Machu Picchu: How to Plan a Perfect Trip to the Lost City of the Incas

Visiting Machu Picchu and all its ancient structures is only half the fun. Getting there is an adventure in its own right. For long-distance trekkers, the strenuous four-day Inca Trail route offers a taste of real adventure. For those with less time or stamina (but no less of an appetite for adventure), the abbreviated two-day hike is a good option. Single-day visitors can purchase admission on their own or as part of an organized group tour and take a bus to the site. I'll detail each of these options in this article.

Commonly referred to as the town of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes is the point of departure and return for the majority of Machu Picchu day visitors. There, you'll catch the bus (or start the hike) up to the Lost City.

Aguas Calientes ("hot waters" in Spanish) offers restaurants of just about every variety, a market, bus and train depots, and hot springs—a pleasant option for post-hike refreshment.

The classic four-day guided Inca Trail trek typically includes admission to Machu Picchu, porters and cooks, guides, and return transportation to Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Prices can vary greatly depending on which provider you choose, during which season you're traveling, and the level of accommodations offered. On average, expect to pay between $400 and $700 per person for a basic trip. For peak-season treks (June through August), plan to make a deposit about six months in advance.

Only 500 people are permitted to hike the Inca Trail per day. If you don't have the time or inclination for a four-day trek but still wish to experience a short portion of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu by foot, another option is the two-day trek.

Reputable providers such as G Adventures, Intrepid, Mountain Travel Sobek, and REI Adventures offer moderate to high-end treks, including lodge-to-lodge hikes to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail.

One-day admission to Machu Picchu is 126 Peruvian nuevos soles (approximately $45 USD at time of publication; see XE.com for current conversion rates). For those going it alone, Machu Picchu entrance tickets can be purchased online through Peru's Ministry of Culture site or at its brick-and-mortar office located at Avenida de la Cultura in Cusco. The ministry also has a satellite office in Aguas Calientes, the city at the base of Machu Picchu. Peru's national financial institution, Banco de la Nacion, also functions as a pay agent, as do many reputable tourist centers throughout Cusco. You will reach Machu Picchu by bus.

Machu Picchu opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. every day. The crowds swell when the trains arrive from Cusco (generally starting at around 10:00 a.m.), so the times to have Machu Picchu all to yourself are around opening and closing. If you can afford the high rates, the best option is to stay at the upscale Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge (located just outside of the Machu Picchu gates). Alternatively, stay in the city of Aguas Calientes and be on one of the first buses up the mountain.

There are countless tour operators selling Machu Picchu packages, in particular single-day options. The vendor should handle all reservations and, depending on your preferred option, will include transportation directly to the site's gates and may even arrange for a tour guide. On a Cusco-to-Machu Picchu ticket, for example, expect to take a bus or van from Cusco to Potoy or Ollantaytambo, a train from either Potoy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, and another bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu; this will be followed by a guided tour at the site and transportation for the return route. Prices range significantly depending on the season, train class, and service provider, but you should expect to pay between $200 and $400 for a single-day package and as much as $500 if you're spending a night in Aguas Calientes for an early arrival to Machu Picchu.

U.S. citizens need no visa to enter Machu Picchu—or Peru for that matter—but you'll need to bring your passport just the same. Not only is it required to enter the site, but queue up at the leftmost line and your passport will receive a beautiful stamp of Machu Picchu.

Whatever facilities existed 500 years ago are no longer available to us today, so relieve yourself before entering Machu Picchu and especially before setting off on longer excursions to Huayna Picchu, Intipunku, or the Inca Bridge. (I will discuss more about those three sites shortly.) The restrooms are located immediately in front of the bus terminal below the Machu Picchu gates. They cost 1 nuevo sol to use.

Dining options at Machu Picchu are scarce. Food isn't allowed inside the complex and gatekeepers do check bags, although the rule is not always enforced. If you do bring food inside the ruins, be discreet while eating and never leave any trash.

A cafe selling sandwiches, bottled water, coffee, tea, and such is just outside the gates. Another option is the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge's breakfast buffet, restaurant, and bar. Both options are pricey.

