“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” Yogi Berra was probably talking about Machu Picchu with this quote. He probably also said the internet doesn’t need another travel guide for Machu Picchu. But, joke’s on him!
This is by far the biggest attraction for international tourists in Peru. For visitors it is a wondrously stunning work of ancient architecture, a spiritual refuge for reflection, or an inspiring example of man living with nature. Sometimes it’s all three.
Travel Guide for Machu Picchu: Basic Info
History
Most likely, Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century and served as a refuge to the great Incan leader Pachacutec. It was home to an entire community which mysteriously abandoned the city before the arrival of the Spanish. The jungle quickly enveloped the site and hid it from the destructive “conquistadores“.
Hiram Bingham arrived to Machu Picchu in 1911, during a time of a nascent indigenous movement in Peru and a worldwide obsession with archaeological artifacts. This stellar timing eventually resulted in Machu Picchu being the best-preserved example of Incan architecture, with lots of controversy along the way.
In 1983 UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site, and in 2007 it was voted one of the seven Wonders of the New World.
Today up to 2,500 people visit every day, and the site is a powerful source of Peruvian pride and indigenous identity.
The Major Attraction
Some places are ultra famous for a reason. Machu Picchu is one of them. The awe-inspiring architecture fits perfectly into the lush landscape. It’s a true challenge – maybe impossible – to take a bad photo.
The site is home to the largest-known “Intihuatana”(a ritual sun stone) and multiple temples. Because of this, Machu Picchu provides in-person lessons in Incan cosmology and belief systems.
A tour of the site takes a couple of hours and shows you the temples, agricultural areas, and living quarters. Add-ons allow you to hike up the adjacent mountains, Huaynu Picchu, Huchuy Picchu, or Machu Picchu Mountain. These are less crowded, unique experiences that provide breathtaking views.
They are also strenuous, vertigo-inducing hikes, as you can see in these photos of our friends climbing Huaynu Picchu:
Make sure to fit enough time at Machu Picchu if you choose one of these hikes. Below is an average of how long visitors need to complete each:
- Huchuy Picchu: 1-2 hours
- Huaynu Picchu: 2-3 hours
- Machu Picchu Mountain: 4 hours
To summarize, Machu Picchu provides visitors unbeatable views, adrenaline-charging adventures, and lessons in ancient ingenuity. These all make the trip to Machu Picchu more than worth it, whether it’s by train from Cusco or a multi-day hike.
Machu Picchu’s Future
The site is actually one section of a national park, most of which is unaccessible to visitors. The park conserves the beautiful cloud forest, which is home to super cool animals like the spectacled bear.
However there has been concern that the number of daily tourists is too high and can be putting the site in danger of eventual collapse. Yet as of now, UNESCO has kept Machu Picchu off of its list of sites in danger.
Due to environmental concerns, you can’t bring plastic water bottles. Reusable bottles are fine, as are small snacks that are in wrappers. Make sure to bring enough of both of these since prices at the cafe next to Machu Picchu are exorbitant. (Food and water are not sold inside Machu Picchu).
Another note: your backpack cannot be over 5 kilos (just over 10 lbs).
Finally, no smoking is allowed. True story, I once saw someone get kicked out of the site because she refused to put out a cigarette. Machu Picchu is worth not having a smoke for a few hours!
How to Get Tickets
There is only ONE official site that sells tickets to Machu Picchu, run by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. Other places buy a certain number from the Ministry ahead of time, and it’s OK to buy from them too.
Make sure to buy in advance and to decide if you want an add-on hike (read about Huaynu Picchu, Huchuy Picchu, and Machu Picchu Mountain here).
Tickets for the Inca Trail and other tours include the entrance for Machu Picchu as well. Make sure to confirm this with your tour operator.
How to Get There
The Basics
First, you have to get to Cusco, a long bus ride or a quick plane trip from a Lima.
The town closest to Machu Picchu is called both Aguascalientes and Machu Picchu Pueblo. It is only accessible by rail. You can take the 4-hour trip from Cuzco.
Another option is to travel from Urubamba or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, which take 2.5 and 2 hours, respectively.
From Aguascalientes, buses leave every 15 minutes from 5:30 AM to 3 PM for the 20-minute trip to Machu Picchu. Buy a bus ticket at least one day earlier if you can! You also can walk the steep, hour-ish hike alongside the road instead.
Most packages for the Inca Trail (including its alternatives) include entrance to Machu Picchu, saving you some time and possible headaches.
The Back Way
An INSANELY affordable way to get there is via Santa Theresa. This takes about a day longer and is certainly a more rugged route, but it has gained in popularity.
Just take a bus from Cusco to Santa Theresa. This will take about 4 hours. The next day, buy a train ticket at nearby Hidroelectrica for the 40-minute ride to Aguas Calientes.
Another option is to walk next the tracks. This takes 2-3 hours to arrive at Aguas Calientes. Enjoy the lush tropical vegetation, and bring water :)
Top Tips
- Plan at least 3 hours’ time to see the site itself. This includes a tour and time to explore. Keep in mind the buses take about 20 minutes to return to Machu Picchu Pueblo, and the bus line can get long.
- Set aside a good 2-3 hours for Huaynu Picchu and 3-4 for Machu Picchu Mountain. Huchuy Picchu takes roughly 1-2 hours to complete.
- Not sure which one to take? We recommend Huaynu Picchu! It’s a tough, adrenaline-filled 2-hour hike that you will never forget.
- It’s a good idea to pay for a guided tour. These are local tour guides and know the area inside and out.
- Take time to get away from any crowds and just take it all in. This is truly a magical place, but it’s temptingly easy to just make a passing visit and check it off a bucket list. Avoid that :)
- Hold on to your snacks! Llamas are very used to tourists and WILL try to eat food from your hand.
When to Go
First of all, you can visit Machu Picchu and have an amazing experience 365 days of the year. The most popular months to visit are during the dry “Andean summer”, June through August.
Having said that, the best months to visit Machu Picchu are at the beginning and end of the rainy season. That’s because the weather is nice and the crowds aren’t huge. These months are April, May, September and October.
Still, many people enjoy the less-crowded months of the rainy season, at the risk of getting caught in a downpour. The rainy season lasts from November through March. Another plus is, hotels and tours offer discounts at these times.
*And remember the Inca Trail is closed for the entire month of February*
The Weather at Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a cloud forest ecosystem. These are tropical, warm and wet areas. The day gets warm and sunny yet nighttime can be surprisingly cold. Year-round highs are in the 60s Fahrenheit (20 C) and lows in the 30-40s (0-8 C).
Conclusion
Pretty much every traveler blogger has a Travel Guide for Machu Picchu article. But you chose ours, so thanks!
It’s become cliche to say Machu Picchu is too crowded and that you enjoyed (fill in place name here) more. But if you do it right, you’ll at least taste the unique magic of the once-lost city of the Incas.
So take time to get there and stay a while when you finally do arrive. We recommend staying at least one night in Aguascalientes so you don’t rush through the main attraction.
Have you been to Machu Picchu? Let us know your experience below!
Or, wanna see an example of the PERFECT itinerary that includes Machu Picchu? Check out our Peru Bucket List trip here!
Until next time!
