Visit the Machu Picchu: our comprehensive guide

Visit the Machu Picchu, the famous Inca city in Peru, and discover our mini-guide on this world wonder!

Located in Peru 130 kilometers north of Cuzco, the "Historical Shrine of Machu Picchu" is an ancient Inca city built at 2438 meters above sea level, on the heights of the Andes Cordillera, and at the limits of the Amazonian forest. Visiting the Machu Picchu is discovering one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, a must-see monument in Peru. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the site is also recognized as one of the 7 new wonders of the world and attracts more than 800,000 visitors each year.

History and presentation of Machu Picchu

The ruins of this ancient Inca city are divided between two summits: the Huayna Picchu – "young mountain" in Quechua – and the Machu Picchu, "old mountain". Visiting the Machu Picchu allows to survey 172 constructions, which extend over 530 meters long and over 200 meters wide, on a surface of 32.592 hectares.

The Huayna Picchu – otherwise known as Wayna Picchu – is the visible mountain on all known photos of the site. From an altitude of 2700 meters, it offers a unique view of the ruins of the Inca city, on the moon temple and many terraced cultures. Since this mountain is very busy, you will have to book your ticket several months in advance to realize its ascent.

In front, the Machu Picchu mountain, which overlooks the archaeological site, peaks at 3082 meters above sea level. It's much less touristic. It will be much easier to hike on its slopes. Take your time by surveying these two mountains to avoid the acute evil of the mountains – soroche in quechua – because oxygen is rare at more than 2000 meters above sea level.

The city was built around 1440, under the reign of Emperor Inca Pachacutec (about 1400-to- 1471), which corresponds to the apogee of Inca civilization. At that time, the territories of the Inca Empire extend over 4,000 km long from the south of the current Colombia and to the north of the current Chile in their southernmost point. This is the largest empire of pre-Columbian America. The Machu Picchu could have served as a strong religious and administrative place but the function of this site is still not unanimous.

The Machu Picchu was connected to Cuzco and other provinces through the "8 Incas roads". The site was probably well supplied with food and the city had to be important to the Incas. The Spaniards knew the existence of the site after their arrival – and after decimating the Incas populations – but they never found the Machu Picchu, which made it safe from looting and destruction. Delayed and forgotten for centuries, it was necessary to wait until 1911 for an American explorer, Hiram Bingham (1875-1956), to put the existence of the site on the big day.

What to see at Machu Picchu

Just see the majesticness of the site to realize the interest to visit the Machu Picchu: you will take full view of it!

The site consists of an agricultural area, where potato and maize were grown on the terraced crops – a technique still used today – and an urban area where the remains of the administrative and religious buildings are found.

Your visit:

• The temple of water: the economy being mainly agricultural in the Incas, the water was sacred,
• The Sun Temple: the Sun god was seen as the supreme god for the Incas. The building, without cement, consists of polished and embellished stones, and is still very well preserved,
• Royal Palace: probably the residence of the emperor,
• The sacred square: two religious buildings, the Central Temple and the Three Window Temple. With an altar in the centre, which was probably a place of lamas sacrifices,
• Intihuatana: a solar calendar used by the Incas they used to predict seasons, weather and temperatures,
• The house of the Guardian: at the top of the agricultural terraces, the highest building of the Machu Picchu, from which is taken the famous photo of the site,
• The Sungate: a place that marks the end of trek du Chemin Inca (belle vue sur le site et la vallée),
• The moon temple,
• The Wayna Picchu mountain,
• Mountain Machu Picchu.

How to book a ticket to visit the Machu Picchu?

As a result of the high influx, the authorities have set up two daily visiting slots:

Machu Picchu

• Group 1: from 6am to 12pm,
• Group 2: from 12 to 17:30.

Huayna Picchu Mountain

• Group 1: from 7am to 8am,
• Group 2: from 10am to 11am.

Machu Picchu Mountain

• Group 1: from 7am to 8am,
• Group 2: from 9am to 10am.

Please respect the schedules of your tickets because if you are late, the visit will be refused!

It is possible to book online on government official website sound ticket to visit Machu Picchu . But the site works very badly, so the ideal remains to pass through booking platforms that offer ascent to Machu Picchu with entry to the site, as well as trek or train.

Alternatively, you can book on site in Cuzco (at Inca Rail and Peru Rail, at Palacio Inka de Kusicancha and Casa Garcilaso) and at the cultural centre of Aguas Calientes.

There are 3 types of tickets for the Machu Picchu:

• Machu Picchu,
• The Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu,
• The Machu Picchu + Mountain Machu Picchu.

Visits prices and times

Schedules to visit the Machu Picchu:

• The Machu Picchu is open every day from 6am to 5pm,
• The last entry is at 16h,
• The period of greater affluence is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rates:

• Free for children under 8 years of age,
• Machu Picchu : 152 soles (41.5 €),
• Machu Picchu + Wayna Picchu : 200 soles (54,5 €),
• Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain: 200 soles (54,5 €).

Good information and access to Machu Picchu

The law requires to visit the Machu Picchu with a guide. To go to Machu Picchu, three solutions: trek, bus or train.

Going and returning to the Machu Picchu the same day is possible, but you can’t visit everything: prefer to sleep on site, in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo. You can read our article to know best places to stay near Machu Picchu .

Campsites, hotels and hostels are possible accommodation options. You see the one you like most!