Peru guide
No matter whether you’re looking for a 2 min summary or want to delve deeper and discover what we rate & what we don’t, our Peru travel guide is here to help you travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping & people.
Machu Picchu map & highlights
The Spanish colonialists never found Machu Picchu. If they had, they would have broken the sacred Intihuatana stone, dispelling all deities. Thank the gods, who feel like they may still be hovering.![]()
People would come in their millions to Peru to see the exquisite citadel, high up at 2,430m in the Andes, only discovered under the jungle in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham. And yet, thankfully, they can’t all cram into the sacred masterpiece, where giant granite temples, ancient agricultural terraces, sacred stones and sundial, were all cut from the rock, with not one bit of mortar used to piece it all together. Because UNESCO takes its commitment to heritage very seriously, threatening to remove this iconic 15th century Andean arcadia from its World Heritage Status list, if it didn’t start managing the crowds. Consequently, in 2011, the government limited visitors to 2,500 per day. Entrepreneurs have sought to build hotels, bridges, cable cars and offer fly pasts – all rejected. So, if you want to see the jewel, join the queue for the train or the trails like everyone else. You won’t regret it.
Our Machu Picchu Vacations
Peruvian Andes trekking vacation to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu with an International Guide and Doctor.
From
US $2979
14 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
US $3499 to US $3649
15 days
ex flights
High Inca trail trek in Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca fortresses and cloud forest
From
US $2649 to US $2799
14 days
ex flights
Adventure vacation Peru
Inca culture to sea lions on Peru adventure
From
US $3455 to US $3915
15 days
ex flights
Inca Trail trekking vacation, alternative route
Discover the beauty of the Inca Trail in a different way
From
£645
5 days
ex flights
Lares homestay trek in Peru
Peru trekking with a unique cultural twist
From
US $495 to US $959
4 days
ex flights
Machu Picchu and Titicaca vacation
Traverse mountainous landscapes from La Paz to Cusco
From
US $2590
15 days
ex flights
Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon tour
Experience Peru & the ancient Inca Empire
From
US $2374
10 days
ex flights
Classic Peru tailor made tour
Discover the natural and cultural highlights of Peru
From
£3670
14 days
ex flights
Peru vacation, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca
Tailor made amazing Andean adventure and cultural heritage
From
£2700
11 days
ex flights
Peru on a shoestring vacation
A great way to see Peru on a shoestring
From
US $1910 to US $1990
16 days
ex flights
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu trek
Bucket List Adventure Trekking to Machu Picchu
From
£565 to £605
4 days
ex flights
Peru trekking vacation, Lares
Alternative Inca Trail - Lares trek to Machu Picchu
From
US $880
5 days
ex flights
Peru and Inca trail small group vacation
Travel from the Andes to the Amazon
From
US $2710 to US $3070
12 days
ex flights
Machu Picchu small group vacation
Hike, bike, raft and zip-line your way to Machu Picchu.
From
US $1490
7 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
An adventure of a life time hiking to Machu Picchu, Peru.
From
£4195
9 days
ex flights
Peru vacation, encompassed
Coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks and lush forest
From
US $2949 to US $3349
15 days
ex flights
Peru tailor made vacation, highlights
Experience the history, culture and natural beauty of Peru
From
£1650
14 days
ex flights
Family vacation to Peru, tailor made
Experience Peru's top sights as a family
From
£3550
19 days
ex flights
Exciting family vacation in Peru
A fabulous family vacation including the best of Peru
From
US $2900 to US $3700
15 days
ex flights
Classic Machu Picchu tour
A cultural venture of Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
From
US $2495
9 days
ex flights
The Best of Peru & Inca Trail vacation
Explore the majesty of the Andes and trek to Machu Picchu.
From
£2399
17 days
ex flights
Peru tailor made vacation, Machu Picchu & Tambopata
Stunning Andean scenery, Inca history, and a superb rainforest experience
From
£2900
12 days
ex flights
Peru vacation on a shoestring, tailor made
Explore the Inca heartland in the Andes
From
£1830
12 days
ex flights
Classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
Hike the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for 4 days
From
US $645 to US $690
4 days
ex flights
Peru tour, small group
Peru on an adventure from mountains & Altiplano to jungle,
From
US $2315 to US $2625
9 days
ex flights
Family vacation in Peru
Amazon rainforest and Peruvian culture family adventure
From
US $2630 to US $2865
9 days
ex flights
1.
Aguas Calientes
2. Chinchero
3. Cuzco
4. Huayna Picchu
5. Inca Bridge
6. Inca Trail
7. Machu Picchu main site
8. Machu Picchu Mountain
9. The Sun Gate
10. Train to Machu Picchu
2. Chinchero
3. Cuzco
4. Huayna Picchu
5. Inca Bridge
6. Inca Trail
7. Machu Picchu main site
8. Machu Picchu Mountain
9. The Sun Gate
10. Train to Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes
1. Aguas Calientes
Aka Machu Picchu Pueblo, this final stop before Machu Picchu is a very hot one. Not only in terms of its thermal springs, but also because of the crowds staying here to start their ascent to Machu Picchu, 1.5 hours' trek away (30 mins by bus) at dawn. With plenty of restaurants, the Machu Picchu Museum and Quechua craft stalls, you can also hike to Putucusi Peak, with virtuosic views of Machu Picchu.
