Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu

If you’ve read my previous story about Machu Picchu, you would know that visiting the Incan ruins sat at the top of my bucket list since I was a child. 42 years after images of Machu Picchu were seared into my mind after reading a National Geographic Magazine, I visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 1911, Hiram Bingham, an explorer and educator from Yale University, went on an expedition to Peru. During his visit, he rediscovered Machu Picchu. The term “rediscovered” is used because there were two families living on Machu Picchu when Bingham arrived. Also, graffiti from a young boy was found on one of the window frames that overlooked the Sacred Valley. Because Bingham wanted the full recognition for finding Machu Picchu, he scrubbed the graffiti off the frame. The explorer is a controversial figure in Peru, because he took many artifacts from the site and delivered them to Yale.

 Today, Machu Picchu is open to the world. There are some things tourists should know before visiting the ancient site.

Machu Picchu remains a mystery as to what its purpose was. Some theories believe it to be a place of religious significance, some believe it was a farming community, and some believe it to be a refuge for kings. Most likely, all of those theories are correct. Regardless of whatever it was used for, Machu Picchu is a place of majestic beauty.

You’ll see me say, “book in advance” a few times in this post for various tickets. It is recommended to book at least two months in advance. I suggest even earlier. There are three different entrance time slots. The general Citadel area time slots are as follows:

• 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM
• 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
• 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
• 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Machu Picchu, for tourism purposes, is separated into three places. There is the general Citadel area (Machu Picchu), Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu (Waynapicchu).

. “Machu Picchu” translates to “Old Mountain,” while “Huayna Picchu” means “Young Mountain.” To purchase tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, click here.

If you’ve seen photographs of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu is the towering mountain that overlooks the Incan structures below. Huayna Picchu is also where visitors climb the Stairs of Death.  Before visiting Huayna Picchu, there are some things visitors need to know.

• Tickets are limited to 200 per time slot and in high demand. Order your tickets months in advance.
• Time slots are from 7 AM to 8 AM and from 10 Am to 11 AM.
• To purchase tickets, go to Machu Picchu Tickets or use a third party. During our trip, we used Andean Discovery, which was great because they took care of all the arrangements.
• A passport is needed to enter.
• Huayna Picchu is 8,920 feet above sea level. The hike up the Stairs of Death is challenging, with steep steps, narrow walkways, and rain can make the rocks and steps slippery. If one is not in good health, they should hang back while others climb.
• It takes 2 to 3 hours to complete the hike.
• Ticket prices for Huayna Picchu vary based on your nationality and age. International visitors: $70-$80 for the combined Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket.  Discounts are available for children, students with valid IDs, and Peruvian nationals.
• There are places on the climb where there are no handrails or ropes to hold on to.
• Pack light. There is a storage area at Machu Picchu where you can store your bags. Take water and sunscreen with you. While we were there, I had 2 bags. My two daughters stayed behind while a smaller group of us went up. I left my heavy bag with my daughters. In my small bag, I carried water, my camera, and sunscreen.
• Stay hydrated is easier said than done. With the high altitude, it is easy to get altitude sickness while climbing. Staying hydrated helps.
• Wear appropriate footwear. I wore hiking boots while climbing and they were valuable. I saw many people slipping because they were wearing tennis shoes. You need footwear with a good grip. There were places on the mountain where only half of my foot fit on the steps.

Many of the famous photos overlooking Machu Picchu were taken from Machu Picchu Mountain. Machu Picchu Mountain rises at 10,111 feet. The climb is much easier than Huayna Picchu, as the paths are more winding than straight up. Still, the climb isn’t easy and everyone should stay hydrated on this hike as well.

The views offer a 360 view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding Sacred Valley. There are things to know before visiting this area as well.

• Tickets are needed to access this area and should be booked months in advance.
• Time slots for visiting are from 6 AM to 7 AM and from 8 AM to 9 AM and visitors can stay 2 to 3 hours.

Getting to Machu Picchu:

The closest town to Machu Picchu is Aguas Calientes. The most popular way to get there is by train or by bus. Of course, there is also hiking the Inca Trail, but since I didn’t do that on this trip, these are the ways that I know. I hope to hike one day. Maybe for my 60th.

• The train might be the most fun train ride I’ve taken. There is a party on board. Each car has a party time and can head to the back of the train during your time slot. There, visitors can find dancers, musicians, and a bar.
• There are two train companies, Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
• The train is a 4 hour train ride from Cusco.
• To get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, you can catch a bus in town that will take you there. The bus line is long, so arrive early. The ride is about 20-30 minutes and costs $24 round trip. Buses run from 5:30 AM to mid-afternoon. To catch the bus, head to Av. Hermanos Ayar near the main bus station in the town center.

So, in a nutshell, here are my tips for visiting Machu Picchu:

• Pack light: You’ll be walking a lot.
• Dress in layers: While we were there, we started off chilly in the morning, then baked under the sun, and rain mixed in throughout our visit.
• Wear the right footwear: Hiking boots are suggested.
• Plan way ahead: Book tickets months in advance.
• Hire a guide: You’ve come all the way to Peru to see Machu Picchu. Get the most out of your trip by hiring a guide to provide all the details. And there are places you can only visit with a guide.
• Be mindful of the rules. There are areas you cannot visit and don’t go around touching everything.
• Soak it in: Taking photos is great, but pause yourself and soak in the beauty. I am a photographer and love snapping away, but setting my camera down was one of my favorite moments during the trip. Visiting was a trip of a lifetime and I’m thankful for the moments I put the camera down to sit back and witness the beauty of Machu Picchu.
• Peak times are between 6 AM and 8 AM.
• Weather is most likely to not cooperate in the afternoon.
• May to September is peak travel time.
• Machu Picchu is always crowded, so be patient as you maneuver your way.
• Don’t be late for your time slot. Some people have been turned away for being late.
• Get acclimated to the high altitude. Do not show up in Peru the day before your visit to Machu Picchu. Take a few days to explore Peru and get used to the high altitude.
• If you have a heart condition, talk to your doctor before you go. I heard some horror stories about people with heart disease that struggled with the high altitude.

Visiting Machu Picchu was everything I hope it would be and then some. For those that visited, what are your tips?