Machu Picchu: what you need to know to prepare for the ascent of the Inca city

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists flock from all over the world to Machu Picchu, one of the most emblematic remains of the Inca Empire.

Built in the 15th century in the

, the ancient city experienced a long period of oblivion and abandonment, before being rediscovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. To the delight of archaeologists and visitors, time and bad weather do not seem to have altered this architectural marvel of Latin America.

To discover

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Many elements such as agricultural terraces, temples and irrigation systems still show a remarkable state of conservation.

In Peru, Machu Picchu therefore remains an essential step to check off your list of sites to discover.

Read alsoPeru: the Machu Picchu parade to protect itself from mass tourism

Travelers in a hurry will board a train worthy of the Orient-Express to connect

to

, the closest village to the sacred city, in less than four hours.

The most trained will be tempted by a trek lasting several days in a setting of high mountains and semi-tropical forest, with Machu Picchu as the ultimate ascent.

Overview of the main circuits that lead to the ancient Inca city.

For a simple visit of the Inca city

The view from the Machu Picchu mountain.

Adobe Stock

WHERE TO BUY YOUR ENTRANCE TICKET?

Tickets can be booked online on the official website, directly in Cusco, through the office of the

Garcilaso Street, or at

, Maruri Street 340 (Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.).

It is better to bring cash because state institutions charge a small commission when paying by card.

It is also possible to buy tickets at the last moment in Aguas Calientes, at the Machu Picchu Cultural Center, Pachacutec Avenue.

Here, only cash payments are accepted.

AT WHAT PRICE?

According to the official Machu Picchu website (currently under maintenance):

Access to the site:

152 sol (about 40 euros) or 77 sol for students (20 euros).

Access to the site and ascent of Wayna Picchu

 : 200 sol (54 euros).

Visits take place between 7am-8am or 10am-11am.

The organizers recommend booking two months in advance as the number of places is limited to 400 people/day.

This circuit allows you to climb to the summit of Wayna Picchu (2681 m) in order to enjoy a magical view

and the Inca site.

The duration of the ascent is about two hours but it can vary according to the physical condition of the climber.

Indeed, the path offers some narrow and steep passages where it is sometimes necessary to use ropes to climb.

Access to the site and ascent of the Machu Picchu mountain (3061 m altitude)

 : 200 sol (54 euros).

Access: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

A long stone staircase leads to the summit culminating at 3061 m.

Up there, a breathtaking 360° view of the mountains and the surrounding valley awaits visitors.

On sunny days, it is not uncommon to come across walkers short of breath, dripping with sweat.

Reaching the heights overflown by the condors of the Andes, you have to deserve it!

Some visitors are surprised to find that there are no information boards in front of the buildings on the site.

If you are staying a few days in Cusco, pushing the doors of

is not a bad idea.

The establishment traces the history of the ancient city, the daily life of its inhabitants, religious practices, agriculture up to the expedition of Hiram Bingham at the beginning of the 20th century.

A good way to soak up the Inca culture.

HOW TO GET THERE BY TRANSPORT?

By bus

This is the cheapest option but the most tiring.

There are no buses going directly to Aguas Calientes, the base camp of Machu Picchu.

By a winding and rugged road, private minibuses (check with hotels or travel agencies) stop at the

, 10 km away.

From there, the adventure begins!

In a setting of semi-tropical forest, travelers must take a railway track along the

and at the foot of vertiginous rocky peaks.

A nice walk of about two and a half hours punctuated by the passage of trains!

To reach the base camp of Machu Picchu from the bus stop, a nice walk of about two and a half hours punctuated by the passage of trains!

Augustin Flepp

By train

Inca Rail and Peru Rail, the two main train companies in Peru, make daily trips from Cusco (about 3 hours).

The cheapest return tickets start at 135 euros.

Meet at the

, in Cusco (avenida Cascaparo).

Both companies offer several levels of services.

