The traditional citadel of Machu Picchu, which is hidden excessive up within the Peruvian Andes, attracts with a way of thriller and majesty. It’s a location that has captured vacationers’ consideration for a few years, and its historic worth can’t be ignored.
Nevertheless, there are specific issues you need to be conscious of earlier than getting into the sacred grounds of Machu Picchu. Due to this fact, we’re right here to offer you the ten issues to know earlier than visiting Machu Picchu, so you might have an unforgettable go to.
Be sure additionally to take a look at our complete guide to visiting Machu Picchu.
Let’s get began! Right here is an outline:
Issues to know earlier than visiting Machu Picchu
1. Have all your journey paperwork at hand
You have to have all of the practice, bus, and entry tickets at hand when doing all your Machu Picchu tour. It’s advantageous when you’ve got them as digital tickets in your telephone. Scroll all the way down to the underside for extra tour info.
To be on the secure facet, it’s smart to print them out in case you expertise web points or run out of battery. If you happen to didn’t print the tickets at dwelling, don’t panic; your lodge in Cusco or Aguas Calientes will enable you.
This additionally applies to your passport. To your go to to Machu Picchu, all the time convey your authentic passport with you.
2. Take the shuttle bus as a substitute of climbing
You’ve gotten two choices for attending to Machu Picchu’s entrance from Aguas Calientes: climbing or utilizing a shuttle bus.
The hike lasts about 90 minutes and isn’t significantly spectacular as a result of there aren’t any wonderful sights alongside the way in which. On condition that the path twists steeply into the jungle, it’s a reasonably difficult trek. By the point you get to the entry, you’ll in all probability be drenched in sweat.
That’s why we advise taking the 25-minute bus experience. You have to buy the tickets prematurely, every manner being $12.
If you happen to’re a eager hiker, take a look at our information to hiking the Inca Trail Trail to Machu Picchu.
3. Pack sensible for Machu Picchu
Your backpack must have a particular measurement when you go to Machu Picchu. You received’t get right of entry to the ruins whether it is bigger than 15.7 inches by 13.7 inches by 7.9 inches (40 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm), and you have to to retailer it in a locker.
In your backpack, you may solely put a digicam, a telephone, a small water bottle (ideally one that may be reused), sunscreen, insect repellent, and so forth. Meals, nonetheless, is forbidden. Due to this, we strongly advise you to eat a filling breakfast and/or convey snacks with you on the journey to Machu Picchu.
Moreover, you aren’t allowed to convey tripods, drones or selfie sticks with you. Generally the guards are very strict, typically they aren’t and don’t even verify your backpack. Nevertheless, you need to be ready for the previous and comply with the principles.
Additionally, carrying applicable clothes is vital as a result of the Andes’ local weather is vulnerable to surprising shifts. We advise carrying sturdy footwear, multifunctional clothes, rain ponchos, hats or caps, and zip-off shirts and pants. We advise trying out Merino Wool clothing for any out of doors adventures.
4. Watch out for the fastened routes
You should follow a set path all the time you’re on the guided tour. This implies you may solely go in a single course.
Returning to one of many beforehand seen areas just isn’t attainable!
The aim of this rule is to enhance the group of the Machu Picchu excursions. Within the common excursions, you’ll go to Circuit 1, which lasts about 2.5 hours and explores each the excessive and decrease areas of Machu Picchu. This circuit permits you to seize the well-known postcard picture of Machu Picchu.
5. Keep away from getting your passport stamped
You might have seen different vacationers who had a Machu Picchu stamp added to their passports on Fb or Instagram. Regardless of how thrilling and memorable this sounds, we are able to solely strongly warn you from doing it.
Chances are you’ll now be questioning, “Why?” It’s as a result of this stamp just isn’t an official passport stamp. There have been numerous vacationers who had difficulties getting into different nations, as this stamp invalidated their passport.
We advocate you convey a postcard, a be aware block or a T-shirt when you actually need the Machu Picchu stamp. However don’t get your passport stamped.
6. Buy your tickets early
Normally, the sooner you e book your tickets, the higher. This manner, you may select your most popular entrance time to Machu Picchu.
If you happen to plan to go to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, reserving early is much more necessary. But, what does “early” really imply?
As there are solely 400 guests allowed per day in the course of the excessive season of Could by way of October, you need to reserve your tickets to Huayna Picchu no less than two to a few months prematurely. For Machu Picchu Mountain, reserving a couple of weeks earlier than is normally advantageous.
