Does Machu Picchu Offer Wheelchair Access?
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 January 14, 2022 by James Bustamante
Machu Picchu is wheelchair accessible, albeit with a few limitations on where they can go. Machu Picchu is a powerhouse tourist destination in Peru, but it has remained inaccessible for travelers who use wheelchairs for apparent reasons. However, there are now wheelchair-accessible tours in Machu Picchu thanks to various local and foreign efforts to make the Inca ruins available to everyone.
Due to the location and landscape of Machu Picchu, travelers using wheelchairs will need special assistance from a travel companion to navigate and take advantage of the unique route throughout the city.
Is Machu Picchu Accessible For People In a Wheelchair?
Yes, Machu Picchu is accessible for people in wheelchairs. However, travelers using wheelchairs will still require assistance to get around the pre-established Machu Picchu hiking route on the complex’s first floor.
When a traveler books the trip with Journey Machu Picchu, the agency will provide an assistant to help the guest in a wheelchair go through the Machu Picchu ruins. Alternatively, the staff in Machu Picchu will also be happy to help a traveler navigate around the complex, assuming they have enough people scheduled for that day.
Which Machu Picchu Ticket Should People in Wheelchairs Purchase?
The Machu Picchu tour is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of South America, making it accessible to just about everyone has been overdue. Travelers in a wheelchair will mostly be able to visit the first floor of Machu Picchu by purchasing a basic ticket to the complex. In the near future, local agencies and the staff at Machu Picchu will be working on accessibility into other routes like Montana Machu Picchu.
For now, the lower section of Machu Picchu is what is available; to access higher levels, two assistants will be necessary.
Is Huayna Picchu Accessible To People in Wheelchairs?
Unfortunately, the Huayna Picchu hike is not accessible to travelers who require a wheelchair at this time. In addition, this hike is a straight walk up the mountain, through a very steep set of cobblestone stairs, making it quite challenging to have a wheelchair-accessible route place.
Huayna Picchu is also known colloquially as “the stairs of death.” This name stems from the location and the fear factor in the hike. Throughout the trek, travelers can also visit the Temple of the Moon.
Is Machu Picchu Mountain Accessible To People in Wheelchairs?
Unfortunately, the Machu Picchu mountain additional hike is not accessible to travelers who require a wheelchair at this time. The Machu Picchu mountain route is a further 2.5 hour long hike with an even higher peak than Huayna Picchu. The trek is not as steep as Huayna Picchu, but the winding paths make it very difficult to navigate without the assistance of several staff members.
Is The Machu Picchu Museum Wheelchair Accessible?
Yes, the Machu Picchu museum is wheelchair accessible. The necessary permit to take this tour is the one that includes Machu Picchu + Museum. This Museum exhibits ceramic pieces and tools made and used by the Inca empire. The available schedule for the museum tour is from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Are There Discounts on Machu Picchu Tickets For People With Disabilities?
Yes, foreigners with disabilities are eligible to receive a discount of up to 50% of the standard cost of the Machu Picchu ticket. The minimal requirement to receive this discount is to present a certificate of disability.
What Kind Of Disability Certificate Do I Need To Enter Machu Picchu?
To access Machu Picchu as someone that assistance along with wheelchair permission, the proper paperwork is required. This certificate also ensures that the traveler receives the Machu Picchu ticket’s appropriate discount. A disability certificate issued by a medical board should show the traveler is currently in a physical state that requires a wheelchair.
Specific Points Of A Wheelchair Accessible Machu Picchu Tour
The Wheelchair accessible Machu Picchu tour can begin in Aguas Calientes, the town at the bottom of the mountain. This quaint little town has streets, hostels, hotels, and several other services adapted to suit the arrival of travelers with disabilities. There are a few areas with stairs when you come down from the train station. However, there aren’t many, and one of our staff members will be happy to assist the traveler in navigating through this area.
Once we board the shuttle and drive up to Machu Picchu, one of the staff members will wait to assist the traveler in entering the complex. The first floor in the Inca city is perfectly suited for a Machu Picchu tour on a wheelchair. The expert guide will go through the fully guided tour while an assistant will help get around.
One crucial detail we like to point out is that most travelers that require a wheelchair will want to visit Machu Picchu between May and November, when the dry season takes place. Therefore, touring the region throughout the dry season will assist in a few ways. The first is making sure that it’s easier to get around with dry ground. The second gives you a better chance of watching the sun rising over the Andes during your Machu Picchu tour.
No Charge For Peruvians With Disabilities In Machu Picchu
In the case of Peruvians with disabilities, the government has made it so that they have free entry to Machu Picchu on the first Sunday of each month. The essential requirement for the free ticket is for Peruvian disabled travelers to have a Conadis card. This document will allow them to enter Machu Picchu and other important archaeological sites in Cusco.
Several other landmark locations throughout Peru also offer wheelchair access for travelers. These include Lima, Arequipa, Puno, and Trujillo in the north of Peru.
Conclusion
Machu Picchu was utterly cut off from and was impossible to visit for just about everyone in the past. Today, the local authorities have made it so that Machu Picchu is accessible to all kinds of travelers, even those that require a wheelchair to get around the complex.
If you have any questions regarding Machu Picchu tours or access to Machu Picchu on a wheelchair, make sure to contact our expert travel advisers today.
Cover Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
