Machu Picchu has around one hundred and fifty stone constructions, most of them in its archaeological site, although some of them in the deep or high of its mountains. Today some of its constructions remain closed to the public to preserve and protect it, however, most of them are available to the tourist visit through one of the ten tickets and three circuits. Each temple fulfilled a specific function in the citadel, located on top of a mountain in the jungle region of Cusco. Learn which are its most important enclosures, how to visit them and what was their function in Machupicchu.

• The more than one hundred and fifty stone constructions at Machu Picchu
• The function of each of the enclosures in Machu Picchu
• How to visit each of the enclosures of Machu Picchu?
• Questions and answers about the enclosures of Machu Picchu

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu

Entrance fees and tours at Machu Picchu
From 2024 there are ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu. Each of these tickets allows you to visit temples and stone enclosures, some of them little explored by visitors. The tickets preferred by tourists are the Classic Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace tickets. Both allow you to do circuit 2 through the archaeological site, the one that allows to know more stone constructions, such as: the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Sacred Rock, the Water Mirrors and more. In addition, circuit 3 allows you to visit other temples such as: the House of the Inca, the Royal Tomb, the enclosure of the Three Gates, the Temple of the Condor and the Sacred Fountains. Finally, circuit 1 allows you to ascend and visit the House of the Guardian, also known as the House of the Watchman. From there you have a panoramic view of the entire archaeological site.

The more than one hundred and fifty stone constructions at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has more than one hundred and fifty buildings including temples, houses, workshops, plazas, terraces, stairways, viewpoints and more. It has an extension of 325.9 square kilometers in its Historic Sanctuary.

Most of its territory is made up of terraces and stone paths (the famous qhapac ñan). Although at first glance they look like minor buildings, they are actually important constructions, which underneath have several layers of stone and sand for proper drainage in a very humid area.

The most important buildings are in its urban and religious area, current archaeological site, located at the top of the town of Aguas Calientes, at an altitude of 2,430 meters above sea level. Important temples dedicated to the worship of the Inca gods such as the sun, the mountains and the earth have been recorded there.

The most important constructions of Machu Picchu are made of granite stone with a fine carving. The temples dedicated to the sun have the finest stonework. These are: the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana. Likewise, other constructions such as the Sacred Rock or the Temple of the 3 Windows were dedicated to honor the Inca cosmovision and religiosity.

The best way to know Machu Picchu is with the company of a professional tour guide. They are knowledgeable about the function and importance of each of the constructions in the Inca citadel. In addition, inside Machu Picchu the temples do not have a legend that summarizes the function of each construction.

Unfortunately, due to the large number of visitors per day, some buildings are closed to the public to avoid deterioration or damage in the future. The most famous building closed to the public is the Intihuatana, located at the top of the religious sector.

Likewise, visitors under 18 years of age are not allowed to enter the mountains of Machu Picchu. This is to protect them from possible accidents. The rest of the Inca constructions, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the House of the Inca or the Temple of the 3 Windows, are open to visitors. Welcome!

Location of the constructions in Machu Picchu

The function of each of the enclosures in Machu Picchu

These are the main stone enclosures in Machu Picchu and their function and importance:

• The Temple of the Sun – The most important temple of Machu Picchu. The only one with a semicircular shape. Its function was to worship the sun, the god Inti. The sun’s rays filter through its windows.
• The Main Temple – The largest temple located in the heart of the main square. The most important ceremonies were held there. It has a large ‘U’ shaped structure with a ceremonial table. Its function was the meeting point for the most important religious ceremonies in Machu Picchu.
• The Temple of the 3 Windows – The temple with the most amazing carvings, because of the volume of its rocks and the three large windows that were built there. Its function was to worship the three deities of the Inca cosmovision: the celestial world (hanan pacha), the earthly world (kai pacha) and the underworld (uku pacha). It is in the middle of the ceremonial plaza.
• The Intihuatana – The sundial, at the top of the religious sector. It has a small pyramidal structure on three levels that receives the sun’s rays at the top and whose shadow is projected on its stone structure. Its function was that of an astronomical calendar to predict the time of planting and harvesting in Machu Picchu.
• The Sacred Rock – This temple or shrine has the shape of a large mountain. In its base a structure was carved in stone to offer the offerings. It has a dimension of three meters high on a base of seven meters wide. It was a shrine to the mountain, also called the ‘apus’.
• The Temple of the Condor – This temple, as its name indicates, had the function of a shrine to the Andean condor, a sacred animal for the Inca cosmovision. It is believed that the Incas saw the condor as a messenger between the earthly world and the world of the gods. That is why they built this structure with a stone base and the three-dimensional shape of a condor’s body.
• The Temple of the Moon, the Great Cavern – The Incas considered caverns as sacred places. They believed that they communicated the earthly world with the world of the dead or underworld. Therefore, in this cave located at the base of Huayna Picchu, they built niches, a ceremonial table and fine walls for the worship of the dead.
• The Intipunku – This stone enclosure is at the top, at the gateway to Machu Picchu in Inca times. Its function was to control the entrance and exit of people. It has walls, viewpoints, paths and windows that receive the first rays of the sun.
• La Casa del Inca – As its name indicates, it was used as a dwelling for the Inca or his royal family during their visits to Machu Picchu. It has a fine structure with its own access to water, bathrooms and viewpoints to the agricultural sector. It is next to the Temple of the Sun, the most important religious precinct.
• Tres Portadas – This enclosure composed of several rooms connected by doors were workshops where people worked ceramics, textiles and utensils necessary for the subsistence of Machu Picchu. It is located in the urban and agricultural part of the archaeological site.
• Los Espejos de Agua – This room has two excavations carved in stone on the floor. It is believed that there the Incas, when filled with water, saw reflected the moon and the stars, two of their most important gods. The water mirrors are in the lower urban area of Machu Picchu.

Main entrance to the citadel of Machu Picchu

How to visit each of the enclosures of Machu Picchu?

Questions and answers about the enclosures of Machu Picchu

• 1) What was the function of the Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu?

  This temple had the function of a shrine to the sun, the god Inti, the most important of the Incas.

• 2) What was the function of the Temple of the Condor?

  This temple was a shrine to the Andean condor, which communicated the earthly world with the world of the gods.

• 3) What was the function of the Intihuatana?

  This Inca pyramidal construction was an astronomical calendar that predicted the time of sowing and harvesting in Machu Picchu.

• 4) What was the function of the Main Temple of Machu Picchu?

  It was the temple where the main religious ceremonies were held in Machu Picchu. It has a ‘U’ shape.

• 5) What was the function of the Sacred Rock of Machu Picchu?

  This temple has the shape of a mountain. At its base, offerings were made to the tutelary gods, the apus, the highest mountains.

• 6) What was the function of the Intipunku of Machu Picchu?

  This construction at the top of Machu Picchu was the control point for entering and leaving the Inca citadel during Inca times.

• 7) What was the function of the Guardian’s House of Machu Picchu?

  This simple construction was the most complete lookout of the citadel, control and surveillance post in Machu Picchu during the Inca empire.

• 8) What was the function of the water mirrors of Machu Picchu?

  This room has two circular formations on the floor where, by pouring water, the stars and the moon, important gods for the Incas, were reflected.

• 9) What was the function of the Great Cavern of Machu Picchu?

  This construction was a sacred place where the dead were worshipped. It is believed that the caves communicated the earthly world with the world of the dead.

• 10) What was the function of the Temple of the 3 Windows of Machu Picchu?

  This building has three windows that worshiped the Inca cosmovision in three worlds: the hanan pacha (upper world), the kai pacha (earthly world) and the uku pacha (underworld).

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Fiorella B.

“The land of the Incas“

“Cusco and Machu Picchu are very old cities with a lot of history where you can breathe tranquility and beauty everywhere. I would come back a thousand times if I could.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, November 11, 2024