You’ll take pleasure in a panoramic view of the Machu Picchu ruins and the environment from each summits.
7. Use the toilet earlier than getting into
As there are not any loos contained in the archaeological complicated of Machu Picchu, we urge you to make use of them earlier than getting into particularly as you’re unable to go away and re-enter Machu Picchu after you move the doorway.
In different phrases, until you might have bought a second admittance ticket, there isn’t a manner again in as soon as you’re outdoors.
Our recommendation: convey some tissues with you as a result of many loos in Peru don’t have bathroom paper. The utilization of the restroom typically prices S/1 ($0.30).
8. Discover the Sacred Valley earlier than visiting Machu Picchu
As Cusco is within the Andes at a peak of over 11,000 toes, it’s essential you acclimate your self to avoid altitude sickness in Peru.
Earlier than touring to any high-altitude websites after arriving in Cusco, it’s best to first discover the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, as they’re much less elevated. This enables your physique to progressively regulate to the altitude.
Other than getting used to the altitude, one other benefit of doing the Sacred Valley tour earlier than visiting Machu Picchu is that it’s going to enable you perceive the Incas’ historical past and put it in chronological order.
This particular and complete tour of the Sacred Valley permits guests to expertise native life, architectural wonders, Inca historical past and exquisite pure landscapes earlier than heading to Machu Picchu. The tour consists of visits to Chinchero, Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo and lasts 12 hours. The tour is designed to present guests an genuine expertise of life within the Peruvian Andes.
Book your Sacred Valley experience directly with the tour operator here.
9. Select the “finest” practice choice
Going to Machu Picchu by practice leaves you with three completely different practice choices:
1. Expedition practice: the usual practice
2. Vistadome practice: barely extra snug, panorama home windows and on-board leisure
3. Hiram Bingham practice: luxurious practice with on-board meals, open bar and extra.
If you happen to plan on a “common” journey to Machu Picchu, we advise taking the Expedition practice to go to Aguas Calientes and the Vistadome as your return practice.
Greater than that, we advocate taking the practice to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo after your Sacred Valley tour, staying the night time in Aguas Calientes and taking the practice again on the following day. This lets you have a extra relaxed expertise. Extra about this beneath.
10. Spend the night time in Aguas Calientes
Why must you keep the night in Aguas Calientes? That is undoubtedly the best choice if you wish to go to the Machu Picchu ruins at dawn earlier than the crowds arrive.
The early morning Machu Picchu day journeys ranging from Cusco start at 2.30 a.m. For the reason that first practice from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes departs at 5:05 a.m., Machu Picchu can’t be seen till 7:30 or 8 a.m.
Spending the night time in Aguas Calientes permits you to sleep in a bit longer and enter Machu Picchu at 6 am, earlier than the crowds.
The day journey from Cusco or Aguas Calientes are each wonderful selections. Nevertheless, you need to keep in Aguas Calientes if you wish to expertise Machu Picchu with out the crowds.
Non-public 1 day Machu Picchu practice tour
A day journey to Machu Picchu is usually hailed as essentially the most breathtaking expertise in Peru. This particular tour eliminates the standard journey complications of late pick-ups, overcrowded teams and disinterested guides reciting rehearsed traces.
Relaxation assured that your time exploring Peru shall be flawless with this fastidiously curated tour. You’ll uncover picturesque areas ideally suited for capturing unforgettable moments by way of the lens of your digicam.
Get able to journey again in time with our enthusiastic information who will regale you with fascinating tales of Machu Picchu’s wealthy historical past. Their ardour will transport you to a different period and make this a unprecedented encounter.
Price: from USD 369 per person
Select from all three practice choices, talked about above.
Begin in Cusco and select if you wish to keep in a single day in Aguas Calientes or not
This tour consists of:
- Return practice tickets
- Non-public guided tour of Machu Picchu with a educated English-speaking information
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Entrance payment to Huayna or Machu Picchu mountain (if chosen)
- Shuttle bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- Lodge choose up or drop off in Cusco or the Sacred Valley
Get pleasure from a spectacular time at Machu Picchu
As you may see, there are some things to concentrate on earlier than touring to Peru’s Machu Picchu. Reserving the tour with sufficient time prematurely is among the most important issues to recollect. Staying in Aguas Calientes earlier than your tour is one other key level.
With the earlier suggestions, we hope that we have been in a position to put together you on your unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu.
Whilst you’re planning your Peru itinerary, take a look at these other places to visit besides Machu Picchu!