Updated September 2022
Welcome to Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!
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How to Get Here
There are many different ways to see and get to Machu Picchu:
- One-day trip: Head from Cusco to Agua Calientes by train. Catch a bus around noon and see Machu Picchu in the afternoon. Take a night train back to Cusco from Agua Calientes.
- Two-day trip (RECOMMENDED): On Day 1, spend half the day exploring Sacred Valley and take the train from Ollaytantambo to Agua Calientes. Spend the night in Agua Calientes and head to Machu Picchu early in the morning (less crowds). Take the train back on the afternoon of Day 2 (NOTE: The entrance to the train station is located through the market and can be hard to find. Look for signs or ask for directions!)
- Four-day trip of Inca Trail: One of the world’s best-known treks, it follows the route the ancient Inca would take to reach Mach Picchu from Cusco. This trail is 26 miles (43 km) long and allows visitors to see the Sacred Valley and the Sun’s Gate. However, since it is an easy hike and well-known, the trail is crowded and expensive.
- Five-day trip of Salkantay Trek: Second most popular option that provides more beautiful landscapes with less crowds, and it is more widely available with cheaper options. It is also much longer (37 miles or 60 km) at higher altitudes without the nicer facilities that the Inca Trail provides.
Two trains that come into Agua Calientes from Ollaytaytambo
For those taking the bus to and from Agua Calientes, there are buses that run every 10-15 minutes along a windy road with plenty of switchbacks. Be forewarned that the line for the return bus from Machu Picchu to Agua Calientes can be quite long, since there are no timed return tickets.
Tour Companies
There are a variety of tour companies one can use to visit Machu Picchu. I signed on with AbExpeditions and found them to be a great touring company. While it was a little pricier than other options, they provided a very personal experience (2-8 people total), were very personable, and ensured everything was scheduled for us.
Other tour companies that fellow travellers tried are shown below:
Other tour companies that fellow travellers tried are shown below:
- Kantu
- Haku Travel - no guide, but not as expensive
History
An ancient citadel, Machu Picchu served as a refuge for the Inca nobility and elite and also a place of worship after pilgrimage. It was built on cliffs and hidden within part of the Amazon rainforest, such that it was easily defendable. However, the site was abandoned during the Spanish conquest around the late 1500s, and the two Inca trails leading to the site were destroyed to prevent its discovery.
It wasn’t until 1911 when the site was rediscovered. By then, a forest had sprung up on the city, concealing the entire citadel. Tree roots grew out from the rock structures and removing these trees and destroyed a few homes during excavation. In the end, 80% of the original construction was restored, and to this day, it is the most complete and original Inca city in the modern century. Only the thatched roofs had collapsed by the time it was rediscovered.
It wasn’t until 1911 when the site was rediscovered. By then, a forest had sprung up on the city, concealing the entire citadel. Tree roots grew out from the rock structures and removing these trees and destroyed a few homes during excavation. In the end, 80% of the original construction was restored, and to this day, it is the most complete and original Inca city in the modern century. Only the thatched roofs had collapsed by the time it was rediscovered.
Its original name is Patallaqta or Llaqta Pata, which in Quechua is broken up into Pata (“step”) and Llaqta (“town) to explain its original construction. Machu Picchu has its roots in Spanish, meaning “Old Peak”.
Interestingly enough, Machu Picchu wasn’t considered the most important place in the valley. In fact, it is ranked third, after the capital of Cusco and then Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Its rise to fame stems from the fact that it has been untouched over the centuries and provides a snapshot into the lives of the ancient Inca. It took the Incas 80 years to build it and the Citadel was technically never completed as some remains can still be seen.
Historically, this citadel/royal site was home to 800 people at one time. There were over five temples, a hospital, schools for boys and girls, and sixteen ceremonial fountains that are fed from a spring in the Machu Picchu mountains to the south that continues to flow to this day.
Interestingly enough, Machu Picchu wasn’t considered the most important place in the valley. In fact, it is ranked third, after the capital of Cusco and then Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Its rise to fame stems from the fact that it has been untouched over the centuries and provides a snapshot into the lives of the ancient Inca. It took the Incas 80 years to build it and the Citadel was technically never completed as some remains can still be seen.
Historically, this citadel/royal site was home to 800 people at one time. There were over five temples, a hospital, schools for boys and girls, and sixteen ceremonial fountains that are fed from a spring in the Machu Picchu mountains to the south that continues to flow to this day.
Route through Machu Picchu
The easiest way to reach Machu Picchu would be by taking a bus that leaves the town of Agua Calientes every 15-20 minutes. The windy road to the top takes about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of visitors (4,000+ visitors each day), many of the important places, such as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon have been closed off.
