Things to Do in Machu Picchu
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Machu Picchu, Peru, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Machu Picchu. Lost city on a ridge between two peaks, cloud forest doing its best to swallow it whole, genuinely still hard to believe it was built at all, one of the last great achievements of an empire that once stretched across much of the Andes, hidden from the outside world for centuries. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Machu Picchu: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits require booking months ahead. Four main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Exploring the Inca Citadel
Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century by the Inca, one of the last great achievements of an empire that once stretched across much of the Andes, a genuinely staggering feat of engineering and stonework, terraced agricultural fields, temples, and residential sectors all fitted together using the same mortar-free precision found throughout Inca construction, astonishing given the site's remote, mountainous setting.
The Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone (a carved ritual stone believed tied to astronomical observation), and the Room of the Three Windows are among the most significant individual structures, worth allowing a proper few hours with a guide to understand the site's layout and purpose rather than simply wandering without context.
Hours Daily, entry slots roughly 6am–2pm
Getting there Train from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, then bus up to the site
The 1911 Rediscovery
Machu Picchu remained largely unknown to the outside world until it was brought to global attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American explorer, though local farmers already knew of the site, his expedition made it internationally famous, a genuinely significant piece of context worth understanding, this wasn't truly a 'lost' city in the sense of being unknown to everyone, more a site that had fallen out of wider historical and international awareness following the Spanish conquest.
The site was likely abandoned by the Inca themselves before the Spanish ever discovered it, worth appreciating this deeper mystery, exactly why Machu Picchu was abandoned remains genuinely debated among historians and archaeologists today.
The Ridge-Top Setting
Machu Picchu sits at a dramatic location between two peaks, straddling a narrow mountain ridge, a genuinely precarious-looking perch, with steep drops on either side of the site, the cloud forest below adding to the otherworldly atmosphere, particularly in the early morning when mist still clings to the surrounding peaks.
Huayna Picchu, the distinctive peak visible in most classic photos of the site, can be climbed separately (a limited number of permits sold daily, book well ahead), offering genuinely sweeping views down over the whole citadel from above, worth it if you can secure a permit and are comfortable with a steep, exposed trail.
Best time Early morning, both for the mist and cooler hiking conditions
Booking Logistics
Machu Picchu operates on a strict, limited daily visitor system, tickets, particularly for Huayna Picchu and the more popular time slots, sell out months ahead, genuinely essential to book well before your trip rather than expecting to arrange things on arrival in Peru.
Whether you're doing the classic Inca Trail multi-day hike (permits considerably more limited and expensive, book even further ahead) or the more straightforward train-and-bus route from Cusco or the Sacred Valley, proper advance planning is genuinely the single most important part of a successful Machu Picchu visit.
Best time Book months ahead regardless of route
Best time to visit Machu Picchu
May through September is the dry season and genuinely the most popular window, clearer skies for the classic views, though this is also peak crowds, worth booking considerably further ahead if travelling during these months.
The wet season (roughly November through March) brings heavier rain, and the Inca Trail specifically closes each February for maintenance, worth checking current access and trail status if travelling outside the main dry season.
Getting around Machu Picchu
The train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, followed by a shuttle bus up to the site itself, is the standard route for most visitors. The Inca Trail is the alternative, a multi-day guided hike arriving at the site on foot.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Machu Picchu worth visiting?
- Yes, unquestionably, genuinely one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites anywhere in the world, the setting alone, a citadel balanced on a ridge between two peaks, justifies the trip.
- How many days do you need for Machu Picchu?
- One full day covers the site itself comfortably via the train route; the Inca Trail alternative typically takes 4 days including the hike itself.
- Is Machu Picchu expensive?
- Moderate to expensive as a single day trip, entry fees, train tickets, and bus transport all add up, the Inca Trail alternative costs considerably more given required guides and permits.
- What is Machu Picchu famous for?
- Being a remarkably preserved 15th-century Inca citadel, its dramatic ridge-top setting between two peaks, and its 1911 rediscovery by American explorer Hiram Bingham.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
