Machu Picchu is the number one destination in Peru. It is also one of the most visited places in South America and, of course, in the world. The route to the Inca city is a trip to the glorious past of the Incas: its great stone architecture, its splendid landscape and its history make it a special tourist attraction. To go without problems, you should organize your trip two or three months in advance. Whether you buy a tour or travel on your own, you should book your hotels, make a good acclimatization and determine the right itinerary. Learn more!

• Machu Picchu: the best tourist destination in Peru
• The mysterious constructions of Machu Picchu Inca city
• Guide to go to Machu Picchu without problems
• Tips to go to Machu Picchu without problems
• The tickets you should choose to visit Machu Picchu
• Questions and answers about Machu Picchu in Peru

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Peru’s number one destination and one of the best in South America and the world.
If Machu Picchu is the destination of your trip to Peru, know that it is the most visited attraction in South America, a World Heritage Site, one of the 7 wonders of the world and the bastion of what was the largest empire in South America. Machu Picchu is built in the middle of two mountains between the Andes and the Amazon, almost 500 meters above the Urubamba river valley. It is a mysterious engineering marvel built more than 500 years ago, with 600 terraces, more than 170 buildings, hundreds of steps and paths, several temples, 16 fountains and even temples dedicated to the sun god (the god Inti). The Incas built their city with thousands of stones, some of them really big, brought from white granite quarries more than 30 kilometers from the site. How did they do it? It is a great work of human engineering.

Machu Picchu: the best tourist destination in Peru

• Since 2018, Machu Picchu has been chosen as the best tourist destination in South America according to the World Travel Awards, a simile to the Oscars of world tourism.
• In addition, every year Machu Picchu occupies the first places in the preference of visitors from around the world according to online forums such as TripAdvisor.
• Since it was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the Inca city has attracted millions of people from all over the world and is, in recent years, one of the most desired destinations on the planet.
• According to statistics, Machu Picchu went from receiving 400,000 visitors in 2000 to one million in 2010 and over 1.2 million in 2014. Today the Inca archaeological site receives about 1.5 million visitors a year.
• And more and more tourists from all over the world are interested in visiting the Wonder of the World. The Machu Picchu experience includes adventure (hiking trails), incredible landscapes (the Inca city is one of the most photographed places on the planet), amazing architecture and a great history.

Postcard photo of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

The mysterious constructions of Machu Picchu Inca city

• Machu Picchu has more than 150 stone constructions, such as temples, terraces, simple enclosures, royal enclosures, viewpoints, stairways and more. Some of the buildings still have stories to tell, such as the Royal Tomb or the Temple of the Sun.
• The legendary and mysterious stonework of the Incas can be seen in the most important buildings, which exhibit a precision in the setting of the stones that almost defies logic. Such is the quality of workmanship achieved by the Incas that even today, after 500 years, it remains in a good state of preservation.
• The Incas did not know metal, carbon, or any material that would allow them to achieve such precision in molding one of the hardest stones in the region, so how they did it is still a mystery. Some of their most famous temples are the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Temple of the Condor or the Sacred Rock.
• In addition to the peculiar work of the rocks, another distinctive feature of Machu Picchu is the system of terraces (platforms), which not only served to gain farmland on the mountain, but to prevent the city from sliding off the mountain. It is estimated that in the Inca city there are more than 9 hectares of agricultural terraces. This allowed the city to be preserved intact, after being abandoned for 400 years under the jungle vegetation to prevent it, like dozens of other Inca cities, from being destroyed by invaders.
• The agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu were designed to cope with the 200 cm3 of rainfall per year, which could otherwise cause large and destructive landslides. Without this system, the city would have collapsed hundreds of years ago.

Tourist observing the constructions of Machu Picchu

Guide to go to Machu Picchu without problems

• To go to Machu Picchu without problems you must first decide whether to hire a tour or go on your own. If you go with a tour, you do not have to worry about much because the tour already includes the necessary services, such as: pick up from the hotel in Cusco, transportation to the train station, tourist train ride, final trip by tourist bus, the entrance to Machu Picchu, the tour guide service and the return to the city of Cusco (by bus and train). If you choose a 2 day tour, the hotel is usually included.
• However, if you go on your own you should organize everything 2 or 3 months in advance for a smooth trip. The first thing to do is to buy the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu online (on the website www.machupicchu.gob.pe).
• The availability of tickets to Machu Picchu has a limit, so it is recommended to choose the ticket of your preference (recommended the ticket Machu Picchu Classic – Circuit 2) in the schedule you prefer.
• After getting your ticket, depending on the day and time of admission, you must purchase your train ticket. You can do it on the websites of Peru Rail or Inca Rail. There are several services available, all of which are high quality tourist services.
• Both the entrance to Machu Picchu and the train ticket are the most important services. The other services, such as the bus ticket, the tour guide service or the hotel in Aguas Calientes, can be booked more calmly, online or in person in Cusco.

