It is a fantastic plan to go to Machu Picchu. Is without a doubt one of the most well-known spots on the planet. After making the effort to reach this mountaintop fortress, you will experience something that is rare in the wider world: genuine wonder.
Given its prominence as a tourist hotspot, however, many would-be visitors to Machu Picchu have many concerns regarding the logistics of getting there. For those in this category, you have found the right blog! We’ll give you the lowdown on everything you need to know before you go exploring the Inca Empire’s Lost City.
Truths About Machu Picchu:
Is Machu Picchu accessible from a nearby airport?
As a result of Peru’s outstanding topography, the sacred site of Machu Picchu may be found tucked away in the highlands, exactly at the point where the high rainforest of this intriguing nation meets the mountains. In a nutshell, this implies there is no airport in close proximity to the fortress. It is necessary to travel to the beautiful city of Cuzco, which is around 5 hours away from Machu Picchu if you intend to see Machu Picchu.
We suggest that you stay at least two nights in Cuzco, one on the night you arrive and the other on the night before your departure, due to the time it will take to get there and back and the difficulties of your transportation.
I’d want to visit Machu Picchu, but I don’t know the best route there.
Only from Aguas Calientes can you reach the trailhead for the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu. Trains depart from Cuzco, Poroy, and Ollantaytambo and go on to Aguas Calientes. First two are roughly four hours away from Machu Picchu’s town of Aguas Calientes, but Ollantaytambo is just about an hour and a half away.
However, after you get to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes), you’ll need to make one more, short trek, the details of which are provided below.
Travelers should know that Peru is much more than simply Machu Picchu. The cities in these Peruvian highlands are home to interesting ancient sites, breathtaking scenery, and a wealth of indigenous culture, all of which may be explored by the train that departs from Ollantaytambo and travels through the Sacred Valley. As an added bonus, this location offers a wide variety of luxurious places to stay that are sure to make your vacation unforgettable.
How do I travel to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes?
From Machu Picchu Village, there are two routes to the Inca fortress (Aguas Calientes). The first is to take a bus run by Consettur, a company established by residents of Machu Picchu town to help boost the economy. Only one bus service travels this route.
In Machu Picchu, you may buy bus tickets right from the Consettur bus line offices on Sinchi Roca and Av. Hermanos Ayar (Aguas Calientes). You may either go out and get them yourself, or have your destination specialist do it for you.
Both the town bus terminal and the citadel gate are serviced by buses every ten minutes. Yet, the wait times in line are notoriously lengthy. The typical duration of a one-way bus ride is 20 minutes.
There is also the option of hiking the 5.6 miles (9 kilometres) between Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu citadel. If you walk at a moderate speed, you may spend two hours doing this journey. Remember that you will be climbing many flights of stairs as you make your way through the trees and to the road. There are exactly 2,000 of them to ascend.
Please advise me on what to do with my bags given the size and weight limits imposed by Machu Picchu.
It is possible to bring a standard-sized bag on the train to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes). An extra price will be charged to transport your extra baggage in the cargo vehicle if you want to stay the night in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). The best way to see Machu Picchu in a day is by taking a day trip, and to do so comfortably, we advise bringing just the necessities in a backpack.
If, upon arriving to Machu Picchu, you decide you’d rather not bring your bag inside the monument, you may use one of the for-hire lockers to store it (at an additional cost).
In case you’ve decided to use a travel agency like Metrojourneys, know that we’ll be happy to take care of transporting your registered baggage from the train station to your hotel in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). Your bags will be in your room waiting for you when you return from your Machu Picchu day trip.
When can I visit Machu Picchu?
There are now nine separate entry times for Machu Picchu, starting at 6:00 a.m. and occurring every hour on the hour. Visitors have till 2:00 p.m. to enter the citadel, and they’ll get four hours to explore the site. Prior to purchasing your ticket to Machu Picchu, please have a look at the following table for helpful information on entry hours.
When is the optimal time to visit Machu Picchu?
You may go to Machu Picchu whenever you choose! There are, however, some people who find it more convenient to come early in the day. Smaller numbers are often present at the early entry hour. In order to access Machu Picchu at this time, however, you must first spend the night in the Machu Picchu town of Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu is also notoriously foggy in the mornings due to its location at the edge of the cloud forest and the lowlands of Peru. But have no fear! Over the course of the morning, the fog will gradually lift, revealing breathtaking vistas. On the other side, the afternoons tend to be busier at the location, even though tourists may expect clearer views then.
How much is the Machu Picchu ticket price?
There are four distinct price points for Machu Picchu tickets. Because of regulations put in place for the protection of this World Heritage Site, only 3,000 tickets are available in the morning and 2,600 in the afternoon.
