Best Time to Visit
May to September (dry season) for clear views; the wet season (November-March) is greener but cloudier, with February's Inca Trail closure
Language
Spanish and Quechua; English spoken by guides and in Cusco tourism
Currency
Peruvian Sol (PEN)
Time Zone
PET (UTC-5), no daylight saving
Airport
Alejandro Velasco Astete International (CUZ) in Cusco; then train + bus to the site
Population
the citadel is uninhabited; gateway town Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) approx. 4,000
Climate
Subtropical highland at ~2,430 m — mild days (17-23°C), cool nights; distinct dry and wet seasons
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) at the site; main concern is altitude — Cusco sits at ~3,400 m
UNESCO Status
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983; a New Seven Wonders of the World
Entry System
Timed tickets by fixed circuit, capped daily — must be booked in advance through the official government portal
The main archaeological complex of temples, plazas, and agricultural terraces, explored on one of several fixed circuits. Entry from ~150 PEN (~US$40) by timed ticket; the classic postcard viewpoint is on the upper circuit near the Guardian's House. Allow 2-3 hours and hire a guide at the gate for context.
The iconic peak towering behind the ruins, climbed via steep, exposed Inca stairs ('the stairs of death') for a dizzying bird's-eye view of the citadel. Requires a special combined ticket (~US$55) with a fixed entry time; only ~400 climbers a day, so book months ahead. About a 2-3 hour round trip — not for vertigo sufferers.
The taller, less vertiginous summit on the opposite side, a steady stone-stair climb rewarding hikers with the widest panorama over the whole sanctuary. Requires a combined ticket (~US$55) and a fixed entry slot; allow 3 hours round trip. A great alternative when Huayna Picchu permits sell out.
The original Inca Trail entrance to the city, where trekkers get their first sunrise glimpse of Machu Picchu through a stone gateway aligned to the solstice. Reachable on a ~1-hour uphill walk from the citadel (included in some circuits). Free with a valid circuit ticket — go early for the clearest morning light.
A vertigo-inducing cliff-edge trail to a removable log drawbridge the Incas used to defend the western approach, with a sheer 600 m drop. A short, mostly flat 30-45 minute round walk from the main path, included on certain circuits. Free with a valid ticket; the bridge itself is closed off but visible.
The legendary 4-day, 43 km trek over high passes and past cloud-forest ruins, arriving at the Sun Gate at dawn on day four. Permits are strictly limited (~500/day including porters), require a licensed agency, and sell out months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance. Expect to cross Dead Woman's Pass at 4,215 m.
The thermal baths that give the gateway town its name, a relaxing soak after a long day on the trails. Entry ~20 PEN (~US$5); open daytime into the evening. A short uphill walk from the town centre — basic facilities, but a welcome way to rest tired legs before the train back to Cusco.
Fly into Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) and ease into the 3,400 m altitude — today is all about doing as little as possible so the rest of the trip goes smoothly.
Private transfer from CUZ airport to San Blas(20 minutes)
Pre-arrange a hotel pickup (~30-40 PEN / US$8-11); the bohemian San Blas neighbourhood is a short, steep ride from the centre and full of boutique stays
Rest and coca tea to fight soroche(Afternoon)
Cusco is higher than Machu Picchu itself — lie low, sip mate de coca, drink plenty of water and skip alcohol entirely on day 1
Short stroll around Plaza de Armas(1 hour)
Once you feel steady, walk slowly down to the colonnaded main square to see the Cathedral and La Compañía lit up at dusk
Easy dinner at Green Point(Evening)
Light, vegetarian-friendly food in San Blas (mains ~25-35 PEN) — keep the first meal gentle while your body adjusts
A slow-paced first full day exploring the Inca and colonial heart of Cusco — minimal climbing while you continue acclimatizing.
Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)(1.5 hours)
The Incas' most sacred temple, its perfect stonework now wrapped in the Santo Domingo convent (entry ~15 PEN)
San Pedro Market(1 hour)
Wander the food stalls for fresh juices, cheese, and chocolate; great for a cheap, lively lunch among locals
Twelve-Angle Stone & Hatun Rumiyoc street(30 minutes)
Find the famously precise Inca stone in the wall of the Archbishop's Palace on the way up to San Blas
Sunset at San Cristóbal viewpoint(1 hour)
A gentle uphill walk for a panorama over Cusco's red-tiled roofs — take it slowly at altitude
Dinner at Morena Peruvian Kitchen(Evening)
Modern Peruvian near the plaza; try lomo saltado or ceviche (mains ~35-55 PEN)
Visit the megalithic fortress above the city and the nearby Inca sites, ideal as your altitude continues to settle before descending into the Sacred Valley.
