Go on an expedition to one of the most mysterious of world wonders in a group or private Machu Picchu tour. The mysterious Inca citadel, which is located atop “the old mountain,” was built by the Inca empire many decades ago, making it one of the most difficult to reach destinations in Peru. The lush cloud forest hid the Machu Picchu ruins for many years until the adventurer Hiram Bingham brought it into public view in 1911 with his famous expedition.
Today, we can reach this UNESCO World Heritage site city by way of the famous train ride through the Sacred Valley of the Incas or the Classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu tours take you through an architectural masterpiece surrounded by enigmatic landscapes in a location of vast spiritual and astronomical meaning.
Below is a brief list of the major landmarks we will see during the course of the guided tour of the Inca citadel. Among the many royal and ceremonial locations, you will see the agricultural zone, the main square, the observatory, the fountains, the temple of the three windows, the sacred rock, the astronomical observatory, the temple of the sun, the temple of the condor, the royal enclosures
The Temple of The Sun in the Inca citadel
The Temple of The Three Windows
The Mirrors or Fountains in Machu Picchu
The Temple of The Moon in Huayna Picchu
The Journey Machu Picchu team of expert travel advisors will plan and tailor the perfect Peru vacation. Check out our carefully customized Machu Picchu tours and travel packages listed below. Browsing through our selection of packages you will notice that we include many Peru destinations and feature the iconic Inca city of Machu Picchu in all travel programs. Our team based in Peru is ready to help you plan the ultimate Machu Picchu experience with top-rated accommodations, expert travel guides, and in-depth guided tours.
You will need 1-2 days to properly tour the Machu Picchu complex. It is best to arrive at Aguas Calientes at a good pace, see the town and wake up the next day to tour the Inca city. This way you can hike any of the additional hikes like Huayna Picchu without feeling too rushed. You can do this in just 1 day but the day will feel very tiring and you might not enjoy the outing as much.
Over the course of the Machu Picchu tour, you will see the agricultural zone, the main square, the observatory, the fountains, the temple of the three windows the sacred rock, the astronomical observatory, the temple of the sun, the temple of the condor, the royal enclosures and several others. The tour includes some of the most amazing views anywhere in the world thanks to the surrounding landscapes.
Yes, tour guides are mandatory to enter the complex. This has been the rule ever since 2019.
Walking through Machu Picchu is not a big challenge, the complex presents an easy to moderate challenge. The additional hikes like Huayna Picchu are a little bit more of a challenge. The complex has a marked path so it is very difficult to get lost and there are handrails throughout the ruins.
The tour takes around 2 hours to complete but you can hike one of the additional peaks which will take another 2 hours to complete. So depending on what tickets you booked, you can spend 2-4 hours in Machu Picchu.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the dry period which extends from April – September. If you don’t mind days that might be cloudy but with smaller crowds then you can visit from September – November or March. In the end, the best time to visit Machu Picchu can vary on personal preference.