Machu Picchu Information 2021 Update

Complete Travel Guide to Machu Picchu 2024

SAM TRAVEL PERU HAS BEEN RATED THE #1 TOUR OPERATOR FOR CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU BY TRIPADVISOR

Machu Picchu was voted one of the new 7 Wonders of the World in 2007 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. It truly is a must-visit for anyone visiting South America! These majestic ruins were built by the Inca Empire and are located in the scenic Andean mountain range, surrounded by beautiful cloud forests and mountain scenery.

Getting to Cusco

Machu Picchu is ONLY accessible from Cusco City, which you can reach by bus or air travel. Most people land at Jorge Chávez International airport in Lima and then take a bus or domestic flight to Cusco.

 Recommended bus companies: Peru Hop, Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Tepsa all have bus routes going in both directions to and from Cusco.

 Recommended Airlines: Latam Airlines, JetSmart and Sky Airlines are great for the short flight from Lima to Cusco.

machu picchu quiq tips

QUICK TIP

Finding a local tour company based in Cusco is the best way to find knowledgable guides to take you on your once in a lifetime adventure to Macchu Picchu.

2 Day Bus/Walk

  • Take the long 5 to 6 hour bus ride from Cusco to Hidroelectrica (the last stop) via Santa Maria
  • 3 hour trek alongside the train tracks to Aguas Calientes – be careful not to get lost.
  • Spend the night in Aguas Calientes and either trek (1.5hours) or get the bus up to the citadel early the next morning $25 round trip.
  • Walk back to Hidroelectrica and drive back to Cusco
  • Can be dangerous because of the quality of the roads and there is no guide for the 3 hour trek.
  • Prices range from $150 to $200
  • Not the best option to get to Machu Picchu
  • In Quechua, the language of the Incas, Machu Picchu means old mountain. Huayna Picchu, on the other hand, means young mountain.
  • You can get your passport stamped at the entrance of Machu Picchu for an original souvenir
  • The building technique that the Incas used is incredible, because the stones are cut in such a way that they fit perfectly together without even having to put mortar between them
  • Machu Picchu also served as an astronomical observatory. The sacred Intihuatana stone indicates the two equinoxes and twice per year, the sun sits directly over the stone creating no shadow.
  • Inca Trail is now the only option to hike directly into Machu Picchu Citadel through the Sun GateInca Trail). You can no longer hike to the famous Sun Gate from Machu Picchu.
  • Your ORIGINAL passport! You cannot enter without it!
  • Your ticket to Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu / Huayna Picchu Mountain; has to be bought in advance.
  • Some money for the passport stamp, bathroom breaks at public rest rooms and for souvenirs you may want to buy, as well as dinner or lunch at the restaurant
  • A camera – no selfie sticks allowed
  • Good walking shoes
  • Water and toilet paper
  • A lunchbox and some snacks
  • Sunscreen and/or small foldable umbrella depending on the weather
  • Insect Repellent
  • Hat to protect from the sun
  • Tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed at the historical site. You can leave both of them in the lockers outside
  • Professional cameras are not allowed. Permits for professional cameras are over $300 so avoid bringing a professional-looking camera in to save some money
  • You cannot come to Machu Picchu with your travel backpack. Only smaller bags are allowed so leave your backpack. You can pay a hotel a small amount of money to take care of it.
  • Walking sticks are not allowed unless you really need them
  • Only small foldable umbrellas are allowed so avoid bringing a big umbrella with spikes
  • If travelling to Machu Picchu on your own, you will probably go by minibus or taxi (at least part of the way). They often drive dangerously on narrow roads on steep cliffs with hairpin turns. Accidents happen all the time so try to avoid travelling like this or at least make sure not to drive after sun down or during rainy season. There can be mud slides, roads washed out, rivers of water crossing the road and or falling rocks.
  • Tour operators need two certificates, one from the city and one from the tourist board. Make sure they have one of each hanging in their office
  • Like all touristic sites in the world, keep an eye out on your valuables. For safety carry backpack in front of you. Cameras and cell phones are what are what thieves are looking for. Protect them.

Where is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is located 112 km from the City of Cusco, Peru in South America. The nearest town is Aguas Calientes which you can get to by train or by bus/minivan and train. The only other route is a 5 to 6 hour bus ride on dangerous roads and then 3 hours of walking to Aguas Calientes. Not recommended.

What is Machu Picchu?

It’s the most impressive archaeological Inca ruin in South America, named a World Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1983, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the World. Machu Picchu is a city of stone, built in the middle of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, without the use or help of wheels or iron tools. Most of the citadel’s structures remain intact today, which is why many consider it the perfect example of the Incas’ brilliant engineering.

How high is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. Cusco, on the other hand, has an elevation of 3,400 meters (11,154 ft).

How to get Machu Picchu Tickets?

