Do I need a tour guide to get in?

Although it still is optional to hire a tour guide to enter Machu Picchu, It is recommendable to do with a guide, because their knowledge adds so much to the experience.

Are there restrooms at Machu Picchu?

Yes, there are restrooms at the entrance of the park, so make sure you use the restrooms at the beginning.

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

June through August means drier wheather and easier traveling, but it’s prime vaction time for those in the northen hemisphere. Don’t forget that three major Peruvian holidays – Inti Raymi (June 24), Peru’s Independence Day (July 28), and Santa Rosa de Lima (August 30) – fall during this time, these festivities entails heavy concentrations of Peruvian travelers, this turns into higher lodging prices and larger crowds at these times. Prices and visitors numbers can drop dramatically during October through April. January is the most rainy month. For near-ideal weather and manageable crowds, concider August, September, October

Can I camp in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu?

In 1983, Unesco designated Machu Picchu a world heritage site. Since then in order to preserve the historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu the Peruvian Goverment has deployed strict measures and regulations restricting the amount of time that you can spend in the citadel and requiring all visitors to be accompanied by a licensed tour guide, and due to its delicate nature its’s not posible to camp inside Machu Picchu.

Is one day enough to know Machu Picchu?

You can visit Machu Picchu on a full Day trip, but it’s best to stay overnight at a hotel in Aguas Calientes. A Full day trip allows you about six hours at Machu Picchu, matching with the most crowded times. If you plan to stay overnight you have more time to see the ruins, after most visitors have gone, or plan visit again the citadel the next day very early.

Is Machu Picchu closed in the rainy season?

Fortunately Machu Picchu is open all year along, just make sure to book your ticktes well in advance.

What are the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountains?

The Huayna Picchu Trail, which follows an ancient Inca path, leads up the sugarloaf Hill in front of Machu Picchu for an exhilarating trek. Limited to 400 visitors daily at two entrance times (7-8 am and 10 – 11 am), tickets to the Trail must be purchased at the same time as your entrance to Machu Picchu, the ardous vertiginous hike up a steep, narrow set of Inca-carved stairs to the Summit and back takes between 2 and 3 hours round trip and there are some Inca structures at the top called the temple of the moon. Bring insect repellent.

The Machu Picchu Mountain, Hiking up Machu Picchu mountain is anothe possibility. Ticktes must be purchased at the same time as the entrance to the site itself, entrance is allowed between 7 am and 8 am and between 9 and 10 am this hike is longer tan Huayna Picchu  but lees steep there are not archaelogical site at the top.

Do I require a high fitness level to visit Machu Picchu?

No, you don’t need to be in any spific physcical condition to visit Machu Picchu, the sighteseening is relatively chill and not challeging at all.

Do I need to buy the entrance to Machu Picchu in advance?

Yes, the Machu Picchu tickets ought to be bout well in advance, this must be the first thing to book, since this is subject to availabilty.

Is there an age limit?

There is not a guideline established regarding age limits, this is up to your travel operator and the traveler’s criteria

Are there any restrictions for Machu Picchu?

After August 15th, 2022, there are no longer capacity restrictions at all outdoor Inca sites in Peru. Machu Picchu trains and shuttle buses are at 100%. Only the Inca bridge and the Sun gate remained closed until further notice.

Is it necessary to hire a travel agency to go to Machu Picchu?

Yes, if you want to save time it’s better concidering using a local travel agency, most travelers prefer the convenience of a arranged tour to bouncing between boleterias or buses

Where can I get the best photos of Machu Picchu?

The best photos can be taken from the Guardian House, the Sun gate, and Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain Summit

When does Machu Picchu close?

Never, Muchu Picchu is open all year long the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is vacant all year long

What is the worst time to visit Machu Picchu?

January, becuase of the non-stoping rains, landslide may be a problem for the trains to get to Aguas calientes, complicating the traveler’s itinerary

When is it cheaper to visit Machu Picchu?

The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is USD $45, and this doesn’t change not matter what is the season of the year, you can appeal to a student or underage discount but you will have to present the valid documentation before booking your ticket.

