Since Machu Picchu is receiving an average of over 3,000 visitors per day, the Peruvian Government, through its Culture Ministry, tries to keep certain control and regulation over the archaeological site to preserve it and avoid deterioration.
In the past it was possible to access the Machu Picchu citadel on your own without the need of an official tour guide, and it was also even possible to hike the Inca Trail unaccompanied. Controversial or not, there were many tourists that wanted to keep their travels on a low budget by avoiding the extra costs of hiring a guide or organized camping service.
Fortunately, pressure brought by UNESCO and even many local referents who were worried for the lack of control over Machu Picchu visitors and the actual risk of damage the site was exposed to, helped the creation and appearance of many regulations which started making a visit to Machu Picchu slightly more expensive for travelers but currently allow keeping the attraction in good conditions so future generations can also enjoy it.
We have been receiving many enquiries with questions about Machu Picchu. The idea of these series of posts that we will be publishing in the next few days is answering many of your frequent questions about the Inca citadel and bringing you certain important information to correctly plan your visit to Machu Picchu.
What airport do you fly into for Machu Picchu?
The closest airport to Machu Picchu is the Cuzco International Airport (CUZ). Most of the flights arriving to Cusco airport are domestic, coming mainly from Lima but also serves other Peruvian destinations like Puerto Maldonado, Puno and Arequipa. Although the airport is registered and labeled as international, it currently serves just four international routes which are Bogota (Colombia), La Paz & Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Santiago (Chile).
Most of the international travelers arriving to Cuzco have a layover in Lima prior to their landing in the Inca Capital city. Since Cusco is located at a high altitude (3,400 meters / 11,100 feet above sea level) we normally suggest taking certain precautions before getting there, you can read more about altitude effects on our previous blog post http://travel-south-america.com/blog/what-is-the-altitude-sickness-how-can-i-prevent-it.
CUZCO AIRPORT PICTURE
How to get to Machu Picchu
You can get to Machu Picchu by train or hiking the Inca Trail. There is no other authorized way to get there. In the past, there were companies offering the alternative to get to Machu Picchu by helicopter, but this alternative was banned in 2010 to protect environment and fauna of the area.
Peru Rail is the Railway Company that serves the route to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes station). They offer daily departures and several schedules per day from San Pedro station in Cuzco downtown, Poroy station (30-min from Cuzco) and Ollantaytambo station (1h30m from Cuzco in the Sacred Valley). Once you get to Aguas Calientes station you need to take 30-minute bus ride to get to the main gate of Machu Picchu Citadel. If visiting Machu Picchu by Train, you need to allow a whole full day for the activity or sleep in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco the following day or days.
Getting to Machu Picchu on foot is truly an amazing and one-in-a-life-time experience, although not easy and not for everyone. Depending on the Inca Trail you hike, it can take from 2 days up to 5 days to get to Machu Picchu. If planning to get to Machu Picchu on foot, it is important to know that there’s a very restricted allowance of just 500 spots per day (including guides, porters and travelers) to start the official Inca trail, we recommend that you purchase your tickets between 8 and 12 months in advance. There are alternative trails like Salkantay that don’t have same restrictions although they normally get fully booked soon.
MAP SHOWING TRAIN ROUTE VS INCA TRAIL
What’s the difference between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is the name given to the Incas citadel discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1901 in relationship to one of the peaks that can be seen behind the site, it can be translated from Quechua indigenous language as “old mountain”.
Aguas Calientes is the closest town to Machu Picchu, this is where the trains from Cusco, Poroy or Ollantaytambo get to, and it is located 30 minutes by bus from the archaeological site main gate. Its literal translation from Spanish is “Hot Waters” and the name comes from the Hot Springs located very close to the small village.
Unless you hike any of the Inca Trails, you need to take a train to Aguas Calientes station first prior to heading Machu Picchu Citadel.
MAP SHOWING AGUAS CALIENTES VS MACHU PICCHU
What is the Best Time for visiting Machu Picchu?
The Andes region in Peru has two well-pronounced seasons: the dry season that goes from April to October and the wet season from November to March. The Best time for visiting Machu Picchu, weather-wise speaking, is during the dry season which is when you will be able to see amazing colorful contrasts between the green mountains and surrounding jungle, grey and brown stones of the constructions and the perfect clear blue skies.
While Machu Picchu is a very popular destination worldwide and receives an average of over 3,000 visitors per day, if you would really like to avoid big crowds you need to know that the peak season goes from June to August, so you better visit the site in April, May, September and/or October.
At the same time, we can say that the best time of the day to visit Machu Picchu is from the very early morning (6am when they gates open) until around noon, when the big groups of travelers visiting Machu Picchu for the day start arriving to the site.
If you cannot plan your trip during the most recommended season to visit Machu Picchu, don’t worry because you will still be amazed by the citadel any time of the year, pictures will just come out not that “wow” and you might need to wear a “poncho” during the visit.
PICTURE MACHU PICCHU DURING THE DRY SEASON / MACHU PICCHU DURING WET SEASON
Is Machu Picchu closed in February?
Machu Picchu Citadel is opened for visitors year round, even on Festive Holidays like Christmas and New Year.
The Inca Trail is closed during the month of February due to heavy raining, at the same time, local authorities use this month to clean the area.
Can you get to Machu Picchu in one day?
Yes, it is possible to get to Machu Picchu in one day from Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Travelers visiting Machu Picchu for the day, take any of the early train departures leaving to Aguas Calientes between 06:00 and 10:00am. This tour would let you enjoy a guided tour of 2 hours in the Incas’ citadel, and you would be back in Cuzco or Ollantaytambo in the evening.
Many travelers as about the possibility of visiting Machu Picchu for the day from Lima. Even if flight schedule may allow to make connections with trains, there’s a key factor to consider that is altitude. Since you don’t know how your body would react to altitude, we certainly not recommend trying it. Read more about altitude effects on our previous blog post http://travel-south-america.com/blog/what-is-the-altitude-sickness-how-can-i-prevent-it.
How much time do you recommend spending in Machu Picchu?If visiting Machu Picchu by train, our advice is that you spend at least a full day in Machu Picchu. We recommend travelers to travel to Aguas Calientes and spend at least one night there, visiting Machu Picchu for a full day starting the following morning as soon as gates open. This will allow you to visit the Citadel properly with your guide, and potentially combine the visit with the adventurous ascent to Wayna Picchu mountain.