Ultimate Guide to Machu Picchu

Nestled high in the misty peaks of the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu stands as an awe-inspiring testament to the architectural mastery of the ancient Inca civilization. Often hailed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this enigmatic archaeological site captivates visitors from across the globe with its mystical aura and breathtaking beauty.

Where is Machu Picchu located

Deep in the Peruvian Andes mountains near the town Aguas Calientes which is also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo

Machu Picchu Information at a glance

Best time to visit: May-Sep
Entry Cost: 152 soles for foreigners (classic route)
How long to spend: 1 day
Location: Aguas Calientes, Peru
Where to stay: Aguas Calientes
How to get there: Peru Rail
Must do’s in Machu Picchu: Wayna Picchu and Upper Terrace

Where to stay

Aguas Calientes: The closest town and where the train terminates and the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Ollantaytambo: You can stay in Ollantaytambo and take a day trip to Machu Picchu

Cusco: You also do a day trip from Cusco. Keep in mind this will be an incredibly long day!

How to get to Aguas Calientes

If you are not hiking the Inca Trail you will need to get to Aguas Calientes before making your way up to Machu Picchu. The only way to get to Aguas Calientes is by train with Inca Rail which is a breath taking train journey where you pass towering mountains and the odd Incan ruin. Many consider this to be one of the most scenic train journeys in the world(we wouldn’t go that far but it is definitely beautiful).

Train: Inca Rail trains depart from Cusco(3h 40m) and Ollantaytambo (1h 20m). Book online and check schedules at the Inca Rail website.

How to get to Machu Picchu

There are only two ways to reach the Machu Picchu by bus and on foot.

Bus: A company called Consettur runs the shuttle bus to and from Machu Picchu. You can book your tickets online in advance from the Consettur website. Prices are currently $12 USD each way (yes they are fleecing us!).
Tickets can also be bought in person at the Consettur office in Aguas Calientes.
Address: Av. Hermanos Ayar
Open: Monday to Sunday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Catching the bus to Machu Picchu
Buses depart along Avenida Hermanos Ayar (marked on map)
Buses depart for Machu Picchu every 10 minutes, starting in the early morning:
First Bus: Around 5:30 AM
Last Bus: Varies, but typically in the late afternoon
Duration: 25 to 30 minutes

Hiking: There are two way to hike to Machu Picchu one via the Inca trail and the other is via Camino peatonal a Machu Picchu leaving from Aguas Calientes. The trail is 3.5km with 544m of elevation gain. It will take about 2 hours to hike up and 1 hour to come down.

Inca Trail: To hike the Inca trail you will need to book with a travel agent. It’s incredibly popular and you will need to book at least 6 months in advance to snag a spot as there is controlled availability on the trail.

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu

Dry Season (May-September): The peak tourist season in the Andes so more tourist will be visiting the country with cold temperatures averaging between -3 °C (27 °F) – 11 °C (52 °F)
Rainy Season (November-March): Low season with rainy days warmer weather with average temperatures between -2 °C (28 °F) – 14 (57 °F)

Our verdict: Dry season is the best time to visit especially if you plan to hike the Inca trail.

Booking Tickets

Machu Picchu is open 7 days a week from 08:00 am to 04:15 pm and ticket prices vary depending on what options you choose.

There are 3 different routes that all have different options available. You will have to purchase multiple tickets to get the full experience.

Route 1 Panoramic: Upper terrace where you get the classic view of Machu Picchu. This route also has options to climb Machu Picchu mountain.

Route 2 Classic: Visit the middle urban part of the city

Route 3 Machu Picchu Royalty: Lower urban part of the city including some of the most important temples and option to climb Wayna Pichu.

If you wish to get the most out of Machu Picchu you will need to purchase 2 tickets in the following combinations. The tickets are timed entrance where you need to exit and re-enter to visit the other route. You will need to give yourself enough time to visit and re-enter. Yes this is a massive pain in the ass!

Route 1 + Route 2: No hiking, visit the Machu Picchu city and upper terrace for classic view.

Route 1 + Route 3: Explore lower part of the city with option for Wayna Picchu hike and upper terrace for classic view.

It is quite confusing so we recommend you check out the official website that has all the routes and maps listed as well as where you can purchase tickets.

Tips for your visit

Machu Picchu is incredibly popular (for good reason!) so you need to plan well in advance as places can get booked out during peak season months in advance.
If you plan to hike the Inca trail book 6 months ahead
If you plan to go self guided visit via Peru Rail and Agua Calientes book 3-4 months ahead
There’s a lot of moving parts to plan and book your trip to Machu Picchu, if that is overwhelming to you consider booking through a travel agency. If will cost you more but it will also save your sanity!
If you want to avoid the crowds get the first bus up to Machu Picchu(it will still be busy, just less busy!) or consider hiking from Aguas Calientes.
Definitely try to snag tickets for Wayna Picchu, there are only 400 tickets per day and it was our favourite spot.

What to pack

Warm Clothes
Sunscreen and Sunglasses
Water
Snacks

Our Experience

After our 2 day Huchuy Qosqo trek we arrived in Ollantaytambo to catch the Peru rail train to Aguas Calientes. The train journey is an amazing experience as it winds through the lush valley surrounded by towering mountains with the odd Incan ruin along the way. The train is spacious and modern with a partial glass roof allowing you to look right up at the peaks towering above the valley. The train journey is the perfect prequel to your Machu Picchu Adventure.

The next day we were up super early to catch the first bus to Machu Picchu the journey up starts with a windy bus ride up the mountain luckily it only takes about 20 minutes to reach the entrance. The main event for the day was to climb Wayna Picchu and look down on Macchu Picchu from the temple of the moon. There is a limit of 400 people each day who are allowed to climb and we were super excited to have snagged a spot. First we explored the lower section of Machu Pichu with its ancient winding streets, intricate stonework and sacred temples. We had the our guide from the Huchuy Qosqo trek as it was all part of the same package. He showed us around giving us lots of details on all the most important areas to the Inca and giving us a glimpse into what life would have been like for those that lived here.

We said goodbye to our guide as we headed up the Wayna Picchu trail, it’s 1.4km out and back with 142m of elevation gain. It doesn’t sound like much but when you are at a height of over 2,693 metres (8,835 ft) it makes it much harder than you expect. The trail is mostly uphill with ancient Inca stone stairs with some being small and steep so you need to watch your step. When you reach the top there is small loop around the temple of the moon .The 360 degree views you get from up there are truly unforgettable and well worth the effort. Check out the Alltrails map for more information.

Once we returned we exited and had some lunch at one of the shops and re-entered the top section

The main highlight of the top section is the terraces, here you get that classic view of Machu Picchu that you see in all the photos with Wayna Picchu sitting prominently behind the city. This is also where you will finish if you do the classic Inca trail. This area is quite busy as everyone is trying to get that perfect shot for the gram! There are various spots that give you a different angle of the majestic city below. Once you have taken it all in you can enter the city gates and explore the upper part of the city.