Map to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Tips to go to Machu Picchu without problems

• Machu Picchu is open 365 days a year, however, from November to March is the rainy season. And although it has its advantages, most people prefer to come during the dry season (April to October), giving rise to the high season of tourism in Cusco and Machupicchu.
• Machu Picchu is located at 2,400 meters above sea level. Although this is not an altitude where you are at risk of altitude sickness, the only way to enter the Inca city is through the city of Cusco, which is located at 3,390 meters above sea level. This is an altitude that could cause you to get altitude sickness, especially if you come from cities near sea level.
• So remember that a good acclimatization is highly recommended for a trip to Machu Picchu. Try the “mate de coca”, an ancestral remedy used since the time of the Incas, this can reduce the symptoms and the possibility of getting sick.
• Some people decide on the day of their arrival in Cusco to go directly to the town of Aguas Calientes (at the foot of Machu Picchu) or to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, both located at lower altitudes. Maximize the hydration of your body by drinking plenty of water and coca tea, avoid alcohol, excessive activity and heavy meals.
• You can choose to stay in Cusco or Aguas Calientes, or both depending on the type of trip you want. There are hundreds of accommodation options, from hostels and hostels to 5 star hotels.

The tickets you should choose to visit Machu Picchu

These are the tickets available for your visit to Machu Picchu:

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Offers circuit 1 at the archaeological site.
• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic – Offers circuit 2 at the archaeological site.
• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace – Offers circuit 2 at the archaeological site (classic photo by a lower terrace).
• Ticket Machu Picchu Temples of the lower part – Offers circuit 3 in the archaeological site.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu – Offers circuit 3 at the archaeological site, as well as the hike to Huayna Picchu mountain.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain – Offers circuit 1 at the archaeological site, as well as the trek to Machupicchu mountain.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu – Offers circuit 3 at the archaeological site, as well as the hike to the small mountain Huchuy Picchu.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Intipunku – Offers circuit 1 at the archaeological site, as well as the hike to Intipunku (Sun Gate).
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge – Offers circuit 1 at the archaeological site, as well as the hike to the Inca Bridge.
• Ticket Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon – Offers circuit 3 at the archaeological site, as well as the hike to the Temple of the Moon (Great Cavern).

Map of Machu Picchu with all the circuits and treks

Questions and answers about Machu Picchu in Peru

• 1) Is it recommended to go to Machu Picchu with a tour guide?

  You can explore Machu Picchu with the help of your smartphone or a detailed guide book; however, a guide will add a personal touch along with technical knowledge. A guided tour in Machu Picchu lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes.

• 2) What items are prohibited in Machu Picchu?

  There are items that you may not bring into Machu Picchu, these include trekking poles, umbrellas, drones, drones and disability canes, and you may only enter with one of these if you can prove that you need it, in case of mobility problems, however, these will have to have the tip covered with rubber.

• 3) What are the buses to Machu Picchu on the final stretch?

  It will take about an hour and a half to get from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu, that is why we recommend you to take one of the buses to Machu Picchu, these will take you to the entrance of Machu Picchu in only 25 minutes. Although this service can be a little expensive, remember that you will need all your energy in Machu Picchu. The frequency of departures is excellent, leaving every 10 minutes starting at 5:30 in the morning.

• 4) Which ticket to choose to add a little adventure to the trip to Machu Picchu?

  Within Machu Picchu there are several trekking options to add a little adventure to the visit. Of all of them, the most popular and recommended is the route to Huayna Picchu mountain.

• 5) What is the most recommended type of ticket to Machu Picchu?

  Each of the ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu offers a different experience. Of all of them, the most recommended is the ‘Classic Machu Picchu’ ticket, which offers circuit 2 through the archaeological site.

• 6) Which circuit in Machu Picchu allows me to see more?

  Circuit 2 is the most recommended in Machu Picchu because it allows you to see most of the stone constructions. In addition, it allows the classic photo, which is obtained from the sector of the Guardian’s House.

• 7) What is the main problem when visiting Machu Picchu?

  The main problem in the tourist visit to Machu Picchu is to get a ticket in time. The tickets have a limited availability which requires making the purchase online two to three months in advance.

• 8) What problem could the closure of Machu Picchu cause?

  The archaeological site of Machu Picchu is open every day of the year. The main problems that can cause its closure are emergencies such as social protests (road blockades) or natural disasters (such as landslides due to heavy rains).

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Amiel R.

“Spirituality and nature“

“If you love nature, spirituality and history, Machu Picchu is the place you should choose to visit, it is one of the most fantastic places in the world, but there are also related topics such as astrology and endless undiscovered mysteries. You have to go at least once in your life, not for nothing is it one of the 7 wonders of the world.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 28, 2024