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1. Entrance Station
2. Iconic Photo Spot 3. The House of the Guardian and Funerary Rock 4. Old City Gate 5. Residential Buildings |
6. Temple of the Sun
7. Quarry Group 8. Botanical Garden 9. Temple of the Three Windows 10. The Main Temple |
11. Intihuatana
12. Main Plaza 13. Sacred Rock 14. Temple of the Condor 15. Cultivation Fields |
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1. ENTRANCE STATION The bus from Agua Calientes will drop one off directly before the entrance station. One only needs to present their passport and their timed entry ticket at the control station to enter. NOTE: There are no bathrooms INSIDE Machu Picchu. One can pay to use the bathroom before entering. The route within Machu Picchu is ONE-WAY, so one should take time for pictures and not rush through. |
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2. ICONIC PHOTO SPOT For the iconic photos one sees of Machu Picchu, this is the spot. For morning tickets, one can view the sunrise and if you’re lucky enough, will be treated to llamas standing on the terraces, awaiting the sun’s heat and warmth to hit them. |
Sunrise over the mountain range
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Llamas basking in the early morning sun
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House of the Guardian (Source: https://imachupicchu.com/)
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Funerary Rock (Source: https://imachupicchu.com/)
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3. THE HOUSE OF THE GUARDIAN AND FUNERARY ROCK Another location for that postcard photo, this stone structure once served as a lookout post and has a roof made of beams and ichu (wild grass). Behind the House of the Guardian is a carved stone with stairs on the right. Its purpose was either for the embalmment of mummies or for worship during solstices. |
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4. OLD CITY GATE There is one entrance into the fortified citadel. There were wooden doors here to prevent wild cats, bears, pumas from entering. The holes in the rock above and to the sides were used to tie additional wooden beams for reinforcement. |
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Two-story family home
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5. RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS These first buildings served as housing for families and workers. Larger, two-story houses served as a place for families. The more children one had, the more field and land that was allocated to them. This land would then return to the Empire to be redistributed upon someone’s death. For taxation purposes, workers could either provide 10% of the farmed produce or work for two months. Since crops served as currency, many of these farmers opted to become workers. They would stay in single-story houses and were happy workers, since the emperor provided free food and drink (especially alcoholic drinks like chicha ahorra). |
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Since Machu Picchu was built in the humid jungle, many of the houses had two open windows to improve ventilation within the houses. There are also closed windows used for decoration. These houses didn’t have doors since people didn’t have anything of value within their homes. All the important things (the food) was stored in food storage warehouses closer to the cultivation terraces. Some did have blankets over the entry as a semblance of privacy.
Walking through, one also notes the incredible drainage system put in place to prevent flooding. There are many spouts within the rocks and indents in the ground to provide a path for rainwater to flow downhill. |
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The Temple of the Sun
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Depiction of where the light would shine during solstices
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6. TEMPLE OF THE SUN One can no longer go down to visit the most important temple here, but it’s possible to see from above. It used to have a thatched roof, but the missing layer allows one to see inside. The big slanted rock in the middle serves as an altar. The windows align with the direction of the two solstices and the inner walls were decorated with gold. This was considered the most important temple because the sun was the most important god. |
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7. QUARRY GROUP The Incas used the mountain as the foundation and many parts of the citadel incorporated the existing stone for support. The granite quarry and leftover rocks can still be seen in this area. In order to cut and modify these rocks, the Inca used another stone called hemati (consisting of 70% iron) as hammers to break apart the rock. They discovered this rock as something that came from meteorites. Then, water, sand, and the hemati were used to polish and smooth the edges of rocks. |
Rock quarry showcasing the unfinished citadel
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Coca Plant
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8. BOTANICAL GARDEN There is one lone tree still standing in the middle of Machu Picchu. This is called a Pisonay tree and it grows to show what type and how tall the trees that covered the ancient civilization during excavation were. These trees can live up to 100 years old and this one here is purportedly only 40 years old. Nearby, one can see some coca plants. For those unfamiliar with Peru, coca leaves act as a stimulant and ward off altitude sickness. Since there were no domesticated animals (chickens, cows), the ancient people would chew on the leaves to receive nutrients such as calcium, and it is known to prevent osteoporosis. The plants grow up to 6 feet tall and one needs to dry the leaves to receive maximal nutritional value. |
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9. TEMPLE OF THE THREE WINDOWS This temple's significance can be inferred to represent the three sacred animals to the Inca—Condor, Puma, and Serpent. The Condor was the spirit to the sky and represented the connection between people and the sky. The Puma was known to run fast and disappear into the mountains, connecting the people and the mountain gods. Lastly, the serpent slithers into the earth and represents the connection between people and the underground. |
Temple of the Three Windows