At Inca Rail.

trains

offer a relatively good quality of travel: distribution of meals, entertainment on board, open-air wagon, wifi... Passengers also receive some explanations about the Inca civilisation.

The first departures take place at 5am.

Plan a budget of around 160 euros A/R.

organizes bimodal trips (bus + train) a little cheaper (approximately 140 euros A/R).

The level of services is close to

(panoramic windows, background music, hot and cold drinks, etc.).

it is the company's top-of-the-range train.

Gourmet menu, hot drinks, concerts... The waiters are very caring.

The ticket includes a private bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

The cost: around 360 euros round trip.

At Peru Rail.

: This is the cheapest train.

Departures take place early (6:40 a.m.) at

(13km from Cusco).

Count 55 euros for a single ticket.

The

is equivalent to the

of Inca Rail but its tickets are more expensive (180 euros return).

There may be promotions on tickets (-30%) when the trains are not sufficiently full.

 : This is Peru Rail's XXL service.

Passengers board a luxurious train, with services worthy of a 3-star restaurant (gourmet meal, selection of fine wines, etc.) A small quirk that costs a fortune: nearly 1,000 euros for the round trip.

Is it worth it for a three hour drive?

Your turn to judge.

WHERE TO BUY YOUR TRAIN TICKET?

Tickets are reserved at the Inca Rail agency in Cusco (Portal de Panes street 105, plaza de Armas) or online.

Peru Rail also has several booking agencies in the ancient Inca capital: at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, at Plaza de Armas (Portal de Carnes 214), at Regocijo Square (202) and Avenida el Sol (409).

THE DETOUR NOT TO BE MISSED BEFORE YOUR VISIT

Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Augustin Flepp

Before visiting Machu Picchu, other indigenous remains are worth a detour.

About thirty kilometers from Cusco,

is fertile agricultural land where the Incas grew corn on the terraces clinging to the sides of the mountains.

From

to

, the territory is home to a great wealth and a beautiful archaeological diversity: fortresses, ceremonial centers, irrigation systems, cobbled streets... Most agencies organize day tours including Pisac, Ollantaytambo and

(10-15 euros).

Note that the Cusco-Aguas Calientes train line stops in Ollantaytambo.

Choose your agency

It is not always easy to make your choice among the hundred tourist agencies present in Cusco.

Most offer more or less the same excursions including camping equipment, meals during the stay and the provision of a guide.

How to find your way in the face of this plethoric offer?

First of all, avoid trusting the “small” vendors in the

who will try to sell you a “turnkey” service.

Every year, the Peruvian government grants authorization licenses to agencies so that they can legally organize the multiple treks around Machu Picchu.

A guarantee of seriousness and professionalism.

Before committing to one of them, ask to see their approval.

This government site lists all recognized agencies.

Over the past ten years, several French-speaking agencies have settled in Cusco.

This is the case of Antipode and Trekkinka (see below) which provide French guides (optional charge).

ANTIPODE

Founded in 2006 by two Frenchmen, Thierry Campredon and Olivier Farré, this serious and versatile agency organizes individual stays, groups or business trips.

At Antipode, stays are intended to be sustainable, close to nature and respectful of local rites and customs.

The agency provides French-speaking guides but asks for a supplement of 100 to 200 euros depending on the number of passengers.

The Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares

Budget

Around 500 euros per person (4 days).

TREKKINCA

Created in 2018, this French-speaking tourism agency was born from an encounter between Claire, a French travel enthusiast who fell in love with Peru, and Juan, a mountain guide from Cusco.

For their excursions, the Franco-Peruvian couple form small groups (8 people max) in order to ensure better availability of the guides.

TrekkInca works with two French-speaking guides all year round.

Part of the benefit is donated to a humanitarian association (Assolidarité TrekkInca) which supports the development of schools in rural areas of the Andes.

The

Salkantay, Lares, Vilcabamba, Inca Jungle treks.

