Machu Picchu is easy to visit if it is well organised, and complicated if it is left to the last minute. These ten tips sum up what our travellers ask most and the mistakes we see repeated, in the order in which it pays to decide them.
The essentials: buy your ticket about two months ahead (three or four from June to August), choose the circuit before paying, bring your original passport and go with a guide. Everything else, from the train to your luggage, is organised around that date.
1. Buy the ticket first
The ticket has a date, time and circuit, and numbers are limited. Two months ahead gets you almost any combination; for June to August, or if you want Huayna Picchu, three or four. Everything else, train, hotel and tours, is arranged around the date you get.
2. Choose the circuit before paying
Since 2024 there are three circuits with fixed routes and you cannot switch inside. For a first visit, circuit 2 is the most complete. We explain all three in the Machu Picchu circuits.
3. Bring your original passport
The same one used to buy the ticket. It is checked on the train and at the citadel gate. A photo or a copy will not do.
4. Go with a guide
The regulations provide for it and, above all, there are no information panels inside: without someone to explain what each building is, the visit is just photos. On our tours the official guide is included.
5. Prepare for the altitude in Cusco, not at Machu Picchu
The citadel is at 2,430 metres, almost a thousand lower than Cusco, so you breathe more easily there. The problem is arriving exhausted. Plan your first days as we explain in the acclimatisation guide.
6. Decide whether to go in a day or sleep nearby
In a day from Cusco it is about sixteen hours, which is what our Machu Picchu Full Day does. If you can, sleeping in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes the night before makes for a more rested, early visit. We compare the options in how to get to Machu Picchu.
7. Travel light
The train only allows hand luggage of about 5 kilos, and the citadel only backpacks up to 40 × 35 × 20 cm. Tripods, drones, umbrellas, selfie sticks and walking poles are not allowed. No eating inside; water yes, in a reusable bottle.
8. Use the toilet before going in
The toilets are outside the gate and there is no re-entry: if you leave, you cannot come back in with the same ticket.
9. Be ready for sun, rain and mosquitoes
The weather changes quickly on the edge of the cloud forest. Bring sunscreen, a cap, a light rain jacket and insect repellent. In the rainy season, a mid-morning entry time usually finds the mist already lifting. More detail in the best time month by month.
10. Follow the route and respect the site
The circuits are one-way and signposted. Do not touch or climb the walls, do not leave the paths and do not leave litter. It is a World Heritage Site and every visitor counts.
What to book and how far ahead
| What | Approximate price | When to book |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu ticket | About 150 soles, foreign adult; about 200 with Huayna Picchu or the Mountain | Two months ahead; three or four from June to August |
| Train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes | Varies by service, date and time (which train to choose) | Together with the ticket |
| Bus to the citadel | About 24 USD return | In Aguas Calientes or with the tour |
The Cusco Tourist Ticket does not cover Machu Picchu: it is a different ticket, for the ruins of Cusco and the Sacred Valley (Tourist Ticket guide). Prices change; confirm them before paying. If you would rather not arrange anything, the Machu Picchu Full Day includes it all.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you spend inside Machu Picchu?
Between two and a half and four hours, depending on the circuit and your pace. With a guided visit of circuit 2, about three hours.
Can you enter twice with the same ticket?
No. If you want two visits, you need two tickets, usually for different circuits.
Should I bring cash?
It is worth bringing some for lunch and shopping in Aguas Calientes. There is nothing to buy inside the citadel.
What happens if the train is late and I miss my entry time?
That is why you should leave a margin between the train arrival and your entry time. On our tours we coordinate the timings so they fit.
What can you not bring into Machu Picchu?
Tripods, drones, umbrellas, selfie sticks and walking poles. Only backpacks up to 40 × 35 × 20 cm are allowed and water must be in a reusable bottle. Eating is not allowed inside.
Is a guide compulsory?
The regulations provide for it and, besides, there are no information panels inside. On our tours the official guide is included.
Plan it with us
- Private Machu Picchu Full Day: ticket, train, bus and official guide.
- Complete Machu Picchu guide and its history.
- 3-day itinerary with Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
