How Long Is The Machu Picchu Tour?
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on April 2, 2021 by James Bustamante
The entire Machu Picchu tour takes anywhere from an hour and a half to around two hours in total. The full tour trip takes place from the moment you enter the Sanctuary to the time the guide finishes with his presentation. After the guided Machu Picchu hike through the complex, you are free to explore the ruins on your own for another two hours.
How do I enter Machu Picchu for The Guided Tour?
There are two ways we can enter the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, the first is through one of the guided multi-day hikes like the classic 4 day Inca trail. The second is through the front gates via the shuttle from Aguas Calientes, it is the most common way of getting to the citadel.
If we depart Aguas Calientes on the shuttle it will take around 25 minutes to reach the Machu Picchu gates. We then leave the bus and walk with the guide to the main entrance, the staff will take a look at your ticket along with your passport and swiftly let you enter the Inca ruins.
What Will I see During The Two-Hour Long Machu Picchu Tour?
The Machu Picchu tour will go through the various levels of the Sanctuary and go over each temple and landmark there is to see. Once inside we can begin the 2 hour-long guided tours of the complex where the guide will give a presentation that includes: The temple of the Condor, The temple of the three windows, The temple of the sun, and several more.
Which Ruins Will I See During The Tour?
Among the many ruins, we will see during the course of the Machu Picchu guided tour the various temples will stand out and make the most time to get through. Below are a brief list and description of the temples that are particularly interesting.
Temple of The Condor
This particular temple seems to have been used for sacrifices to the Inca deities. Scholars also seem to think that it was a place where the Inca would have trials for thieves and other criminals. Behind the Temple, there are niches that are said to have been prisons for the criminals waiting to have a trial.
More Information: The Machu Picchu Temple of The Condor
Intihuatana The Machu Picchu Sundial
As with many temples and landmarks in Machu Picchu, the Intihuatana was used to work in conjunction with the sun’s position. The Inca would use the sundial to plan the yearly harvest. They would also use the Intihuatana to predict when the rains would come to the cloud forest region of the Andes.
More Information: Machu Picchu Temple of The Sun
Temple of the Sun
The temple of the sun was apparently built by the Inca to perform religious ceremonies that centered around the Sun. It was also used to predict when the seasons would change, this would be an indicator of when to begin to harvest crops. This temple in Machu Picchu is considered to be the most sacred and most relevant.
More Information: Machu Picchu Temple of The Sun
Temple of The 3 Windows
The temple of the 3 windows is said to represent the 3 different worlds of the Inca. The first is the human world, the second the spiritual world or heaven, and the third would be the world where the dead reside or hell. The different windows in the temple also said to represent a different position of the sun throughout the year.
More Information: Machu Picchu Temple of The Three Windows
Is Huayna Picchu Part of The Machu Picchu Tour?
No, the additional hike of the Huayna Picchu peak is not part of the full Machu Picchu tour. You may book this trek separately but it must be done at least 30 – 60 days in advance so we can make sure to secure an available permit for you.
Can I Bring Snacks on The Machu Picchu Tour?
Yes, it is actually recommended to bring along snacks and a bottle of water or any other nonalcoholic beverage. Exploring through the Inca city can be quite tiring so it is always good to bring along something to keep your energy up. Make sure to keep all wrappers and any garbage/waste with you. There are hefty fines for littering in Machu Picchu.
Can I Hike Huayna Picchu During the Machu Picchu Tour?
Travelers can hike the Huayna Picchu peak or the Machu Picchu mountain peak after the guided tour of the main complex has ended. You can choose to continue your exploration of the Inca city on your own or head to one of the additional mountain peak hikes.
There are different schedules to enter this hike so you will need to coordinate scheduling with our guide to making sure to finish the guided tour before you begin the Huayna Picchu hike.
How Long Are The Additional Hikes in Machu Picchu?
Each of the additional peaks in Machu Picchu like Huayna Picchu and Mount Machu Picchu will take anywhere from 2 hours to 2.5 hours to complete. If you would like to visit the temple of the moon in Huayna Picchu then an extra 30 minutes will suffice.
Where Does The Machu Picchu Tour End?
After each section of Machu Picchu has been reviewed the guide will answer any questions you might have. Once we go through the complex we end the Machu Picchu guided tour near the exit gate of the sanctuary. From this point on you will have the opportunity to continue exploring the city on your own.
There really are no restrictions on where in the city to explore other than Huayna Picchu and Mount Machu Picchu. If you want to do some more exploring we suggest heading to the Inca bridge or even visiting the Winay Wayna ruins. Both of these additional hikes are included in the basic Machu Picchu entry ticket.
Conclusion
The guided tour will be for around 2 hours but your permit will allow you to wander around the city or longer, you can also opt for the additional hikes available in the Machu Picchu complex. Make sure to ask your guide all the questions you have after each landmark has been viewed. This ensures that the guide will give as many details as possible before stating your questions.
