Machu Picchu

Machu Pikchu

The 'Lost City of the Incas' on a ridge at 2,430 meters. Rediscovered in 1911, it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the ultimate goal of any trip to Peru.

Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century during the reign of Pachacuti, and was likely a royal estate and religious center of the Inca emperor. The Spanish never discovered it. Hiram Bingham of Yale University brought it to the world's attention in 1911. The site sits on a ridge encircled by the Urubamba River and is divided into an agricultural area (terraces) and an urban sector. The urban sector includes the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (hitching post of the sun), the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Condor, the royal residence and more than 600 steps. The iconic peak Huayna Picchu rises behind it. The ticketing system, in effect since 2024, works as follows. The site has 10 fixed routes (Circuit 1, the upper panorama route; Circuit 2, the classic route; and Circuit 3, the royal route). Each route has timed entry, with entries every hour from 06:00 to 15:00. Routes are one-way, and you cannot backtrack. The daily cap is 4,500–5,600 visitors. Tickets must be bought in advance on the official website, tuboleto.cultura.pe, 2–3 months ahead in high season. An adult ticket costs PEN 152. Adding Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs extra and has fewer slots (200–400 per day each), so book even earlier. The classic postcard panorama is from the upper viewpoint of Circuits 1 and 2, near the Guardian's Hut. Circuit 3 does not include this viewpoint, so check before you buy. Getting there: take a PeruRail or Inca Rail train from Poroy Station or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (USD 60–200 one way, and USD 500+ for the Hiram Bingham luxury train). Then take a shuttle bus up the mountain for 25 minutes (USD 24 round trip, departures from 05:30, with queues of up to an hour in peak season), or walk for 1.5 hours. Hikers arrive via the 4-day Inca Trail or the 5-day Salkantay route. A visit takes about 3 hours, and Circuit 2 is the most complete. You must bring your passport. A guide is not required but is recommended (about USD 40–60 per group on site). Tripods, drones, large backpacks and food are not allowed, and there are no toilets inside the site. Consider staying overnight in Aguas Calientes and entering first thing the next morning.

Machu Picchu

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby