Peru · The Historic Sanctuary
Machu Picchu
The lost city of the Incas, perched high above the Urubamba River and wrapped in cloud forest. Arrive on the Inca Trail or aboard a luxury train, experienced your way with our Peru specialists.
- c. 1450 built by the Incas
- 2,430 m (7,970 ft) altitude
- 1983 UNESCO World Heritage
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Meet the sanctuary
The Citadel and Its Peaks
Machu Picchu is more than one famous view. Tap through to explore the citadel, the mountains that frame it and the details that make it extraordinary.
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Built around 1450 under the Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu was probably a royal estate and religious retreat. It was abandoned about a century later, never found by the Spanish, and brought to world attention by explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, with more than 150 buildings set among agricultural terraces.
- Built
- c. 1450, under Pachacuti
- Altitude
- 2,430 m (7,970 ft)
- UNESCO
- World Heritage Site since 1983
The peak in every photograph
Huayna Picchu is the steep peak behind the citadel. A narrow stone staircase climbs to temples near its summit, with a dizzying view straight down onto Machu Picchu.
Permits are strictly limited and sell out early in the dry season, so we reserve them with your entry ticket.
- Summit
- about 2,720 m (8,920 ft)
- Climb
- roughly 1–1.5 hours up
- Best for
- Confident hikers with a head for heights
The higher, quieter climb
On the opposite side of the citadel, Machu Picchu Mountain is taller than Huayna Picchu but less exposed. The trail is a long, steady climb on Inca steps, rewarding you with a view of the whole sanctuary and the Urubamba River far below.
- Summit
- about 3,060 m (10,040 ft)
- Climb
- roughly 2–3 hours return
- Best for
- Big views with fewer people
Built without mortar
Inca masons shaped granite blocks so precisely that a knife blade can’t slip between them. The finest work is reserved for sacred buildings like the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Intihuatana stone.
The walls flex during earthquakes, one reason so much of Machu Picchu still stands.
- Temple of the Sun
- Temple of the Three Windows
- The Intihuatana ritual stone
Inti Punku, the classic arrival
The Sun Gate is where Inca Trail hikers catch their first glimpse of Machu Picchu. If you arrive by train, you can still walk up to it from the citadel for a gentle hike with a fabulous view back over the ruins.
Along the terraces you’ll almost certainly meet the resident llamas, who keep the grass trimmed.
- Walk up from the citadel in about an hour
- Where the Inca Trail ends
- Resident llamas on the terraces
On foot or by rail
How to Reach Machu Picchu
There are no roads to the citadel from Cusco, just rail and trail. Filter by how you’d like to arrive.
4 daysThe Classic Inca Trail
Peru’s most famous trek follows original Inca paths for about 42 km (26 miles), past ruins only reachable on foot, ending at the Sun Gate.
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Permits are limited each day and often sell out months ahead for May to August. The trail closes every February for maintenance. We work with outfitters known for excellent guides, porter welfare and comfortable camping.
1 dayThe Short Inca Trail
A one-day taste of the trail, passing the terraces of Wiñay Wayna before arriving through the Sun Gate in the afternoon.
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It’s a great choice if you love to hike but prefer a hotel to camping. Spend the night in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel again the next morning with fresh legs.
5–7 daysLodge-to-lodge treks
Alternative routes such as Salkantay cross high passes beneath glaciers, with comfortable mountain lodges instead of tents on some itineraries.
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These treks are quieter than the Inca Trail and don’t need Inca Trail permits. They suit fit, adventurous travelers who want wild scenery with a hot shower at the end of the day.
LuxuryBelmond Hiram Bingham
The most elegant way to arrive: a polished 1920s-style train with an observation car, live music, brunch on the way and dinner on the way back.
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Our Luxury Train Journeys guide compares the Hiram Bingham with every other option.
PanoramicVistadome & Inca Rail
PeruRail’s Vistadome and Inca Rail’s premium cars have panoramic windows for the journey down the Urubamba Valley.
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Trains depart from Cusco (Poroy) or from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From Aguas Calientes, a bus climbs the switchbacks to the entrance in about 25 minutes.
OvernightStay at the gates
Spending a night beside or below the citadel lets you enter early and return in the late afternoon, when day-trippers have gone.
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Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel at the entrance. In Aguas Calientes, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and Sumaq Machu Picchu are lovely bases.
Not sure whether to hike or ride? We’ll help you choose based on your fitness, dates and style.
Plan My Machu Picchu DayKnow before you go
How to Visit Machu Picchu Well
Machu Picchu runs on timed tickets, set circuits and limited permits. Here’s how we plan a visit that feels unhurried.
Timed entry, booked early
Daily visitor numbers are capped and tickets are sold for set entry times. For June to August, we book months in advance.
Licensed guide required
Visitors enter with a licensed guide. A private guide lets you go at your own pace and ask everything you want.
Choose your route
Visitors follow one-way circuits through the citadel. We pick the one that includes the views and temples you care about most.
Go early or late
The first entries often bring mist lifting off the peaks, while late afternoon is quieter and softer for photos.
Lower than Cusco
At 2,430 m, Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco (about 3,400 m). Many travelers sleep in the Sacred Valley first to adjust.
Travel light
Bring your original passport, a light rain jacket, sun protection and a small daypack. Large bags, tripods and drones aren’t allowed.
Work with One of Our Travel Experts
The average person takes over 11 hours researching their vacation. Take that time back and let us handle the nitty gritty of reading reviews, asking questions, comparing hotels and more.
After a true deep dive into your requests, your travel agent will come back with a variety of suggested hotels, activities, and surprise experiences. You tell us which ones fit you best and we'll work through the logistics!
You'll be equipped with an itinerary complete with the details of your trip. If anything happens along the way, you can relax knowing your travel agent will take care of everything!
Good to know
Machu Picchu FAQs
How far in advance should I book Machu Picchu?
For the dry season (May to September), plan four to six months ahead, and further for Inca Trail permits, Huayna Picchu or Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Shoulder months are easier, but we still secure tickets as soon as your dates are set.
Is one day at Machu Picchu enough?
One visit covers the highlights, but we often recommend two entries: one for the classic circuit and a second to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Staying overnight in Aguas Calientes or at the lodge makes this easy.
What’s the best month to visit Machu Picchu?
May, June and September combine dry weather with slightly fewer crowds than July and August. April and October are good shoulder months. See our best time to visit Peru guide for more.
Do I need to be very fit?
Not for a classic visit, but there are uneven steps and some climbs. Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain and the Inca Trail need good fitness. Tell us about your group and we’ll suggest the right pace.
Can I do Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cusco?
Yes, but it’s a long day of about three to four hours each way by train and bus. We usually suggest overnighting in the Sacred Valley or near the citadel to make it far more relaxing.
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