How to Organize a Trip to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is visited by 1.5 million tourists each year and is a proud member of the exclusive club of The United Nations Organization UNESCO, being officially one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Machu Picchu also sits firmly atop many people’s bucket lists, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Peru. If you are thinking of organizing a trip to Machu Picchu, here are some tips so make sure your journey will be an unforgettable experience.

1. Getting to Machu Picchu

If you are a foreign tourist from outside of Peru, then you will first need to fly into the capital city of Lima. From there you can take a 90 minute flight or a 20 hour bus to Cusco. As cusco is located at altitude of 3,400 m / 11,154 ft, we advise that you spend a day or two in the city acclimatising to the altitude before embarking on the journey to Machu Picchu. As Machu Picchu is 228km from the city of Cusco, we also recommending staying overnight in the town of Aguas Calientes, which is situated at the foot of Machu Picchu.

2. Buying the entrance ticket

Before your trip you must book your entrance tickets to Machu Picchu. As there is a limited number of visitors that are permitted to enter each day, we recommend booking them 2 to 3 months in advance, especially during the high season. There are two options for reserving Machu Picchu entrance tickets. Either through a registered tour operator, or through the official ticketing platform. Remember that if you are a student with a valid ISIC card, or are part of the Andean Community (Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia), you will receive a special discount.

3. The journey to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Once you have landed in Cusco, there are a number of different routes you can take to reach the gates of Machu Picchu. The most popular and direct route is that of the tourist train from either Cusco or the Sacred Valley. Alternatively, you can take a car to Hydroelectrica and then walk for 3 hours along the railway line. Or if you fancy a more lengthy adventure, you can chose from the multitude of trekking options including the famous Classic 4-day Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, the Inca Jungle Trail to Machu Picchu, and the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu.

4. The best time to visit

It is no secret that the weather in Machu Picchu can be unpredictable, so choosing the best time to visit Machu Picchu is paramount. Throughout the year, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu experiences two main climatic seasons:

The rainy season 

The rainy season in Machu Picchu Runs from December till April. Throughout this period there is a lot of precipitation, so the experience is very different to that of the dry season. Although Machu Picchu and the surrounding archaeological sites are open all year round, it is likely that they may be shrouded in mist. Daytime temperatures during the rainy season can reach a maximum of 20°C and drop to 10°C after dusk, but with 12 hours of high-altitude sunshine a day, you will only tend to feel the cold throughout the night.

If you plan to Travel to Machu Picchu during the rainy season, we recommend that you prepare for your visit with clothing suitable for wind and rain, and take care when navigating the trails.

It is prudent to consider however, that although the rainy season experiences more challenging weather conditions, visitors can take advantage of fewer tourists and less crowds. Naturally, this provides you with an opportunity to share the beautiful green scenery with less people and perhaps even that famous view accompanied by a colourful rainbow.

The dry season 

The dry season in Machu Picchu is from April to December. Throughout this period, there can be significant temperature differences throughout the day and night. The mornings tend to be warm with an average temperature between 17 – 19 ° C. But the nights can be very frigid, with temperatures often falling below 0°C, especially in the winter in June and July.

What makes this season so attractive though is the consistent good weather due to the lack of rainfall. This is why the drier months bring with them many tourists, with the high season for tourism falling between May and July.

Consequently, we recommend that visitors favour the dry season, with the best months for exploring Machu Picchu being between May and October. Not only are the conditions during the dry season more preferable, but your souvenir photo of Machu Picchu is almost certain to be much more glorious throughout the drier months.

5. What to bring to Machu Picchu

When visiting Machu Picchu you should consider bringing the following items:

1. Original passport or identity document if you are Peruvian.
2. Currency in cash US dollars and soles including small denominations.
3. Good non-slip shoes with a thick comfortable sole.
4. If visiting in the rainy season, bring waterproof clothing, a rain poncho, or an umbrella.
5. Sunscreen with high SPF and good quality insect repellent.
6. For trekking tours, bring some good quality trekking poles.
7. Thick jacket, gloves, scarf and cap, since it is very cold in the morning and the night.