Machu Picchu

The history of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu («old mountain» in Quechua) was built around 1450 as a royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacútec, the ruler who turned Cusco into the capital of the largest empire of pre-Columbian America. Perched at 2,430 meters above sea level between the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains, the citadel combined palaces, temples, agricultural terraces and houses for about 750 people.

The site was abandoned roughly a century later, during the Spanish conquest, and the conquistadors never found it. Local farmers always knew about it, but it became world famous in 1911 when Hiram Bingham, guided by Cusco farmer Melchor Arteaga, publicized it. In 1983 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site and in 2007 it was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Main places inside the citadel

• Temple of the Sun: a semicircular tower aligned with the winter solstice.
• Intihuatana: a carved stone linked to astronomical observation.
• Temple of the Three Windows and the Main Temple, in the sacred plaza.
• Agricultural terraces and the House of the Guardian, the classic postcard view.

Machu Picchu tickets and circuits

Entry is controlled by the Ministry of Culture with a daily visitor limit, time slots and fixed circuits. Each ticket is valid for one route and one entry time; you cannot re-enter. Tickets are nominal (passport or ID required) and non-refundable.

• Circuit 1 – Panoramic: upper terraces and the classic viewpoint.
• Circuit 2 – Classic: the most complete route through the upper and lower sectors.
• Circuit 3 – Royal: lower sector and temples.
• Add-on mountains: Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or Huchuy Picchu, with very limited capacity.

Routes and rules change frequently, so we check official availability before confirming your tour and buy your tickets as soon as you book.

How to get to Machu Picchu

There are no roads to the citadel from Cusco. The usual way is by train from Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) and then a 25-minute bus ride. The adventurous way is on foot: the Inca Trail or the Salkantay trek. A budget alternative is the road to Hidroeléctrica plus a 2.5-hour walk along the tracks.

Best time to visit Machu Picchu

The dry season (April to October) offers blue skies and is the busiest; June to August sells out months in advance. The rainy season (November to March) brings green landscapes, fewer visitors and afternoon showers. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance, but the citadel stays open.

What you need to know before your visit

• Carry your original passport (the same one used for the ticket).
• Large backpacks (over 40×35×20 cm), tripods, drones, food and plastic bottles are not allowed.
• There are no toilets inside; the only ones are at the entrance.
• Bring sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and a light rain jacket.
• Acclimatize to the altitude in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for at least a day.
• Official guides are mandatory inside the citadel — all our tours include one.