SAM TRAVEL PERU HAS BEEN RATED THE #1 TOUR OPERATOR FOR CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU
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.
Cusco is the main access point for the famous Machu Picchu Citadel. From Cusco, you need to reach Aguas Calientes (the city next to Machu Picchu) which can only be done via train, trek, or a combination of bus and walking. Once you get to Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu lies at the top of the mountain.
There are 3 options for you to choose from:
We recommend the following formal companies who have years of experience and good feedback from over 250,000 customers:
Visit our guide to Tour Operators for more information about how to choose the right operator for Machu Picchu.
Check tour operators, compare prices and book your trek here!
Check out tour operators, compare prices and book the trek here!
Check out tour operators, compare prices and book the trek here!
Once inside the citadel, you have the option to climb either Huayna Picchu (the famous peak seen in pictures of the citadel) or Machu Picchu Mountain. Tickets for these additional treks need to be booked separately and in advance. We recommend checking with the tour operator you use for your main trek.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
A scenic 10 m drive from Ollantaytambo, follow the river and the train tracks to the Veronica View Hotel. Along the way, watch across the river for the original terraces from Incan times! Arriving at the hotel, you will be greeted amid gardens of native flowers and orchids. Take in the stunning sight of the Veronica Mountain, covered with glaciers year-round. After you settle into your room, walk through the gardens to the pool and restaurant area. There is a steam sauna, dry sauna, spa, heated swimming pool and restaurant at your feet.
Three comfortable single beds, ideal for groups of friends or family, enjoy the same spectacular view of the Veronica Mountain as the other rooms in the main building. Each room has a private bathroom with beautiful marbled counter tops.
Enjoy the luxury of a King size bed, along with all of the other indulgent services offered by the Veronica View Hotel. Each room is carefully situated to give you the best view of the Veronica Mountain. King rooms are in the main building on either the first or second floor. All King Rooms include jacuzzi
Double rooms are located in the main building, a beautiful room with an expansive view of the snow covered Veronica Mountain and the Urubamba Valley. Double rooms have one double bed, one twin bed and a private bathroom. These rooms are located on the first and second floor
Really informative website ; thank you
It certainly helped me with my planning and selection of a tour company.