Follow tips on how to get to Machu Picchu, what are the main attractions and the best time of the year for tourism in the region. Come on?
Basically, tourists can reach Machu Picchu in three ways: train, trails or bus + walk. Check details on the three options:
Train ride
Traveling by train is the most practical, easy and agile way to visit the city, in addition to being the most used option among people visiting Machu Picchu. To reach it, it is necessary to take the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo, destination known as Aguas Calientes, and from there take a bus to the park entrance. You can organize your tour in the best way, as there are several times during the day.
If you decide to Machu Picchu by train 1 days, you can buy the ready "package" at any agency in Cusco or organize everything on your own. You can leave Cusco at the first train time, visit the ruins and return the same day; or you can take the train the night before, sleep in Aguas Calientes, visit Machu Picchu the next day and return to Cusco at night.
A tip of the route is to take the train at Ollamtaytambo station and take the opportunity to visit the archaeological site and the village - considered the only Inca still alive.
Trails
For many tourists, the peak of getting to know the city is doing the Inca trail. Usually, it is four days walking through several other archaeological sites before the final destination.
You don't have to be an experienced mountaineer to do the trail, but that doesn't mean it has a low level of difficulty, mainly due to the altitude. In addition to the Inca Trail - Camino Inca, - there are alternatives that also end in Machu Picchu. All of them leave Cusco in a transport that leaves the participants at some point from where they will walk a certain daily stretch, between one camp and another. In some trails, you sleep in small family inns and in others in camping tents.
Bus and walking
Despite being the cheapest option, it is not the easiest. To go by bus you can buy the package at one of the branches in Cusco. The tip is to take a bus in Cusco to a point on the train line called Hydroelectric. From there onwards there are no roads to reach Águas Calientes. For this reason, you need to take a 3-hour walk to the village. It is a shorter option for those who want to walk, but not necessarily do the Inca trail. You sleep in the village and go to Machu Picchu by bus the next day.
What are the main attractions of Machu Picchu?
In the agricultural area, right at the beginning of the tour, do not miss the opportunity to observe the most famous panoramic view of the city. Then, passing through the main door and reaching the urban area, observe the fit of the stones, in addition to the perfect acoustics of the niches on the walls.
Follow and stop at the Temples Square and, later, at the Main Temple, formed by grandiose stones. The Main Temple has undergone seismic shocks, but it is one of the most important points of Machu Picchu. Ahead, take a look at the Temple of the Sun and the sector of the Sacred Rock, which presents the horizon of the mountains. After going through it, remember the panoramic image you have at the entrance to the site. In the most famous photos of Machu Picchu you can see a steep mountain in the background, right? It is called Huayna Picchu and is 2720 meters above sea level.
Read also: Inca quarry trek to machupicchu 4 days
Visitors are also allowed to climb to the top of this mountain, but entries are limited to two daily groups of 200 people, who always travel in the morning. Up and down, approximately three hours are spent.
Tips to enjoy the tour better
The best time of the day to start the tours is in the morning, as the sun is milder and the city is more empty. It is also recommended to count on the services of a guide for you to stay on top of all the potential of the Inca people, curiosities and details about the buildings.
Four hours is enough time to get to know the archaeological site well.
Before entering the park, get a map from the reception, as there is a lot of information on it that helps you to locate yourself. On the way back from the tour, go to the reception again to receive a Machu Picchu stamp in your passport. Don't forget to bring water and a snack, if you are going to be there for a long time. The restaurant and cafeteria near the park are expensive.
What is the best time of year to practice tourism in the region?
The best time of year to practice tourism in Machu Picchu is the drought, which runs from April to October. In other months, rainfall and possible flooding are common. Check out more tips:
- Visiting Peru does not require a visa;
- In Lima, Cusco and the lost city, the native language is Spanish and Quechua (native dialect);
- The local currency is Nuevo Sol;
- The International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required to enter the country. It is recommended that it be taken at least ten days before the trip.
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