Preliminary preparations

Adapting to the plateau environment​

Machu Picchu is as high as 2,430 meters above sea level, and altitude sickness may cause trouble to your trip. It is recommended to stay in Cusco for 2-3 days after arriving in Peru to allow your body to gradually adapt to the high altitude environment. During this period, you can rest more, avoid strenuous exercise, drink more water, and eat more vegetables and fruits. If necessary, you can also prepare anti-altitude sickness drugs in advance, such as Rhodiola rosea. In addition, chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea can also relieve plateau discomfort to a certain extent. Coca tea can be bought in many restaurants and stores in Cusco.​

Ticket Booking​

Machu Picchu tickets must be booked in advance, especially during the peak tourist season (usually May-September). It is safer to book 1-2 months in advance. You can log in to the official website machupicchu.gob.pe to purchase tickets. There are two main types of tickets: one is the basic ticket for Machu Picchu, which costs about 152 soles (about 40 US dollars); the other is the combined ticket for Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu, which costs 200 soles (about 53 US dollars). If you choose to climb Huayna Picchu, you need to pay attention to its daily flow limit and make sure to book as early as possible. If the official website tickets are sold out, you can also book through a local regular travel agency, but the price may be slightly higher.

Transportation Guide

From Cusco​

To Machu Picchu, you usually arrive in Cusco first and then transfer to other means of transportation. Cusco is a famous historical ancient city in southern Peru with convenient transportation. It can be reached by plane or long-distance bus from major cities in Peru.​

Train: The most common way to get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, where Machu Picchu is located, is by train. Perurail and IncaRail operate trains with a variety of models and prices. You can depart from Ollantaytambo, Cusco or Urubamba. It is recommended to book tickets in advance, especially window seats, so that you can enjoy the magnificent Andes scenery along the way. The journey takes about 2-3 hours. ​

Bus: At the long-distance bus station in Cusco, there are buses to Ollantaytambo, and then transfer to the train to Aguas Calientes. Although this method is relatively cheap, it takes a long time and the road is bumpy, so you need to reserve enough time.​

Transfer at Reshui Town​

After arriving at Reshui Town, you can choose the following ways to go to Machu Picchu Scenic Area:​

Bus: Go to the ticket window under the riverside bridge to buy bus tickets to Machu Picchu Scenic Area. Ticket sales time is 5:30-21:30, and only cash payment is accepted. The bus to the mountain departs from 05:00-21:00, with frequent buses and a journey of about 30 minutes. ​

Hiking: If you have enough energy, you can also choose to hike up the mountain, which takes about 1.5 hours. The scenery along the way is beautiful, but you need to pay attention to safety, and hiking at high altitudes may be more strenuous.

Guide to the scenic area

Tour route planning​

Machu Picchu can be roughly divided into the sacred area, the popular area, and the priest and noble area. After entering the scenic area, you can start the tour from the sacred area, where there are many important relics:​

Temple of the Sun: A classic representative of Inca architecture, it is made of huge stones precisely spliced ​​together without any mortar, and its construction technology is amazing. Here, you can deeply feel the Inca people's worship of the sun and their superb attainments in architectural art. ​

Intiwatana: This is a mysterious stone that is speculated to be used for astronomical observation and religious ceremonies. The Incas hope to "tie" the sun through it to keep the light and warmth forever. ​

House of the Three Windows: It is named after its unique three windows. There are many speculations about its use, which may be related to religious ceremonies or important political activities. ​

Then go to the Main Plaza, which is the center of Machu Picchu. From here you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire ancient city and feel its former prosperity and glory. Then visit the popular area and the priest and noble area to learn about the living environment and lifestyle of different classes. ​

Photography check-in point ​

Guardhouse: A great place to enjoy the panoramic view of Machu Picchu and an ideal location to shoot the sunrise.

Temple of the Sun: In addition to appreciating its architectural beauty, the details here are also very suitable for taking pictures, such as the exquisite stone wall texture and unique window lattices. ​

Main Square: Take panoramic photos with the entire ancient city as the background to record the magnificence and magnificence of Machu Picchu. ​

It is recommended to choose the early morning or evening for taking pictures. In the early morning, there are few people and the light is soft, which is suitable for taking panoramic photos and sunrises; in the evening, the afterglow of the sunset shines on the ancient city, and you can take silhouette photos with a strong sense of atmosphere. In terms of dressing, it is recommended to choose bright-colored clothes, which will be more effective against the backdrop of stone buildings; you can also buy Inca-style shawls in Cusco colors, which are both warm and can add a unique atmosphere to the photos.​

Interpretation service​

To better understand the history and culture behind Machu Picchu, it is recommended to choose the interpretation service:​

Official tour guide: You can find official tour guides at the entrance of the scenic area, the price is about 100-150 soles (about 25-40 US dollars), negotiate the price and service content in advance, they can give you a detailed introduction to the historical background, architectural features and cultural connotations of each ruins.

Private tour guide: If you want to explore the mystery of Machu Picchu in depth, you can make an appointment for a private tour guide in advance, the price is about 200-300 soles (about 50-80 US dollars). Private tour guides can usually provide more personalized and in-depth explanations to satisfy your curiosity about specific historical and cultural content.

Machu Picchu, the lost city in the sky, is waiting for you to explore. Prepare carefully according to this guide, I believe you will definitely have an unforgettable travel experience and appreciate the unique charm of Inca civilization.