Machu Picchu

I visited Machu Picchu in May of 2024. I suspect it is one of the most obvious bucket-list destinations for anyone who's ever been bitten by the travel bug, so I will skip touting its qualities. In fact, it seems that most of the visit details that I mention in this review have already been covered in the previous reviews. I will probably offer only the slightest of variations. Although not when it comes to rain in the supposedly dry season...

Since the number of visitors is capped daily, whether you hike Camino Inca or ride the bus from Aguas Calientes to the visitor gates, you should purchase your entry tickets in advance. The hour printed on your ticket is the earliest you can enter - and 59 minutes later will be the latest. Staying more than a few hours at the sanctuary is not physically doable for most people for the two simple reasons that there are no toilets inside and no re-entry with the same ticket.

Two half-day sessions would allow you to cover everything without getting uncomfortable. There are several paths through the site, so you could explore the "upper town" in one session and the "lower town" in another. A couple of key points at the site are open for access only in parts of the day. To my great annoyance, I could not ascend the Sun Temple because it is on the upper circuit and is only accessible in the morning - I …

We chose the "traditional" way to reach Machu Picchu by walking on the famous Inka Trail which is arguably a part of Qhapaq Ñan and by this a WHS on its own. Apparently it was used by noble Incas for pilgrimages from Cusco to Machu Picchu and along the way many ruins of their culture can be found where they made stops on their pilgrimage. There is also a fast trail along the Río Urubamba that was for the messangers in the Empire and is today comparable to the train ride. The pilgrims though chose the hard way including the crossing of the 4200m Dead Women Pass. Apparently they had to physically suffer. I can really recommand the hike even though it's touristy, very inflexible as everything is regulated and expensive because it's popular. Additionally there is a thin line between hard work and exploitation of the porters that carry all the general stuff for you whereas you only carry your private stuff. We paid 580$ for the 4 days/ 3 nights and it was the cheapest offer we found with Xtreme Tourbulencia. The basics worked however there were many small hick- ups. All in all it was a good tour. Let me know if you want to know more about the experience.  
 
We had bad luck once reaching Intipuntu or "the Sungate", which is the first point from which the archeological site Machu Picchu is visible. It started raining and didn't stop anymore even though it's not even …

There's a good reason Machu Picchu remains one of the highest rated World Heritage Sites -- this Inca city is spectacularly and photogenically set atop a mountain ridge in the Andes northwest of Cusco. Machu Picchu symbolizes adventure and discovery of the unknown, and it has become a mecca for intrepid travelers from around the world.

I arrived at Machu Picchu in the fall of 2018 at the end of a four day hike along the Inca Trail. Not only is hiking the Inca Trail a great introduction to the network of Inca fortresses and settlements remaining in the Andes, but it also makes Machu Picchu that much more memorable when first viewed from the Temple of the Sun at the end of a trek. And what a sight it is from the temple -- the emerald lawns, the terraced buildings, and the backdrop of Huayna Picchu's peak are absolutely stunning. If your afternoon is clear and sunny like ours was, this is where you can find some iconic views of Machu Picchu. Hiking the Inca Trail with a tour company provided the advantage that we were able to walk through Machu Picchu to the exit as the culmination of our trek, and then return the next day with our ticketed time to see the site again at a more leisurely pace.

On my return the next morning, my group wandered with a guide through the buildings, learning about Inca astronomy, agriculture, and architecture. We also hiked up …

I visited this WHS in June 2019. When visiting World Wonders or top WHS, I like to allow more time to visit and possibly revisit. Undoubtedly, Machu Picchu is Peru's most iconic and famous WHS, even though I must say that most of the other WHS I visited in Peru were top notch too.

As things stood till my visit, the confusion and difficulty of actually getting hold of the right entrance tickets, of organising your way to get there, and the general misinformation on the internet, all contribute to lowering the number of visitors, which in itself isn't a bad idea. Most visitors seem to opt for the Inca Trail while the others rely on the Peru Railway System with different levels of comfort (normal Peru Rail train, Voyager or Vistadome) and different points of departure/arrival (Cusco, Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes). I really hope that the international airport project underway in the Inca Sacred Valley never materialises. As it is, Peruvian authorities are already struggling to lower the number of visitors, but at least other areas with Inca sites of significant importance in the Sacred Valley benefit from tourism. The already expensive entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are now only valid for a maximum of 6 hours even though nobody was really checking; however, if you get hungry or need to use the toilets re-entry is NOT allowed!