The agency does not yet have the authorization to organize excursions on the Inca Trail.

She plans, however, to get it this year.

Budget:

400 to 450 euros per person (4 days).

XTREME TOURBULENCIA

Created in 2001, this Peruvian travel agency based in Cusco works only with professional guides with a good knowledge of the local environment and history.

The

Salkantay, Lares and Inca Trail treks.

Budget

500 euros per person (4 days).

The agency asks for a supplement of around 30 euros for the provision of French-speaking guides.

Overview of the different treks

THE INCA TRAIL (2 TO 5 DAYS)

The Inca Trail is one of the best known treks around Machu Picchu.

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This world-famous trek follows the ancient Inca Trail (39 km) linking Cusco, the imperial capital, to Machu Picchu.

Through subtropical vegetation, the circuit passes numerous ruins, dwellings, guard posts, aqueducts and other various constructions that have facilitated communication between the snow-capped peaks exceeding 4,000 meters.

This is the only excursion that allows you to enter through the

and enjoy a sumptuous panorama of the ancient Inca city.

In order to protect this ancestral path, the Peruvian government has implemented a quota system.

Local authorities limit access to 500 people per day for 2 and 4 day treks.

Given the limited number of places, it is best to book your ticket at least 6 months in advance.

THE SALKANTAY (4 TO 6 DAYS)

One of the stunning lagoons of the Salkantay trek.

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Ultra-popular, the Salkantay trek begins with the crossing of several glaciers and snow-capped peaks, in particular with the ascent of

(4,600 m).

Dramatic change of vegetation on the second day as walkers enter high altitude tropical forest.

Some circuits pass through coffee, cocoa and fruit plantations in the region.

Meetings are also organized with local farmers to learn the secrets of coffee making.

THE LARES (4 DAYS)

Less touristy, this 4-day outing nevertheless offers its visitors a wide variety of natural settings: high-altitude lakes, waterfalls,

, Andean birds (caracas, hummingbirds, etc.).

And as a bonus, a dive from day one in the thermal waters of

(3250 m).

THE VILCABAMBA (7 DAYS)

This long expedition follows in the footsteps of the last city occupied by the Incas,

.

The walkers start with the village of

continue the next day with the

, a palace built during the reign of the Inca Emperor Pachacutec, tread part of the Inca Trail, cross several passes at more than 4000 m and complete the trek by Machu Picchu on the last day.

THE INCA JUNGLE (3 TO 4 DAYS)

This hike combines sports activities (mountain biking, rafting, zip line, etc.) and playful discovery of the fauna and flora, in particular with the tasting of typical plants of the region: coffee, cola, cocoa, mangoes, oranges...

Our advice

It is customary in Peru to tip guides, drivers, cooks, muleteers and porters who accompany travelers throughout the treks.

Of course, the amount of the tip depends on your level of satisfaction and it is in no way obligatory.

What equipment to provide?

It is not uncommon to come across smiling alpacas during an ascent of Machu Picchu.

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Basic equipment includes, but is not limited to, rain gear, sleeping bag or meat bag, gloves, hat, scarf, sunglasses, water bottle and waterproof trekking shoes.

For an autonomous trek

It is not uncommon to come across beginners or experienced hikers ready to tread the trails in complete autonomy.

And they are right because the Salkantay or Lares treks, for example, do not require any specific preparation: marked paths, free refuges, local shops... Difficult to get lost there, the routes are largely frequented during the high season. (March to October).

However, hikers should take care to bring suitable trekking equipment (tent, walking sticks) and warm clothes to face the sometimes chilly nights.

Many websites and applications allow you to download excellent quality IGN circuits and maps for off-grid GPS use.

Among them, we can mention Maps.me, Wikiloc, Viewranger, Sitytrail…

See also

- Mass tourism: waste is piling up on Machu Picchu

[Originally published March 16, 2021, this article has been updated.]