Machu Picchu is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes ofPeru. At 2,430 metres (8,000 ft) above sea level, this
UNESCO World Heritage Site is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”, is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire, and is one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world.
These remarkable ruins were rediscovered by the scientific world in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by locals. Perched dramatically 1000ft above the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu is aUNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the end point of the most popular hike inSouth America, theInca Trail.
The story of Machu Picchu is quite a remarkable one; it is still unknown exactly what the sitewas in terms of its place in Inca life. Current researchers tend to believe that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incas. At any given time, there were not more than 750 people living at Machu Picchu, with far fewer than that during the rainy season. The Incas started building it around AD 1430 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of theSpanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
One thing that is clear is that it was a remarkably well hidden place, and well protected. Located far up in the mountains of Peru, visitors had to travel up long valleys littered with Inca check points and watch towers. Remarkably, the Spanish conquistadors missed the site. However, many people are said to have knowledge of the ancient city as it was referred to in some text found in the 20th century. However, it was not until Bingham that Machu Picchu was scientifically discovered. He was on a trip sponsored by the Yale University, actually looking for the last Inca capital, which was at Vilcabamba, which Bingham also rediscovered but overlooked in favor of the more impressive Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had removed from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu.
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Daytime highs are quite constant around the year, but the nighttime lows are much more pronounced during the Southern Hemisphere winter. As is common in the tropics, most of the yearly rain falls during the rainy season which in Machu Picchu is October to April. Due to the altitude, extremely hot temperatures that one may expect this close to the Equator are absent. However these two factors contribute to very high levels ofUV-radiation (nearby Cuzco actually has the highest average level of UV-radiation in the world for any major city) so do take precautions. its mostly between 12 and 27 °C.
Both are abundant and varied. Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machupicchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids.
The fauna in the reserve includes the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or "tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region.
The lay of the land, the natural surroundings and the strategic location of Machu Picchu lend this monument a fusion of beauty, harmony and balance between the work of the ancient Peruvians and the whims of nature.
Visitors to Machu Picchu typically either hike the Inca Trail or leave by rail fromCuzco orOllantaytambo, either on a day trip, or overnighting inAguas Calientes. The only ways to get toAguas Calientes are by train or on foot — no roads go there.
Overnighting allows you to visit the park early or late in the day and avoid the worst of the crowds, and on sunny days, gives you a nice window of reprieve from the beating sun. The wet season in Peru is from November (often only really taking off in December) until the end of March, so then it is best to include a few extra days for flexibly dealing with delays.
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From Aguas Calientes, there are two ways to reach the ruins: by bus or walking (free steep hike), as described below.
Depending on when you arrive, the site may be quite crowded or nearly deserted. The busiest periods are in the dry season (June–August), with the slowest being in February, the height of the rainy season, when the Inca Trail is closed. Most visitors arrive on package tours and are in the park between 10:00 and 14:00.
To access the site, you must have both a bus ticket (unless you plan on hiking) and ticket for Machu Picchu - which are available on in advance fromthe official website or from the ticket office in Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu tickets arenot sold at the entrance gate and are limited to 1000 a day when buying in person.
It is obligatory to bring yourpassport to enter Machu Picchu. Even if your ticket is on your national id card, the officer will still ask for your passport.
If arriving by train into Aguas Calientes, walk out of the-13.15568-72.5241train station and keep going roughly straight through the warren of handicraft stalls and over a foot bridge to the-13.154997-72.5255982bus departure area. Frequent busses leave to the ruins (US$12 each way (Jan 2024), US$24 round-trip for adult foreigners) starting at 05:30. Bus tickets can be bought in two-13.154874-72.5248183Consettur ticket booths along Avenida Hermanos Ayar, payment in cash or MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, UnionPay. You will need to show an ID/passport when buying a bus ticket.
There's often a queue to the buses, so if you're intent on being on the first one up, you should arrive at least 90 minutes early. The journey takes around 30 minutes to slowly wind around the switchbacks and up to the park. Buses depart when full, which typically means they run quite regularly. At popular times, there may be a lengthy queue for the busses, so plan the return trip accordingly in order not to miss train departures.
