accommodation near Machu Picchu

Sanctuary Lodge, a Belmond hotel, is located at the gate of Machu Picchu for easy access to the location. The 31 rooms and suites feature comfortable beds and marble bathrooms, and some have terraces and mountain views. There’s not much to do but eat and drink at the hotel – unless you want to take a 30-minute bus ride to Aguascalientes – but after a long train ride or walking tour, you might just want to relax before heading off. Go to bed early.

For those planning to stay more than one night, it is best to book in Aguascalientes for easy access to the markets and restaurants there. The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is one of the best and most beautiful options in town. It features 83 rustic adobe huts nestled on 12 acres in a cloud forest next to the Urubamba River, home to 214 species of birds and more native orchids.