Tips to travel to Machu Picchu

For the latest update please refer to the following post:

UPDATE (February 2019): Latest changes in Machu Picchu admission

Quick recommendations to get ready to embark towards an unforgettable adventure. Follow these steps to guarantee an experience without any hassle on your visit to Machu Picchu.

Seasons. The dry season goes from April to October, with clear skies that start to get cloudy from November and on. Hard rain showers that show up in late December until March can cause problematic landslides on the roads.

Time. Since July 2017 two schedules to visit Machu Picchu were implemented. First admission is in the morning and the second in the afternoon, giving every visitor the chance to stay between 4 and 7 hours depending on the type of ticket purchased.

Tickets. Buy tickets in advance as they are highly demanded. Consider that there are different types of tickets that include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and one that only includes the citadel. Buy only at the official website, or if you book an itinerary with us, we will take care of it.

Trains. There are different train classes at different tariffs to travel to Machu Picchu departing from Cusco (Poroy), Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. The companies are Inca Rail and Peru Rail. The latter offers a service of local train with special prices but only for residents. Again, if you book an itinerary with us, we will take care of it.

Bus. An almost uninterrupted service of busses from Aguas Calientes, starting at 5:30 a.m., take about 30 minutes to Machu Picchu. Lines can get very long at some hours and some prefer to climb the hill but the one-and-a-half hour effort is very demanding and reduces the time available for your visit to Machu Picchu .

Trekking. For those that want to arrive by foot, the alternatives to get to Machu Picchu are the Inca Trail, the Salkantay or Lares Trek, and our unique and original Coffee Route. You should always go with good guides and book your itinerary months in advance. Email us at english @ responsibletravelperu.com if you want to try any of these options.

Car. Wisely schedule your rides to and from the train station avoiding being late.

Clothing and accessories. A lightweight jacket or raincoat, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Little carriage (5 to 8 kilograms) is allowed on the trains so one book and your photo camera will suffice. Only sport footwear and walking sticks with rubber tips are admitted at Machu Picchu, no big umbrellas or selfie sticks will be allowed neither baby carts.

Guide. Hiring a guide is now a requisite to enter Machu Picchu. A recommended guide is key to ensure your satisfaction with valuable and accurate information at the citadel. It is also possible to get a guide at the entrance, who usually charges between 30 and 60 US dollars. Every RESPONS’ itinerary includes a well-trained guide. Make your request at english @ responsibletravelperu.com

Food and drinks. Bring your refillable bottle and lightly packed food items as no major meals or individually packed snacks are allowed at Machu Picchu. Last minute purchases can be done in Aguas Calientes. There is a restaurant outside Machu Picchu but if it’s not part of your tour the prices might not please you.

Documents. Always carry your original identification and make sure is valid as it is going to be checked along with the admission tickets to the citadel and trains. If you got an ISIC student special fare ticket, carry your card as well.

RESPONS recommends an acclimatization time in Cusco or Ollantaytambo for those who just arrived the country to avoid altitude sickness. And to get the most out of your travel time in Cusco, we offer you to take the entire process in our own hands so you can enjoy Machu Picchu before and after the trip, leaving all the work to us. Write us at english @ responsibletravelperu.com or fill out our questionnaire and we will be happy to help you!

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