For that reason I decided to pay for 2 entrance tickets, a morning one valid from 8am with a …

It was nighttime in Cusco, the day before I would travel to Aguas Calientes via Ollantaytambo, when it dawned on me: A childhood dream was about to come true. I am not sure when I first saw a picture of the site but ever since I wanted to visit.

The next day I travelled to Ollantaytambo from where I took the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. Slowly the mountains grew higher around us while the signs of human settlement receded. We were following the river down and what in Ollantaytambo had mostly been barren mountains became covered by trees with the ridge growing ever narrower. It was here where I understood why Machu Picchu is a mixed natural and cultural site.

Thanks to a strong case of jetlag with some altitude sickness mixed in, I got up at 4:00h and queued at the bus stop in the city center at 4:30h. By then the line was already huge and it only kept growing while everyone waited for the busses to run and to take them up. Eventually I boarded the bus and we made our way up to the mountain top. The first views I got were from the valley. And then I had made my way past the ticket control and stood in the site. Finally.

This is truly one of the great sites of mankind and should feature prominently on any WHS travellers bucket list.

Getting a Ticket

During my visit in should season (October to November) …

One of the greatest world heritage sites, Machu Picchu is one of the true manmade wonders. The location is stunning, and the ruins are in excellent condition. However, like the review below there is cause for concern. Part of the problem is Peru is full of incredible Inca and pre-Inca cultural sites. Yet the majority of these sites are relatively unknown, this contributes to Machu Picchu being viewed as the only must-see site in Peru.

Peru has had little success within the world heritage program recently only gaining 3 inscriptions in the last 20 years. For a country that is extremely rich in cultural and natural heritage this is suprising. Raising the price for visitors to Machu Picchu seemingly has not managed tourist numbers, nor has the remote nature of the site. Beyond establishing reservations to the site itself, limiting the number of visitors (which may still be required), the only solution to me seems to be promoting exciting alternatives. Promotion of Peru's various pre-Inca cultures is something you just don't see. Qhapac Nan could be a great alternative to the traditional visitor experience in Peru. I look forward to its inclusion on the world heritage list.

Nevertheless, Machu Picchu is probably not in as much danger as it may seem. First, the site is indeed huge, even with a large amount of tourists I never felt crowded. Secondly, the site is well maintained, and the buildings are entirely built from quarried stone, or built on natural rock. This makes …

Machu Picchu’s iconic image is a pretty good representation of the site in general: high green mountain peaks surrounding a completely intact city structure made out of stone. The site is unbelievably photogenic – I took no less than 460 photos here on a half-day visit, the most ever at a WHS. Afterward you find out that you've taken dozens of the same shots, but well, fortunately, we have digital cameras now.

I walked the full circuit in about 3 hours and then settled down for a while in the residential part of the complex near the agricultural terraces. This is where the common people lived: they enjoyed great views over the valley and the terraces. This is a fine spot to enjoy Machu Picchu’s characteristic play between the sun and clouds. It was mostly clouded until about 10 a.m., and then the sun slowly started to take over, shining its light on different parts of the ruins as if putting it into a spotlight.

The site’s forte is what is called “man’s interaction with nature”. The Inca had found a wonderful part of the Andes and just started to shape one top into a city and religious complex. A gigantic task of course, all done by manpower alone.

The terraces tp me were especially impressive. No other structures or objects really stand out: the Inca were not big on decoration, and the few landmarks where the guided tour groups are led to are often difficult to …

This is certainly a wonderful place, however I have grave misgivings about ever visiting again.

I don't need to describe the majesty of the place, many have done that before me so I want to outline a few problems and issues.

Firstly, the cost. M.P. has become an out-of-control money making scheme. The return train ride costs a minimum of $60. The bus from Aguas Calinetes a ridiculous $15, and the site itself an incredible $40!

Secondly, the site is under grave threat from tourism. Because of the vast amounts of money being made from visitors to the site there is not control over numbers. I arrived at about 7am, and the place was relatively empty, but by 10am it was totally overwhelmed. There must have been thousands of people there, and sadly not all respected the place properly. I saw several people climbing over the ruins, which just astounded me. At this rate the place will fall apart in 10 years.

Thirdly and finally, Aguas Calinetes has no development plan and is out-of-control. The worst part of it is the fact that the town's waste is all dumped in the Urubamba River.

So, yes M.P. is a fabulous place, but think hard before visiting.