How much is the Machu Picchu tickets?

The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is USD $45, and this can vary per travel agency since they will charge an extra service fee.

Can i find tour guides at Machu Picchu?

Yes, it’s posible to find freelancer tour guides at the gate of Machu Picchu you can hire them for a private tour or grupal guided tour, the fee per person changes according the request

What is the altitude of Machu Picchu?.

The altitude in Machu Picchu is 2,430 meters, at a cloud forest.

Is the bus drive dangerous? (Aguas calientes to Machu picchu)

 It is not dangerous, but it has a certain level of risk as everything in life.

Is there an internet connection?

If you have a Peruvian Sim card, then you will have internet. Otherwise, you won´t have internet service, unless you use the Santuary lodge hotel services. But most of the hotels, restaurants, and cafes down in the town of Aguas Calientes provide a free wifi connection service for guests. You can use it there for whatever operation you require to do, using the internet.

What about mozzies up there?

Mozzies or mosquitos in Machu Picchu can be annoying. Bring some repellents or venom spray to get rid of mosquitoes.

Do you have a fear of heights?

Any standard people can do the hike in Machu Picchu and Mount Machu Picchu hike. But for the Huayna Picchu mountain hike, it is only recommended to people with no fear of heights (acrophobia) because it is steep and narrow.

Can I find an ATM at Aguas calientes?

Yes, there are  ATMs in Aguas Calientes. The only thing to care about is to know how much money the bank will charge a withdrawal fee or not. What is most recommended is to withdraw cash in Cusco as ATMs in Machu Picchu may not be functioning well too.

How much time can I stay in Machu Picchu?

Besides the ticket indications for a certain time slot, nobody really drags tourists out. Some people make their progress slowly, maximizing their chances to see something else in the park because there is no way of returning back. 3 to 3.5 hours only Machu Picchu would be fine, and yes more than that if the visit includes mountain tickets. Nobody gets fined after all.

How much luggage should I take on the trains?

Luggage exceeding 5 kg / 11 lb and measuring more than 62 inches / 157 cm is restricted. Big carry-on baggage can block the exits so it is recommended to leave at your Cusco hotel o sacred Valley Hotel and pick them up after Machu Picchu. Most of the hotels offer storage services for free.

Is it easy to find accommodation in Aguas Calientes?

It all depends on the season you are visiting. During the high season, rooms tend to quickly run out, so it is better to book in advance, while in the low season plenty of availability can be found.

Can I take the local train to Machu Picchu?

The local train is exclusively for locals and residents which sometimes is overload, many people travel standing as well. Additionally,  it is required a Peruvian Cusco region ID to purchase the ticket, so there is no way to get a local train ticket.

Can I enter Machu Picchu with kids?

Sure, but one should not bring cars for kids, those are not allowed. A baby carrier would be good. Check out the Machu Picchu new entrance rules in 2021.

 Note:

• Children over 3 years old pay for the entrance ticket, now in 2022.
• Which is better Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain?
• This is kind of tricky to answer hence there are tourists rooting for Huayna Picchu mountain and others claiming that Machu Picchu mountain is better. So all in all, both mountains are worth climbing.
• Before you choose, you should consider the difference between the two:
• Hiking time.- Going to Huayna Picchu mountain can take 2 to 2.5 hours in all. To get to Machu Picchu Mountain takes 3 to 3.4 hours in all so, in contrast, Huayna Picchu is closer.
• Altitude gain.-Having Machu picchu as te base at 8038 ft / 2450 masl, to get to Huayna Picchu there is 270 m. up and to get to Machu picchu mountain there is 600 m. up.
• – Both mountains have 400 hundred permits divided into two-time slots. Since Huayna Picchu mountain is more popular than the other, tickets sell out well in advance.
• -Both mountains offer excellent looking down to the ancient citadel and surroundings.
• Summit height.- Huayna Picchu summit is at about 8923 ft / 2720 masl and Machu picchu mountain summit is at 10 006 ft / 3050 masl.