Chinchero
2. Chinchero
This rustic little town just north of Cuzco has some notable Incan ruins and agricultural terraces, and the market here is fantastic for woven Andean textiles. However, Chinchero is better known as the proposed site for a hugely controversial new airport. Historians, archaeologists and environmentalists oppose the project, but there is local political support for the potential economic benefits.
Cuzco
3. Cuzco
Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire, but for modern tourists, it may as well be the capital of Peru. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, sitting at a cool 3,400m, is the gateway to the Inca Trail, colourful Quechua culture and snow-sprinkled peaks. The colonial architecture of this cobblestoned city is beautifully preserved, and it's a great place to adjust to the altitude before setting off to explore the riches of the Andes.
Huayna Picchu
4. Huayna Picchu
It is always worth escaping the crowds to see Machu Picchu from afar, and although this "young peak", aka Wayna Picchu, is almost as iconic as the ruins, shadowing every selfie, fewer people climb it. Partly thanks to number restrictions, at 400 people per day, but also vertigo; this veritably vertiginous two-hour trail juts up to 360m higher than Machu Picchu, requiring the use of ropes, rope bridges and total resolution.
Inca Bridge
5. Inca Bridge
Less a bridge, more a stone mountain trail thought to have been used as a secret entrance to Machu Picchu by the Incan army, this is a cunning piece of engineering. The path is cut into the rock face, with a six-metre gap over a 600m drop. Unwanted visitors would probably see that as a deathtrap, whereas the army could bridge the gap with tree trunks.
Inca Trail
6. Inca Trail
The iconic trek through Andean arcadia, following Inca-laid stone paths. Strictly regulated, with 500 trekking permits per day, including porters and guides, this books out months in advance. The 3-4 day hike at high altitude passes traditional Quechua villages, through alpine tundra and cloud forests, camping en route. Alternative and equally dramatic routes, with no permit caps, are Salkantay and Lares.
Machu Picchu main site
7. Machu Picchu main site
The 15th century Incan citadel is an archeological arcadia, stretching over 13km2. Astounding even staunch historyphobes – if not for the the Sacred Solar Clock, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Quarters or the Temple of the Three Windows, then for the setting alone. Perched on a 2,430m peak in the Andes above the Urubamba River valley, it always begs the question – how the hell did they do that?
Machu Picchu Mountain
8. Machu Picchu Mountain
Many people choose to climb a mountain for spectacular panoramas over Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is the iconic peak, but Machu Picchu Mountain, south-west of the citadel, is less busy, less steep and has a wider trail. The views are just as magnificent however. If you do opt for a trek in Machu Picchu then your visiting time can be extended to six hours.
The Sun Gate
9. The Sun Gate
The point of entry for hikers who have climbed up along the Inca Trail. The real name is Inti Punku in Quechua, dedicated to the sun god, Inti. Once a fortress for the citadel, with views beyond the beyond, trekkers rush here for sunrise. But in fact, it is often misty at dawn, so consider chilling and avoiding the crowds. Daytrippers hike out to it for the views, about an hour from the citadel.
Train to Machu Picchu
10. Train to Machu Picchu
The train from Cuzco, 3.5hrs through Andean foothills, Urubamba River and Sacred Valleys, terminates at Aguas Calientes, where you hike for 1.5 hours or take a shuttle to Machu Picchu. Perfect for tailor made vacations, choose the budget Expedition train, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham. The latter two have panoramic views (Bingham being the big bucks bubbly en route package). Best views are from LHS going up and RHS coming down.
Our top Machu Picchu Vacation
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
US $3499 to US $3649
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 21 May, 25 Jun, 9 Jul, 30 Jul, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct
2022: 15 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 24 Jun, 22 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 14 Oct
2021: 21 May, 25 Jun, 9 Jul, 30 Jul, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 1 Oct, 15 Oct
2022: 15 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 24 Jun, 22 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 14 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Machu Picchu or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Heather MacBrayne, founder of our specialist operator Discover South America:
“I lived in Cuzco for seven years following an internship at the Inca Museum there. I’ve probably been up to Machu Picchu between 20 and 25 times, including a few treks on the Inca Trail, the Lares Trek and the Salkantay Trek. I think the visitor restrictions have been effective overall, but the entrance timings don’t really work as there’s nothing stopping someone from overstaying, so you’ll often have more footfall than you’re supposed to. And, as it’s a one-way slow road up there, you still end up with big queues at the entrance.”
More about Machu Picchu
Learn when to visit Machu Picchu, taking into account climate and peak tourist season.
This incredible Inca citadel casts a spell over visitors today just as it did a century ago.
All you need to know about how to get to Machu Picchu, and what trekking there involves.
Find out how to avoid the worst of the crowds at Machu Picchu with expert tips.
In 2011, Machu Picchu celebrated 100 years since its (sort-of) rediscovery.
Discover lesser known, less-busy alternative Inca sites to Machu Picchu in Peru.
Learn more about some of the key tourism issues and solutions at Machu Picchu.
More relevant guides
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Bill Damon] [Aguas Calientes: Tobias Mandt]
[Chinchero: Yusuke Kawasaki]
[Cuzco: Kenneth Moore]
[Huayna Picchu: icelight]
[Inca Bridge: Martin St-Amant]
[Inca trail: Craig Nagy]
[Machu Picchu Main Site: Thiago Melo]
[Machu Picchu Mountain: Pedro Szekely]
[The sun gate: Colegota]
[Train to Machu Picchu: Bruce Tuten]
[Heather quote: John Seb Barber]
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