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10. THE MAIN TEMPLE The main temple or the principal temple has had its name lost to time. Its significance is attributed to the proper rock in the middle that resembles an altar. Beside it, there is a diamond-shaped rock that served as a perfect compass, demonstrating the Inca’s knowledge of directions. |
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11. INTIHUATANA A strange rock formation that many believe to be similar to a sundial that shows an agricultural calendar. The stone protuberance casts shadows that inform people about the when to plant or harvest. One of the reasons why the Inca were such good farmers is attributed to the fact that they had their own calendar with solstices and equinoxes. |
12. MAIN PLAZA One cannot enter the plaza, but there are plenty of great views close to Intihuatana. It has a U-shape to maximize acoustics. The emperor would stand beside the Intihuatana to give speeches to the crowds waiting below. The main plaza also served as a place for dances and rituals with lots of open spaces. |
Intihuatana
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View from Intihuatana
View from bottom of the Main Plaza
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13. SACRED ROCK A monumental rock that is shaped like the mountain (Apu Yanantin) behind it. It is thought to be a place of worship. It is in the exact Northern spot of Machu Picchu and leads to the steps of Huayna Picchu. |
Sacred Rock with Apu Yanantin behind it
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Temple of the Condor (Source: www.peru-machu-picchu.com)
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14. TEMPLE OF THE CONDOR A natural rock formation that was shaped by the Inca to look like the wings of a condor and became a temple. The floor’s temple has a rock carved like the head and neck of a bird, creating a three-dimensional figure. Supposedly, the head of the condor was used as a sacrificial altar. Behind the temple were prisons that would hold the accused before they would undergo trial. |
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15. CULTIVATION FIELDS These terraces served as farming experiment. Similar to the terraces in Moray, each level had different temperatures allowing different crops to be grown. They also faced the Northeast to maximize the amount of sunlight. |
Cultivation fields from the east
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Cultivation fields from the residential houses
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Additional Paths
Huayna Picchu
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Machu Picchu Mountain
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As one can see, most of Machu Picchu can be seen within two hours, so there is also the option (and I highly recommend it) to explore one of the additional mountain peaks on either side of Machu Picchu. There is Huayna Picchu (or Waynapicchu) to the north and Machu Picchu Mountain to the south.
These do require an additional fee compared to the Machu Picchu entrance cost, and one should book them 3-4 months in advance to guarantee a spot since only a limited number of people are allowed on each one. To enter each one, there is a passport control, where one needs to sign their name and the time into a booklet, ensuring that each hiker signs out on the way back.
Both Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are great hikes, but the main difference would be in the length and steepness.
These do require an additional fee compared to the Machu Picchu entrance cost, and one should book them 3-4 months in advance to guarantee a spot since only a limited number of people are allowed on each one. To enter each one, there is a passport control, where one needs to sign their name and the time into a booklet, ensuring that each hiker signs out on the way back.
Both Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are great hikes, but the main difference would be in the length and steepness.
- Machu Picchu Mountain is about a 2-hour walk one-way (~4 miles) and has a more gradual incline
- Huayna Picchu is much steeper but reaching the top only takes 1-hour (~2 miles). Here are the views from both:
View from Huayna Picchu
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View from Machu Picchu Mountain
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Huayna Picchu is more popular of the two, for in the past, one could also visit the Temple of the Moon, which is on the other side of the mountain. Unfortunately, it has been closed to visitors due to safety risks. In the past, one would need to climb floating steps to reach the top, but a more secure path has been laid out with a guide rope in some of the steeper sections.
Note that if one isn’t able to get tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, one can also head towards the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to the south. This is free to visit and this should be the FIRST thing one visits before heading into the rest of the citadel. A beautiful archaeological site, it was built in honor of the Sun God “Inti”.
Fun Facts
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About Machu Picchu:
Vegetation:
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Inca Civilization:
- The hospital decreased the mortality rate of children to only 30%
- Robberies were also infrequent because criminals were severely punished. There were no prisons, instead criminals were conscripted into the army, serving as the front line. Occasionally, the family of the prisoner would also need to pay penance and fight as well.
- The only way for people to move up the social ladder was to fight well as a warrior. Strong warriors were offered the chance to become nobility for they were blessed by the gods and must possess royal blood.
- Gender roles and disparity didn’t exist in Inca civilization. Men and women fought in the army and either sex could partake in whichever activities they so choose. Things changed after Spanish colonization, such that more “traditional” gender roles play a large role in Peru today.
- There are circular rocks at the school that also helped the Inca farm. One would pour water to create a sheen on the surface. At night, one would look at the reflection of the water, like a mirror, to determine the moon’s position, which would also help influence farming methods
