Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu: City in the Clouds

The sanctuary of Machu Picchu is an engineering marvel—a city in the clouds surrounded by sheer precipices.

The site contains more than 140 known structures, including temples, palaces, ritual baths, and dwellings. Agricultural terraces, aqueducts, and more than 100 flights of stone stairs add to the achievement.

Much of the stonework at Machu Picchu is so fine that it seems to spring organically from the living rock.

Machu Picchu Quarry

Machu Picchu—”Old Mountain” in the Quechua language— straddles a ridge, at approximately 8,000 feet above sea level.

Far below, the Urubamba River Valley carves sharp turns around the mountain’s base.

Huayna Picchu

Huayna Picchu—or the “Young Mountain”—serves as the citadel’s principal backdrop. In the distance and across the river valley, rows of peaks add to the site’s sense of boundlessness.

In 1911, American explorer and historian Hiram Bingham brought the citadel to the world’s attention.

Machu Picchu Hall

Bingham was searching for the lost city of Vilcabamba when he was led to Machu Picchu by a local farmer surnamed Arteaga.

In his excavations, he found the remains of 173 humans: 150 female and 23 male. Despite the graves bearing evidence of looting, the excavations uncovered numerous copper, ceramic and stone objects.

First light at Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience. At dawn, the site is often concealed by low clouds.

Sunrise at Machu Picchu

As the sun rises, the river mists slowly dissipate to reveal walls and plazas—first in glimpses, then in majesty.

Machu Picchu can be reached by train—with stops in the Sacred Valley and Cusco—and also by trail. Multi-day hiking trips are available.

 

Peru Inca Trail

Hikes near Machu Picchu include the trail to the summit of Huayna Picchu, the extension to the Temple of the Moon, and the Inca trail site of Wiñay Wayna.

In the past, most visitors would visit as a day trip.

Now, many of our travelers are staying for two or three nights, taking in the site at their own pace and allowing time for reflection and renewal.

Machu Picchu Accommodations

Comfortable accommodations are located at the base of the mountain and outside the park gate.

With enough time, you can visit orchid gardens, enjoy thermal baths, hike lesser known trails, admire the local fauna, or unwind at a spa.

We’ve designed a guide to help you understand the complexities of visiting Machu Picchu.

Free PDF copies are available upon request.

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“I hope at no distant future to prepare an exhaustive report of this wonderful city, whose charm can only dimly be realized from these pictures. The beautiful blue of the tropical sky, the varying shades of green that clothe the magnificent mountains, and the mysterious charm of the roaring rapids thousands of feet below cannot be portrayed and can with difficulty be imagined.”

Hiram Bingham

—— WHAT TO KNOW

ALTITUDE AT MACHU PICCHU

MACHU PICCHU GUIDE (FREE DOWNLOAD)

MACHU PICCHU PACKING LIST

MACHU PICCHU WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

WHEN TO VISIT MACHU PICCHU

WHY NO HELICOPTER CHARTERS TO MACHU PICCHU?

WHY VISIT MACHU PICCHU?

—— HOTELS

BELMOND SANCTUARY LODGE

CASA ANDINA STANDARD MACHU PICCHU

EL MAPI

INKATERRA MACHU PICCHU PUEBLO HOTEL

PERU’S LUXURY MOUNTAIN LODGES

SUMAQ MACHU PICCHU

—— TRAINS

BELMOND HIRAM BINGHAM TRAIN 

INCA RAIL 360° TRAIN

INCA RAIL FIRST CLASS TRAIN

INCA RAIL PRIVATE TRAIN

INCA RAIL VOYAGER TRAIN

PERURAIL EXPEDITION TRAIN

PERURAIL SACRED VALLEY TRAIN

PERURAIL VISTADOME TRAIN

—— ALBUMS & STORIES

MACHU PICCHU FAMILY TRAVEL ALBUM

—— COMBINE WITH

CUSCO

INCA TRAIL: THE CLASSIC ROUTE

LIMA & BEYOND

THE SACRED VALLEY

THE SOUTH VALLEY & PAUCARTAMBO

TRAIN JOURNEYS THROUGH PERU