You should buy your Machu Picchu Tickets at least 6 months before your trip. Tickets are sold on the official government website (www.machupicchu.gob.pe) or via tour companies. Tickets can be paid for with credit or debit cards plus paypal at some companies.

What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

Consider visiting Machu Picchu from April through May (fall) and from September through October (spring). The high-tourist season months are June, July and August when it doesn’t rain.

When was Machu Picchu discovered?

Machu Picchu wasn’t exactly ‘discovered’ because local people have always known about its existence. In 1911, the American explorer Hiram Bingham made public his findings and wrongly called it ‘The Lost City of the Incas’.

Nine years before Bingham had arrived, the Peruvian Agustin Lizárraga had found the ruins and left his signature on one of the walls of the Three Windows Temple in the Citadel.

share posts with:
5 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Get a quote from our recommended local trek operator in Peru.


Related Posts

ayahuasca one day

AYAHUASCA RETREAT IN CUSCO OR SACRED VALLEY – 1 DAY

by Saúl Alvarez - February 22, 2024
CUSCO AIRPORT

How to get from Cusco Airport to Center of the City

by Saúl Alvarez - January 16, 2024
Machu Picchu

How to Plan a Trip to Machu Picchu For First Timers

by Saúl Alvarez - January 16, 2024
iquitos

How to Get to Iquitos in Peru

by Saúl Alvarez - January 16, 2024
rainbow mountain peru

Rainbow Mountain Tour 1 ay from Cusco

by Saúl Alvarez - December 6, 2023

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days

by Saúl Alvarez - December 5, 2023
Sacred valley tours to machu Picchu

SACRED VALLEY TO MACHU PICCHU 2 DAYS – 1 NIGHT

by Saúl Alvarez - December 1, 2023
Machu Picchu one day by train

MACHU PICCHU TOUR FULL DAY TRIP

by Saúl Alvarez - December 1, 2023
Humantay Lake Tour Full Day

Humantay Lake Tour Day trip

by Saúl Alvarez - December 1, 2023

INCA JUNGLE TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU 4D / 3N

by Saúl Alvarez - November 30, 2023
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu

Best Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days via Huaran

by Saúl Alvarez - November 30, 2023
Inca trail

Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days

by Saúl Alvarez - November 29, 2023
best time inca trail

Best Time To Hike The Inca Trail in 2024

by Saúl Alvarez - September 13, 2023
huayna picchu mountain

Huayna Picchu Mountain Information

by Saúl Alvarez - September 13, 2023
Guía turística gay de Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu Travel Guide for LGBTQ & Gay Comminity

by Saúl Alvarez - August 10, 2023
Tour & Hikes to Machu Picchu for Disabled Travelers

Tour & Hikes to Machu Picchu for Disabled Travelers

by Saúl Alvarez - August 3, 2023
The Intihuatana

The Intihuatana or Sun Dial at Machu Picchu

by Saúl Alvarez - July 18, 2023
Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail

Dead Woman’s Pass on the Inca Trail

by Saúl Alvarez - July 18, 2023
kids inca-trail

Hiking with Kids the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

by Saúl Alvarez - July 10, 2023
Q'eswachaka Bridge Peru

Q’eswachaka Bridge Peru

by Saúl Alvarez - April 20, 2023
Huchuy Picchu

Huchuy Picchu Mountain in Machu Picchu

by Saúl Alvarez - April 18, 2023

New circuits for Visiting Machu Picchu

by Saúl Alvarez - June 10, 2022
sun gate - machu picchu

All You Need To Know About The Sun Gate

by Saúl Alvarez - November 15, 2021
machu picchu travel guide

Latest Travel News from Peru – Covid 19

by Saúl Alvarez - March 24, 2021

Ancascocha Trek Information

by Saúl Alvarez - March 2, 2021
Machu Picchu Information 2021 Update

Complete Travel Guide to Machu Picchu 2024

by Saúl Alvarez - April 28, 2020
best bars in cusco

Best Bars

by - April 24, 2020

Best Spa in Cusco

by Saúl Alvarez - January 15, 2020
Veronica view hotel

Best hotel in Ollantaytambo with Swimming Pool

by Saúl Alvarez - December 3, 2019
inca trail to machu picchu

5 Steps for choosing an inca trail company

by Saúl Alvarez - September 26, 2019
quillabamba cusco peru

Quillabamba

by - August 13, 2019

Best Burgers

by - August 12, 2019

Best Cusco Coffees

by - August 7, 2019

Backpacker Hostels

by - August 7, 2019

1 Star Hotels

by - August 7, 2019

4 Star Hotels

by - August 7, 2019

5 Star Hotels in Cusco

by - August 7, 2019
Choquequirao Trek Information

Choquequirao Trek Information

by Saúl Alvarez - July 26, 2019