Machu Picchu is, without a doubt, one of the best tourist destinations in the world. It is estimated that the archaeological site receives around 1.5 million visitors every year. In order for the visit to the Inca city to be the best trip of a person’s life, some aspects of the trip must be organized, such as: entrance fees, the type of train, the tour guide service and other tourist services in Cusco, Peru. In addition, you have to value and know fully the history of Machupicchu, built in the fifteenth century and whose work remains in force to this day. Learn more!

• Distance of the trip to Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu: a trip to the past
• Machu Picchu today
• The different experiences in Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu: the experience of the best trip of your life
• Questions and answers

Observing the constructions of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, one of the world’s main tourist destinations
And it is not necessary to repeat it, so remember this very well; the first thing you must do to get to Machu Picchu is to book the Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets, after doing this you can proceed with the other reservations, plane tickets, hotels, guides and additional tours; do not forget that to get to Machu Picchu you will need to get to Cusco first, and Cusco is one of the best destinations in South America, we assure you that you will find many things to do here, Pisac or Ollantaytambo are just some of them.

Distance of the trip to Machu Picchu

• The Inca city of Machu Picchu is one of the most important destinations in South America and the whole world.
• The expectations with which visitors arrive at Machu Picchu are so high that they fear they will be hopelessly disappointed; however, as they tour the Inca city, they realize that it was totally worthwhile to travel halfway around the world to reach this stone city built in the 15th century.
• From the United States you travel about 7,672 kilometers from San Francisco – California to Cusco, Peru. In addition, from Rome the distance is around 10,570 kilometers. And from Tokyo, Japan, the distance is no less than 15,942 kilometers.

Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in foggy weather

Machu Picchu: a trip to the past

• When traveling to Machu Picchu the tourist will also take a trip to the past to the time of the Incas, whose empire developed between the year 1,400 A.D. to 1,534 A.D.
• The first section is to the city of Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire. There, the main temples and stone buildings were built, such as the Coricancha (temple of the sun) or Sacsayhuaman, the fortress of stones weighing up to 120 tons.
• Before visiting Machu Picchu, most tourists visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This historic area was occupied by the Incas who built important citadels and fortifications, among which stand out: Pisac, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo and Moray.
• In Machu Picchu the visitor will take a trip to the past with the view of important stone constructions, such as: the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the House of the Inca and more. From the House of the Watchman, also called the House of the Guardian, the visitor can get the classic postcard photo of Machu Picchu.

Inca at Machu Picchu – reference

Machu Picchu today

• Machu Picchu is at the top of people’s bucket lists around the world.
• Thousands of visitors arrive at Machu Picchu every day, but even the huge crowds have not deterred people from all over the world from visiting the jewel of the Incas.
• The ancient Inca city was built more than 500 years ago (15th century) between two mountains, in the middle of the Andes and the Amazon jungle, at 2,400 meters above sea level.
• Machu Picchu means ‘old mountain’ in Quechua; it can be reached by a four-day hike along the Inca Trail, which, incidentally, is considered one of the best hikes in the world.
• You can also reach Machu Picchu by train; this route, like everything in Machu Picchu, is amazing, and is among the most incredible short train routes in the world.

To visit Machu Picchu you must purchase one of the 10 new entrances to the Inca city:

Circuits in Machu Picchu

The different experiences in Machu Picchu

• Machu Picchu is one of the most magical and mysterious places on the planet, and you can have amazing experiences there. One of the best, without a doubt, is to get to the top of Huayna Picchu mountain; this incredible experience offers you one of the most amazing short hikes in the world, okay, we overuse the word “amazing”, but when you are in Machu Picchu, you will realize that there is no other word to describe everything you will see there.
• To enter Huayna Picchu mountain you will need to reserve your entrance ticket months in advance. This is the only way to be one of the 400 people who will be able to enter Huayna Picchu on the day of your choice, so you may feel the need to check the availability of Machu Picchu tickets at this time. If you don’t manage to book one of these precious tickets, you can opt for other amazing treks in Machu Picchu, the Machu Picchu mountain hike or the sun gate hike are the best alternatives.
• Another unique experience you can have in Machu Picchu is to feel the incredible energy that emanates from the earth; there is talk of an energy vortex, comparable only to the energy that “could” be felt in places like Tibet, or other places charged with energy around the world. You will feel the energy of Machu Picchu from the moment you pass through the entrance gate and before; however, the greatest amount of energy in the citadel can be felt by placing your hands a few centimeters from the carved stone known as Intihuatana, the Inca sundial; remember, it is forbidden to touch this rock.

Tourist meditating on the summit of Huayna Picchu mountain

Machu Picchu: the experience of the best trip of your life

To organize the best trip of your life in Machu Picchu it is recommended to include the following tourist services:

• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic (Circuit 2).
• Train ticket Vistadome of Inca Rail or train 360 of Inca Rail (economic service that offers the best experience).
• Tour guide service in Machu Picchu (private service).
• Optionally, the Inca Trail 4 days, considered the best hike in the world.

Machu Picchu Circuit 2

Questions and answers

• 1. What is the best ticket for the trip to Machu Picchu?

  The Classic Machu Picchu ticket is considered the best ticket for the trip of a lifetime to the Inca citadel. Especially, if you are making the trip for the first time.

• 2. Which is the most recommended train for the trip to Machu Picchu?

  For a regular trip to Machu Picchu it is recommended to choose the Vistadome train ticket of Peru Rail or The 360 of Inca Rail, both offer adequate prices for the foreign visitor in comfortable services and with a pleasant experience.

• 3. What is the best trek for the trip to Machu Picchu?

  The best trek for the trip to Machu Picchu is the Inca Trail 4 days considered one of the best trekking routes in the world, as well as the best way to visit Machu Picchu.

• 4. When was the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu built?

  The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century, by order of the emperor Pachacutec.

• 5. What is the best hike inside Machu Picchu?

  Inside Machu Picchu there are several trekking options, the best being the route to Huayna Picchu mountain, with breathtaking views and a lot of adventure.

• 6. How much does the regular entrance fee to Machu Picchu cost?

  The Classic Machu Picchu ticket is the most regular, the one that most visitors buy and whose cost is 154 soles on average for foreign adults.

• 7. What does a tour to Machu Picchu include?

  The 1 day (16 hours) Machu Picchu tour includes pick up from the hotel in Cusco or the Sacred Valley, transportation by minivan to Ollantaytambo, the tourist train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes (usually Expedition or The Voyager service), final tourist bus to Machu Picchu (Consettur), the Classic Machu Picchu entrance (circuit 2), the group tour guide service and return to Cusco by bus and train.

• 8. How to visit Machu Picchu on my own, without a tour?

  To visit Machu Picchu on your own you must first purchase online, and in advance, the entrance to Machu Picchu. Then you must purchase, also online, the train ticket. Finally, you can organize the rest of the trip such as: hotels, tour guide service, other tours and more.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Tatiana C.

“A city in the clouds“

“I went on June 21, precisely during the winter solstice; I went up very early to see the sunrise, it is a unique natural spectacle, as long as Machu Picchu has dawned uncovered, and yes, that day was and I will never forget it.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 26, 2024