Sacsayhuamán fortress(2 hours)
Colossal zigzag walls of stones weighing up to 100 tonnes, a 20-min taxi or 30-min uphill walk above Cusco; covered by the boleto turístico (~130 PEN)
Q'enqo, Puka Pukara & Tambomachay(2 hours)
A cluster of smaller Inca ruins on the road toward Pisac — a shared taxi or tour links them efficiently with no zigzagging
Lunch back in Cusco(1 hour)
Refuel at Chicha por Gastón Acurio on Plaza Regocijo (tasting plates ~40-60 PEN)
Buy circuit & train tickets if not done(Late afternoon)
Confirm your timed Machu Picchu entry on the official Ministerio de Cultura portal and your PeruRail/IncaRail seats — book days ahead, they sell out
Descend to the gentler ~2,800 m Sacred Valley where the air is easier — base yourself in Ollantaytambo, the train gateway to Machu Picchu.
Pisac ruins and artisan market(2.5 hours)
Hilltop terraces and temples above the village, then the famous craft market for textiles and silver (about 1 hour by car from Cusco)
Lunch in Pisac or Urubamba(1 hour)
Stop at a valley restaurant — try a hearty quinoa soup and trout from the Urubamba River
Ollantaytambo fortress(2 hours)
Steep agricultural terraces and the Temple of the Sun towering over a living Inca town; one of the few places where Spanish conquistadors lost a battle
Check in at Ollantaytambo & rest(Evening)
Stay the night here so you can catch an early train tomorrow without a pre-dawn drive from Cusco
The big one: train through the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes, shuttle up the switchbacks, and explore the citadel on your timed circuit.
Morning IncaRail/PeruRail Vistadome from Ollantaytambo(1.5-2 hours)
Board the panoramic-window train (~US$70-110 each way) following the river downstream into the cloud forest
Green shuttle bus up to the citadel(25 minutes)
From Aguas Calientes, the bus climbs 8 km of switchbacks (~US$24 round trip) — buy tickets at the riverside office; queues form, so go early
Machu Picchu citadel, Circuit 2(2.5-3 hours)
Head straight up to the Guardian's House for the classic postcard view before tour crowds, then follow the one-way route through temples and terraces with a guide hired at the gate (~80-120 PEN)
Soak at Aguas Calientes hot springs(1 hour)
Back in town, ease tired legs in the thermal baths (entry ~20 PEN) before dinner
Overnight in Aguas Calientes(Evening)
Stay the night so you're rested and can revisit early if you booked a second-day entry
An optional early second visit or a slow morning in the cloud forest, then the train and transfer back up to Cusco.
Optional early return to citadel for the Sun Gate(2-3 hours)
With a fresh timed ticket, hike up to Inti Punku for the trekkers' sunrise view of the city through a solstice-aligned stone gate, then back down
Browse Aguas Calientes & riverside cafés(1 hour)
Pick up a coffee and last-minute crafts along the Vilcanota River before checkout
Afternoon train to Ollantaytambo(1.5-2 hours)
Relax in the Vistadome carriage; pre-booked colectivo or transfer onward to Cusco (~1.5 hours by road)
Celebration dinner at Cicciolina(Evening)
Cusco institution above a courtyard near Plaza de Armas — tapas and Andean-Italian dishes (mains ~45-70 PEN); book ahead
A relaxed final morning for souvenirs and coffee before your flight out of CUZ — keep it light if you have an altitude headache.
Souvenir shopping in San Blas(1.5 hours)
Browse the artisan workshops for alpaca knits and ceramics; check items are genuine alpaca, not 'maybe llama'
Final coffee at a San Blas café(45 minutes)
Linger over a flat white with a view down to the cathedral one last time
Transfer to CUZ airport(20 minutes)
Arrive 2 hours before domestic flights; afternoon Cusco weather can delay departures, so an earlier flight is safer
US, Canadian, EU, UK, and Australian citizens don't need a visa for tourism and get up to 183 days on arrival. Keep the Andean Migration Card / entry stamp safe. There's no separate visa for Machu Picchu — but the site itself requires a pre-booked timed entry ticket, which is a far more important reservation to secure.
There is no road to Machu Picchu: you take a train (PeruRail or Inca Rail) from Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Aguas Calientes (~1.5-3.5 hours, US$60-150 each way), then a 25-minute shuttle bus (~US$24 round trip) up the switchbacks. Entry tickets, trains, and any Huayna Picchu permit must be reserved well in advance, especially in dry season.
Cusco sits at ~3,400 m — higher than the ruins — so the biggest risk is altitude sickness (soroche). Spend 2-3 days acclimatizing in Cusco or the lower Sacred Valley before any trek, drink coca tea and lots of water, go easy on alcohol, and ascend slowly. Machu Picchu itself, at 2,430 m, feels easier than Cusco.
Movement inside the site is one-way along your assigned circuit, so you can't backtrack — plan your photos accordingly and choose a circuit that includes the classic upper viewpoint. Large backpacks, tripods, drones, walking poles without rubber tips, food, and single-use plastics are restricted; lockers are available at the entrance.
Skip the pricey train for part of the journey via the 'Hidroeléctrica' route: a bus/colectivo from Cusco to the hydroelectric station, then a scenic 2-3 hour walk along the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes. It's a fraction of the train fare and popular with budget travellers, though it adds a full day each way.
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