From Aguas Calientes to get to the ruins themselves it is also possible to walk along a route similar to the one that the buses run, which will take about 1½–2 hours up, and around an hour back down. This route is mainly stairs, connecting the switchbacks that the buses take. It is a strenuous and long hike but is very rewarding, recommended to start around 05:00 when the gate at the foot opens, to make it to the top before sunrise. The descent is fairly easy, just take care when the steps are wet. Keep alert for the bus drivers that rarely brake for pedestrians.
Hiking the-13.2581-72.26334Inca Trail is a great way to arrive as you first see the city through the Sun Gate (instead of arriving from below as you do from Aguas Calientes). The four-day and two-day hikes are controlled by the government. Travelers should be fit enough to walk for days and sleep in tents. Every traveler must travel with a tour agency because of the rules and regulations of entering the park. The Peruvian government has imposed a 500-person pass limit per day on Inca Trail traffic. Passes sell out far in advance, particularly for the high season.
There are also other options available for hiking to Machu Picchu. Both of these alternatives can be booked a couple days in advance when you arrive in Cuzco and can be much cheaper options and good ways to stay away from the crowds before getting to Machu Picchu.
TheSalkantay Trek is a 5-day trek through the Salkantay Mountain Pass. It is possible to do this trek without an organized tour. The scenery is amazing and if you go in the rainy season you will be rewarded with dozens of waterfalls. Though, at the same time, you will be wet for the most part anyways.
Accommodation and transport until reaching Machu Picchu costs about US$150 (Jan 2024) when going it alone. Expect organized tours to charge a premium. Do your research in Cuzco and pick the tour company you feel most comfortable with. Some groups will offer slightly more (sleeping bag included, etc.) than others.
TheInca Jungle Trek is an agency tour. The three day trek that begins with a drive to the top of a mountain and then a bike ride down to the bottom. A full day of hiking follows the next day to Aguas Calientes.
The "backdoor" route used is also an option for independent travelers wishing to go it alone. Minivans and busses are cheap (S/15-30) from "Terminal Santiago" in Cusco and take you to either Santa Maria or Santa Teresa. Santa Maria is further away from Aguas Calientes than Santa Teresa but is a nice option for those wishing to hike an alternative Inca trail used locally. The walk takes you through the mountains and tiny villages, even people's farms and offers impressive views of the valley. You can end up in Santa Teresa the same day and there are villages, such as Huacayupana and Quellomayo en route which offer an alternative view of local life and accommodation if you don't make it to Santa Teresa that day. Walking on from here to Santa Teresa is along the river (May - November) and by road during rainy season, although it is advisable to get advice before taking this route between December and April due to severe weather. From Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica is a 25-minute taxi or minibus ride and from here you can walk the 2- to 3-hour flattish trek to Aguas Calientes which is one of the nicest parts of the journey.
Additionally, many local tour operators have since opened up alternate trekking options that allow for similar trekking opportunities in the area. Most visit other Inca ruins, not as well excavated, and finish with the train trip up to see Machu Picchu at the end. One such option is theChoquequirao Trek, which starts in Cacharo and ends in Los Loros or the Cachiccata Trek which starts in Racca and ends in Cachiccata.
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The government of Peru caps the number of tickets to 5000 per day - of which 4000 are available for online purchases and the remainder for in-person booking. Tickets are available for purchase online at thegovernment website and in person from the ticket office in-13.154369-72.5253165Aguas Calientes. A government-maintainedreal-time availability tracker is available to see how many tickets are still available for purchase in Aguas Calientes for a given day. Keep in mind though that tickets bought in person may only be usedthe day after they are purchased (it is not possible to buy a ticket in person and enter the same day).
Online tickets can be purchased several months in advance and require a credit card. Usually bookings are sold out for the month ahead, so visiting Machu Picchu requires planning. If an error is shown at the payment process, most probably you try to purchase the tickets (1) not during Peru office hours or (2) from outside of Peru. Try using a VPN service with a server located in Peru. Tickets may also be reserved online for payment in person at the ticket office in-13.517642-71.9804636Cusco, which must be paid within five hours of the transaction being made. Tickets are no longer available for purchase in person at the ticket office in Cusco.