Is a guide not required to visit Machu Picchu?
Those who want to access Machu Picchu just once are required to do so with a licenced guide. Visitors who return the next day or later that same day (with the purchase of a second ticket) are not needed to hire a guide.
Guests must have a guide with them at all times when on the trails leading to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
What are the rules for re-entry to Machu Picchu?
You can’t re-enter the citadel on the same day with the same ticket if you leave it. Please make the most of the four hours you have to explore the fortress.
A second ticket is required to access the citadel on the same day or on successive days. Some suggested pairings follow if you’re interested.
Full-day
Get in at 9 or 10 a.m. with your first ticket.
Those who are hungry may get a bite to eat outside the fortress walls between the hours of 12 and 1.
If you purchased a second ticket, you will be able to re-enter the fortress at 1:00 p.m.
The time span is two days.
You may enter with your first ticket at either noon or 1:00 p.m.
Please enter with your second ticket the following morning.
How many different loops can you go around Machu Picchu on foot?
At the moment, visitors to Machu Picchu may choose between two major circuits and one adapted for those with mobility issues (to access this trail, you should seek prior authorization). These loops may be paired with any of the other trails in the area. The average time to finish the first trail, the longest and most comprehensive circle, is three hours.
What if I have trouble walking, would I still be able to see Machu Picchu?
Sure, go ahead. There is a path through the citadel that was developed with those who have mobility issues in mind. However, we advise bringing a trekking or walking stick if you plan on exploring one of the major circuit paths.
Is going to Machu Picchu now prohibited by any laws?
Attraction-specific limitations at Machu Picchu presently include but are not limited to the following:
From 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, visitors may explore the Intihuatana Pyramid.
The Condor Temple is accessible between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM.
The Sun Temple is accessible between the hours of 1 PM and 4 PM daily.
A few examples of prohibited items within the citadel are listed below.
- All the fixings for a meal
- Animals
- Any spray that uses an aerosol can
- Folding chairs
- Posters and flyers
- Substances of intoxication: booze, narcotics, and/or the black market
- Sound systems, amplifiers, and musical gear
- Accessories such as parasols and umbrellas
- Needles or other sharp objects; firearms of any kind
- Drones
Machu Picchu has such deep spiritual importance that visitors should conduct accordingly; after all, the place is really a sanctuary. Consequently, there are a variety of actions that are strictly forbidden inside the fortress:
The act of littering or discarding waste of any form
Creating a ruckus or a scene in the area
Leaving the approved areas and designated walkways to go exploring
Taking off one’s clothes or wearing a mask (it sounds strange, but it has happened)
Tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes,
Using walking sticks with sharp metal tips that may cause harm to pathways and buildings.
causing harm to or taking away native plants, animals, or artefacts
Lighting matches
Adopting a climbing or leaning stance on the complex’s walls or buildings
Creating potential for pedestrian congestion by excluding high-traffic routes
Doing any type of vandalism to the buildings and grounds, including but not limited to spray painting
Conducting oneself in a manner that might bring shame on the citadel
Engaging in conduct that threatens the integrity of any cultural or environmental landmark
Production of films for profit
Disturbing the peace and quiet of the other tourists and the solemn atmosphere of the citadel with their loudness.
Above us, a paraglider was soaring.
Drones are being used.
The mountains of Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu seem quite similar; what sets them apart?
The peaks of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu are two of the most famous features of the citadel. The tickets for each of these excursions cost more and are in great demand, so they generally go fast.
The mountain of Machu Picchu that overlooks the whole complex provides tourists with a broad, medium-difficulty trail that is surrounded by plentiful greenery the entire way. In order to beat the daily cap of 800 visits, you must arrive at either 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. It is a three-hour hike up to the peak, which is 3,082 metres (10,112 feet) above sea level. The length of the path is around 1.24 miles (2.0 km).
However, Huayna Picchu is the most recognisable peak in any image of the citadel. This mountain is located in the background of the structure and rises to a height of 8,835 feet (2,693 metres). This is the mountain for you if you’re in excellent physical condition and like getting your heart rate up. You’ll encounter some tight routes, cliffs, archaeological sites, and steep slopes during this trek. It takes roughly the same amount of time (2.5 hours) to hike this path as it does to go up Machu Picchu Mountain (1.24 miles, or 2 kilometres). Each day, only 400 people are allowed up this mountain between the hours of 7:00 and 10:00.
Can you do Machu Picchu without a guide?
Machu Picchu visitors can enter without tour guides. (although new rules recommend that all visitors should hire a tour guide, you can still enter on your own) You pay your pickup tour guide in cash. They will take US dollars or Peruvian currency.