Altitude sickness can strike with many different symptoms: headache, shortness of breath, stomachache, dizziness, and vertigo. More likely than not, you will pass through Cusco on your trip, so schedule a day or two there before your journey to Machu Picchu to acclimate to the altitude. Combat the high pressure by getting plenty of rest, avoiding alcohol, and hydrating. Coca leaf products (which are legal in Peru) such as teas and caramels also help alleviate altitude sickness.

For many, a visit to Machu Picchu is the trip of a lifetime. Don't be left without photos to bring home for posterity: Pack extra batteries, memory cards, and possibly even an extra camera.

It rains eight months out of the year at Machu Picchu, so a poncho or rain gear is a must. Street vendors sell such gear at the site's entrance, but it's pricey and not well made.

Of course, when it's not raining, it's likely to be hot and sunny. Bring sunscreen. The bugs are bad at Machu Picchu. Mosquito repellant is your BFF. Bring your own water bottle, too, and fill it before you set out to visit the ruins. Otherwise, you will pay dearly at the concession stand just outside of the Machu Picchu gates.

Walking sticks are, in theory, not permitted at Machu Picchu. This rule is not strongly enforced, but don't bring one unless you really need it. The use of walking sticks contributes to erosion and could harm preservation efforts at the site.

Backpackers beware: Oversized bags are not permitted in Machu Picchu. Unlike food and walking sticks, this rule is strictly enforced and only small day bags are allowed. Although there are storage lockers available to rent, you'll also have bag limitations on the transport heading to Machu Picchu, so it's best to simply leave your pack at the hotel.

Huayna Picchu overlooks the Lost City and can only be accessed from inside Machu Picchu via a 4,000-step climb to the summit. The entrance to begin the Huayna Picchu hike is at the opposite end of the Machu Picchu gates next to the Sacred Rock. Only 400 people are permitted to make the climb per day, versus the 2,500 daily visitors to the entire complex.

Tickets to Huayna Picchu can be purchased at Peru's Ministry of Culture site for an extra $10. They are sold separately, must be purchased in advance and paid for within six hours, and sell out quickly during the peak season. Though the site accepts foreign transactions, it only accepts Visa cards and performs erratically when conducting transactions in English. For better performance, use the site's Spanish version.

The first wave of visitors to Huayna Picchu is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and the second wave is from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Begin your hike toward the end of the allotted time on the second wave. By then, traffic on the trail will be minimal and any cloud cover will likely have dissipated enough to reveal the ruins.

There are no guardrails on the mountain and only occasionally is there a handheld cable rail, and the narrow path used to ascend is the same one used to descend. Huayna Picchu's climb is not intended for those with a fear of heights, pregnant women, anyone with walking disabilities, or those who are prone to vertigo, shortness of breath, or heart problems. Also, if the clouds don't dissipate, you will have no views of Machu Picchu.

Whether in addition to or as an alternative to Huayna Picchu, Intipunku (the "Gate of the Sun") is worth a visit. Unlike Huayna Picchu, Intipunku requires no prior reservation or extra admission fee, though you must enter by 3:00 p.m. From Machu Picchu, walk down the Inca Trail for about an hour to view the stone structures that make up the famed "gate."

Near the rear of the guardhouse, you'll find the entrance to the Inca Bridge, once a point of entry into Machu Picchu used by pilgrims visiting the ancient city. You'll have to navigate an occasionally precarious path, but before you can begin the 15-minute walk, you'll have to first sign in (and, on your return trip, sign out) at a guarded hut. Though the bridge is now impassable, you can at least walk right up to it. It's a must-see feature while at Machu Picchu, though not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.

Do yourself a favor and gradually work your way up toward a visit to Machu Picchu, the piece de resistance of ancient Incan ruins. Visit Qorikancha in Cusco, ruins within the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero), Saqsaywaman, Q'inqu, Tipon, Moray, and others before even stepping foot inside Machu Picchu. These other sites can wow you in their own rights, but they're not Machu Picchu: The site is so majestic that any other ruins thereafter—as spectacular as they may be—will pale in comparison.

In order to visit Sacred Valley and Cusco-area ruins, you'll need to purchase a Boleto Turistico (tourist ticket). There are several ticket options; the most comprehensive includes admission to 16 area ruins and museums, is valid for 10 days, and costs 130 nuevos soles (70 nuevos soles for students). You'll need your passport in order to purchase a tourist ticket, which can be secured at any of the sites included in said ticket.

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