Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu tours start with a simple fact that surprises many travellers: the Inca citadel stands at about 2,430 metres, around 1,000 metres lower than Cusco, which sits at roughly 3,400 metres. Built in the 15th century on a ridge above the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu is the highlight of most trips to Peru, and getting there by train or on foot is part of the experience. Because tickets, trains and trail permits are all limited, a visit works best when it is planned as a whole.

Why visit Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was built for the Inca ruler Pachacuti and abandoned within about a century, so it escaped the Spanish conquest largely intact. It became widely known to the outside world in 1911, after the visit of the American explorer Hiram Bingham, and in 1983 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its cultural and natural value.

The stonework is the obvious draw. Temples of finely fitted granite, such as the Temple of the Sun, stand next to simpler houses, storerooms and staircases, while farming terraces step down the slopes. The carved Intihuatana stone and the alignment of several buildings point to the Incas’ close study of the sun. Yet the setting matters just as much: the site sits on a saddle between Machu Picchu Mountain and the sharp peak of Huayna Picchu, ringed by cloud forest where orchids, hummingbirds and the occasional spectacled bear live.

How to get to Machu Picchu

No road connects Machu Picchu with Cusco. Most visitors take the train along the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes, the small town at the foot of the mountain, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo. Trains leave from the Cusco area and from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley; from Ollantaytambo the ride takes about an hour and a half to two hours, with the scenery turning from dry Andean valley to green cloud forest. Several classes of service run, from simple carriages to panoramic and luxury trains.

From Aguas Calientes, shuttle buses climb a winding road to the entrance in about 25 to 30 minutes. You can also walk up a steep stone staircase through the forest, which takes most people around an hour and a half. On our trips we arrange trains, bus tickets and transfers together, so the timings match your entry ticket.

The Inca Trail and alternative treks

Walking to Machu Picchu is the most rewarding way to arrive. All the main routes need planning well ahead, and Inca Trail tours can only be run by licensed operators with a licensed guide.

The classic Inca Trail (4 days)

The classic route covers about 42 kilometres through cloud forest and high passes, linking a string of Inca ruins that can only be reached on foot. The highest point, Dead Woman’s Pass, is at around 4,200 metres, and the final morning brings you through the Sun Gate, with your first view of the citadel below. It is a demanding walk on steep stone steps, but it is well within reach of fit walkers who have acclimatised first. Our Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with Sacred Valley Acclimatisation (9 days) builds in days in the Sacred Valley and Cusco before the trek.

The short Inca Trail (1 day)

If you have less time, or prefer a shorter walk, the one-day Inca Trail starts near the railway and climbs past the terraces of Wiñay Wayna before reaching the Sun Gate in the afternoon. You usually spend the night in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel in full the next morning.

Salkantay and other alternatives

The Salkantay trek is the best-known alternative: a route of several days beneath the glaciated Salkantay peak, crossing a pass of around 4,600 metres before dropping into the cloud forest and ending with the train or a walk to Aguas Calientes. It does not use Inca Trail permits, so it is a good option when permits have sold out.

Inca Trail permits

Inca Trail permits are limited each day, are issued only through licensed operators and often sell out months ahead for the dry season. The trail also closes every February for maintenance. The permit system changes from time to time, so we check the current rules and secure your permit as soon as your dates are confirmed.

Tickets and circuits

Entry to Machu Picchu is by timed ticket, and visitor numbers are limited. Inside, you follow one of several set routes, or circuits, which take you through different parts of the site with a guide. Climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain needs a separate ticket, also with limited places, and both climbs are steep. The rules on circuits, time slots and guides change regularly, so we book your tickets with the rest of the trip and confirm the arrangements that apply on your date.

Where to stay

There are two good choices, and many trips use both:

• Aguas Calientes: sleeping at the foot of the mountain means you can catch an early bus and arrive before the day visitors, or plan a second visit the following day. It also makes the day after the Inca Trail more relaxed.
• The Sacred Valley: around Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, the valley lies lower than Cusco, so it is a gentler place to adjust to the altitude. It has spacious country hotels, and the train to Machu Picchu leaves from Ollantaytambo.

Machu Picchu itself is lower than Cusco, but the visit still involves altitude, steps and uneven paths. Our guide to altitude in the Andes explains how to plan your route so you feel well.

Best time to visit Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is open all year. The dry season brings the clearest views and the most visitors; the rainy months are greener and quieter, with mist that often lifts during the morning.

For a wider look at the seasons, see our guide to the best time to visit South America.

How many days do you need?

• 2 days from Cusco: the train to Aguas Calientes, a night there, and an early visit the next morning.
• 4 to 5 days: the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco at a comfortable pace, with time to acclimatise.
• About 9 days: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, as on our Peru Classic (9 days), or the full Inca Trail with acclimatisation.
• 2 to 3 weeks: combine Machu Picchu with Lake Titicaca and the Uyuni salt flats on Peru and Bolivia: Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Uyuni (15 days), or with the Galápagos on Galápagos, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca (21 days).

Whichever Machu Picchu holiday you choose, we adjust the route, hotels and pace to you, and book tickets, trains and permits together so the pieces fit.

Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Recommended stay: 1 night in Aguas Calientes, or a long day trip