Machu Picchu, for many people, is the reason to travel to Peru. Almost 600 years ago, the Incas built Machu Picchu, and it is remarkable that this city has been so well-preserved after all these years. This is partly because the Spaniards never found the city and because of the unique architecture that can even withstand earthquakes. Nowadays, almost every traveler to Peru includes this ancient Inca city in their itinerary, and it is visited by more than 1.8 million people annually. To protect Machu Picchu, strict rules have been established, and there are many things to consider. You can find all the information in this comprehensive article, including the different ticket options, the various hikes to Machu Picchu, the costs, and all the practical things you need to know.
The different tickets for Machu Picchu
In recent years, the rules for visiting Machu Picchu have been tightened. When you buy a ticket, you must choose an arrival time. Officially, you then have 4 hours to explore Machu Picchu and must spend 1 hour with a guide. However, in practice, this is not the case, and you can stay as long as you want, even without a guide. If you plan to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, you must book your ticket well in advance because only 200 people per day (per mountain) are allowed. You also need to arrange the regular ticket in advance, but this doesn’t have to be done as far in advance because many more tickets are available per day. You can order both regular tickets and tickets for climbing the mountains online via the official website of Machu Picchu. The official website has the cheapest tickets, so only book there.
Machu Picchu ticket: Regular ticket for the entrance to Machu Picchu itself.
Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket: Entrance to Machu Picchu and climbing Huayna Picchu. This is the high mountain that you always see behind Machu Picchu in all the photos. It takes about 2 hours to climb it, and then it takes about 50 minutes to come back down.
Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain ticket: This ticket includes entrance to Machu Picchu and climbing Machu Picchu Mountain. This is the mountain on the opposite side of Huayna Picchu and is about 300 meters (1000 feet) higher. From here, many believe you have the best view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area.
How to get to Machu Picchu without trekking?
Aguas Calientes is the nearby village near Machu Picchu and the base for your visit. There is no road leading to this village, only a railway track. Therefore, if you are not hiking the Inca Trail, you have to travel by train.
The train route is incredibly beautiful, and some trains have extra-large windows. The cost of a round-trip ticket starts at $140, but if you want to travel at a convenient time, you will often have to pay a few tens of dollars more. This is expensive because there are only two train companies that keep the prices high together. Book your train tickets a few months before departure because prices can double last minute when only a few spots are left. You can compare the different trains and reserve tickets here.
Then, you travel by shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. To save costs, you can choose not to take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu but to walk to the entrance of Machu Picchu. However, we think this is a waste because you will already be quite tired when you arrive at Machu Picchu after about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) of steep climbing. Machu Picchu is located 400 meters (1312 feet) higher than Aguas Calientes. You will likely also spend several hours walking around Machu Picchu itself, so we recommend taking the bus up. A round trip costs $26.
Since the journey is quite long, it is advisable to allocate one day for your trip to Aguas Caliente, visit Machu Picchu the next day in the morning, and then travel back to Cusco in the afternoon or evening. Leave your luggage in the hotel in Cusco and only take hand luggage with you.
Choosing a Trek to Machu Picchu
You can also reach Machu Picchu by doing a multi-day trek. Of course, there’s the world-famous Inca Trail, but there are also many other great hikes. Good organizations to book your trek with are TreXperience and Alpaca Expeditions.
The Inca Trail
The most popular option is walking the famous Inca Trail. This is the path that the Incas used to take to reach Machu Picchu. During this four-day trek, you sleep in tents and come across many Inca ruins. After walking about 43 kilometers (27 miles), you will finally arrive at Machu Picchu. This is the only trek that actually ends at Machu Picchu and not in the village of Aguas Calientes. You are not allowed to hike the Inca Trail without a guide, and you must book the hike at least 6 months in advance. If you book later than that, the spots are likely already taken. Expect to pay about $550 to $1100 per person for the Inca Trail, depending on how luxurious you want it to be.
Inca Jungle Trail
If you’re not afraid of adventure, then the Inca Jungle Trail is for you. This four-day tour is super diverse. On the first day, you’ll go mountain biking and rafting. On the second day, you’ll walk a fantastic and beautiful route, and on the third day, you’ll enjoy a nice mix of hiking and ziplining. On the fourth day, you’ll visit Machu Picchu.
Lares Trek
The Lares Trek is a perfect option for anyone who wants to do an easier multi-day hike. During the Lares Trek, you will hike a total of about 33 kilometers (20 miles) and pass through mountain villages, meet the locals, and relax in hot springs after a long day of walking. Eventually, you will arrive in Ollantaytambo, and from there, you’ll take the train to Aguas Calientes, and finally reach Machu Picchu.
