Machu Picchu is one of the most visited places in the world. Here’s everything you need to know before you travel to Machu Picchu.

My heart sank as we reached the top of the path and gazed down into the valley at a pillowy, white wall of clouds that threatened to ruin a moment I had awaited for years. I spent hours researching the perfect time to travel to Machu Picchu to avoid the calamity that lay before me. I sank to the ground among the llamas and other forlorn travelers to see if I could wait out my misfortune. 

As the sun began to peak over the mountains to the east, its rays cut small slits in the airy barricade allowing glimpses of deep green and earthy brown below. The crest of Huayna Picchu poked through. With each inch of dissipation my excitement rose. I was nearly as giddy as I had been an hour earlier on the zig-zagging bus ride up the mountain. 

Suddenly, the sun broke free; flooding the valley with golden light and vanquishing the last remnants of cumulus shroud. I jumped to my feet, and ran to the edge of the cliff, finally drinking in the sight I’d waited so long for — Machu Picchu!

The view was even more stunning than I imagined. Built on the edge of a remote cliff, high above the Urubamba River valley and set against the lush background of a landscape caught between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon basin, the 550-year-old Inca city is a true architectural marvel. 

Machu Picchu contains more than 200 houses, squares, palaces, temples and observatories. The Inca built the city using stones cut so precisely that no mortar was necessary. The stones fit together so tightly you can’t even fit a credit card between them. Machu Picchu is built on two active fault lines. Thanks to the Inca’s construction methods, the stones bounce in place during earthquakes, but the buildings have never crumbled.

Because of the tough mountainous terrain, the Inca, being the master engineers they were, surrounded the city on all sides with a system of terraces. The smaller terraces help prevent erosion, and the larger terraces were used for growing food. The city also has an exceptional irrigation system which allowed for drainage and fresh-flowing water throughout the city.

Getting There – How to Travel to Machu Picchu

There are only two ways to travel to Machu Picchu.

The first option is by train. You can take a train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes and from there a bus or hike to the entrance.

Or, you can hike the 26-mile Inca trail from Cusco, which takes four days and climbs to altitudes upwards of 14,000 feet before reaching the Sun Gate on the final morning. From there, hikers are rewarded for their efforts with a front row seat to watch the sun rise behind Machu Picchu from the sky-high vantage point. As romantic as this trek sounds — and I fully intend to attempt it one day — I took the train. 

There are two train companies to choose from: Inca Rail, and Peru Rail. Both operate similar schedules at similar prices, and both offer cars with panoramic views, so you really can’t go wrong with either. I chose to experience both – one on the way there, and one on the way back – and I can’t say that either was noticeably superior to the other.

Where to stay

Most people choose to stay either the night before, or the night after their visit to Machu Picchu. If this is you, you’ll be staying in the town of Aguas Calientes. Thanks to the numerous visitors the city sees every year, there are lots of lodging options.

From the luxurious Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (from $400), to the modest backpacker accommodations at the Supertramp Hostel (from $8), there is a range of accommodations to suite every need.

Planning your visit

Due to the large number of visitors Machu Picchu was receiving each year, the Peruvian government decided to take action in order to preserve the site for future generations. In Jan. 2019, they implemented new rules that limit the number of daily visitors to just 2,500, and created a timed ticket system to stagger visits throughout the day, preventing overcrowding.

Entrance times start as early as 6 a.m., and as late as 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online, through a travel agent or guide, or in-person in Auguas Calientes. Tickets can sell out months ahead of time, so it’s best not to wait.

The new rules also mandate that visitors must enter with a guided tour, or hire a private guide. Both options can be booked ahead of time, or at the entrance. Even though a guided tour is cheaper, I didn’t want to be rushed through the city, or overwhelmed by other visitors, so I chose to hire a private guide.

Inside the city of Machu Picchu

Even if it’s not required, I always like having a guide for any historical sites. I’m a total history nerd and love learning anything even remotely cool or interesting about places I visit.

Before making our way down into the city, our guide took us to the end of the Sun Gate trail. The narrow path offers dramatic views down into the Urubamba River valley and a glimpse up at the Sun Gate which, even though it is a two- to three-hour trek from Machu Picchu, is the official end of the Inca trail.

On the way down into the city, our guide explained how it was laid out. The Inca were scholars and most of the city was dedicated to education — some researchers believe this is why the city was built. Many of the houses around what is believed to be the university building are thought to be student housing. 

The Inca were religious and worshiped several gods, the most important of them was Inti, the sun god. The Temple of the Sun is one of the most important structures in Machu Picchu; only priests and nobles were allowed inside. The temple has two main windows that priests used for religious purposes and which align perfectly with the sun during the summer and winter solstices. The circular temple was constructed without a roof so Inti could always see inside. 

The Inca were also advanced astronomers. One of the things I found most impressive at Machu Picchu were the water mirrors. Two small stone bowls which, when filled with water, allow you to look at the reflection of the sun, watch an eclipse, or study the constellations through magnification. The Inca used their knowledge of astronomy mostly for religion and farming, but it also allowed them to measure time and the seasons.

Even though the Inca were amazing engineers, farmers, architects and astronomers, they had no written language. Everything we know about the Inca today is from knowledge that was passed down over hundreds of years, or was discovered through archeology. 

It took us about three hours to make our way through the city. We stopped to see the observatory, the Temple of the Condor and to admire the incredible view. There are so many interesting things to see and learn at Machu Picchu. Pair that with the incredible vistas and it’s not hard to see why this is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. 

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Machu Picchu at a Glance

15th century Inca citadel located 50 miles northwest of Cuzco, Peru near the town of Aguas Calientes in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains.

Tickets: Adults – $65; Student, child: $39. You can purchase tickets online or in person at the bus station in Aguas Calientes.

Transportation: Both Inca Rail and Peru Rail operate routes between the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes. The average cost of an adult round trip ticket is $140 on either line. You must purchase bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in person – $24 round trip.