Tickets are divided into tenroutes grouped into threecircuits, reduced from 5 on 1 June 2024. The ticket you buy will be for only one route within one of these circuits. To see all of Machu Picchu, you will need to buy multiple tickets at a price of S/152 (Nov 2024) each. A reduced price of S/77 (Nov 2024) is available for students with an ISIC card or minors. Citizens of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia or Colombia pay S/112 (Nov 2024). When preparing your budget, do not forget to include train tickets and bus tickets, and perhaps food at the site.
Be sure to bring your passport, as it is requested upon entry. Some travelers have been able to enter with other forms of ID.
Only small packs are allowed in the park (20x35x40cm), but there is a luggage storage at the entrance for S/5 (Nov 2024). Note that it is not allowed to bring food into Machu Picchu. If your pack is checked, any food you carry may be confiscated.
There are no toilets within the site, but they are available right outside the entrance and are clean and well maintained. They cost S/2 (Nov 2024). Note that you cannot exit to use the toilets and then re-enter the site. The tickets are single use only, so use the toilets as needed before you enter the site.
You can book guides through travel agencies or find guides at the entrance. The price depends on the circuits. While you can easily get a shared guide for the classic Circuit 2 for 10 USD per person, you will probably need a private guide for Circuit 3, as it is more special. Private guides cost around 50 USD. The guides are trained and officially registered. You can recognize them as they have an ID-Card like permit on a keylace.
There are no vehicles of any kind in the park, so bring some comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes such as Huayna Picchu. No walking sticks are allowed in the main area, except for visitors who have difficulty walking; however, theyare allowed on Huayna Picchu, where they help significantly with the climb, especially down. The walking sticks cannot be steel tipped ones. There are rubber tipped walking sticks available for rent in Aguas Calientes. The main ruins are fairly compact and easily walk-able.
Unless you have acclimated to the high altitude, you will likely be out of breath on any ascent. The steps are also uneven. Take your time, and enjoy the views while catching your breath.
Many of the paths are one-way, so be careful – you can easily find yourself missing a spot you wanted to see or forced into the exit accidentally.
Mobility-disabled visitors can arrange wheelchair/accessible tours via private tour groups, and see a substantial portion of the site.
All the views from above, but be sure before you do it that there are no clouds (early in the morning is always cloudy, it is recommended to do it at noon).
Take your time walking around the site, there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not required, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it. As of Mar 2018, a 2-hr guided tour is S/200, but can be negotiated down depending on how busy the site is. If you wish to save money, you can team up with other tourists who would like to have a guided tour. As a cheaper alternative to a guide, there are several apps providing virtual audio tours of the site.
Relatively little is known about the history and uses of the ruins, and some of the stories told by the guides are based on little more than imaginative hearsay.
If you got some energy in you, there are a few great hikes involving a bit of legwork. Do make sure that you've taken the time to acclimate to the elevation either in Cuzco or Aguas Calientes for a couple days before exerting yourself too much, especially on Huayna Picchu.
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You are not allowed to bring any food into the park, and must check it in at the luggage storage at the entrance. In practice, however, bags are rarely searched, and most people have no problem getting a bottle of water and some snacks in with them, which you'll definitely want, especially if you're planning to stray from the central set of ruins. Buy these beforehand, as they're much more expensive at the site itself. Don't even think of leaving a shred of trash behind you. If you are thinking of walking from 06:00 to 17:00, you will need at least 1.5 litres of water.
Once in the site, there are no food or drinks for sale, though it is possible to leave and return.
Because this is a protected park, further construction in the area is nearly impossible. Thus, there is only onevery expensive hotel at the site itself. Almost everyone who wants to overnight near Machu Picchu books a hotel in nearbyAguas Calientes.
(updated Feb 2025)Back to town (in order of size and distance):
In the area:
Further afield:
| Thispark travel guide toMachu Picchuis ausable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