Salkantay Trek
National Geographic Travel Magazine has named this trek one of the 25 best hikes in the world. The Salkantay Trek takes you to Machu Picchu in five days and covers a total distance of 80 kilometers (50 miles). This is the most challenging trek on this list but also perhaps the most beautiful. The Salkantay Trek runs largely parallel to the Inca Trail and along the way you will pass fantastic views of enormous snow-capped mountains and jungle. While you will encounter many Inca ruins on the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek is more focused on nature.
The costs for Machu Picchu
Assuming you buy the cheapest train ticket, take the shuttle bus, and purchase the standard entrance ticket, the minimum cost per person is about $202. Sometimes this amount can be slightly higher due to more expensive train tickets during certain times or popular periods.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu
Peru simply has two seasons. The rainy season is from November to March and the dry season is from May to September. The dry season offers the best chance of good weather. The months of June, July, and August are the busiest due to being the peak season.
Extra tips for Machu Picchu
Below are additional tips for visiting Machu Picchu and things to keep in mind.
Stay overnight in Aguas Calientes and opt for the sunrise
In theory, you can visit Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cusco. However, we strongly recommend staying one night in Aguas Calientes. This way, you can visit Machu Picchu during the sunrise and arrive before hundreds of day visitors arrive. It gets incredibly busy later in the day, which can detract from your experience if you are one of the later arrivals. Therefore, purchase a ticket for 6:00 in the morning and enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu without the crowds for the best experience.
Get in line for the bus on time
The gates of Machu Picchu open at 6:00 a.m. and the shuttle buses depart from Aguas Calientes at 5:30 a.m. We got in line at 5:00 a.m. and there were already quite a few people there. However, there were so many shuttle buses that it didn’t take long for us to get to the top. If you have a ticket for later than 6:00 a.m., we recommend that you get in line at least an hour earlier. The lines in the late morning and early afternoon are enormous, and the ride to the top takes about 20 minutes.
Bringing food is not allowed
You’re probably going to do a lot of walking at Machu Picchu. Therefore, be sure to bring 1.5 liters of water per person. Food is not allowed inside, but they do not check your backpack, so as long as you bring everything in your backpack and don’t leave any trash behind, you can bring some snacks with you.
The best route
For the sunrise and the most beautiful view of Machu Picchu, you should be at ‘The Guard House’ before 7:00 a.m. This is the small house with the thatched roof. From the entrance, keep left and take the path up until you see the house. Then, it’s recommended to immediately walk to the Sun Gate. The path is marked with signs. It’s about a 1 to 1.5 hour walk to the Sun Gate on a beautiful path with a deep abyss on your left. From here, you have a brilliant view of the surroundings. After that, you can still walk through Machu Picchu itself or walk to the Inca Bridge. In total, you need about 4 hours for this route.
Note: Once you walk through Machu Picchu itself, everything is a one-way path. As soon as you walk here, you eventually head towards the exit and cannot go back in. After The Guard House, you must choose whether to walk through Machu Picchu or first go to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge.
Don’t forget your passport
To enter Machu Picchu, you must show your passport, so be sure not to forget it. When your visit is over, you can get a Machu Picchu stamp in your passport at the exit.
Mosquito repellent is a must
It’s seasonal, but there may be a lot of mosquitoes in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. So, mosquito repellent is not a luxury item.
There are no toilets
Once inside Machu Picchu, there are no more toilets. So, be sure to visit the bathroom at the entrance.
Best restaurants in Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes is a very touristy village with countless souvenir shops, hotels, and restaurants. Despite that, we found it to be a pleasant village for one night. We had a delicious dinner at Mapacho Craft Beer Restaurant. You can sit by the water and a train passes by every now and then. They have an extensive menu with dishes such as pizzas, burgers, salmon, and lomo saltado. Want a good beer after an intensive day at Machu Picchu? Then, you’re also in the right place here. Another good restaurant is Bistro Indio Feliz. You can eat delicious food here, it’s crowded during dinner time, and the restaurant is beautifully decorated.
Our favorite places to stay in Aguas Calientes
Vilas Insight Hotel is a nice hotel in a good and quiet location in Aguas Calientes. The owner is incredibly helpful and speaks good English. You stay in a nice room with heating, a comfortable bed, and a delicious breakfast included in the price. If you prefer to stay in a hostel, Nativus Hostel is a fun place to stay. There’s a large common area with a pool table and breakfast is included in the price. Machu Picchu Land B&B is also a great low-budget option.
  Vilas Insight Hotel |
  Nativus Hostel |
  Machu Picchu Land B&B |
