MACHU PICCHU - PERÚ
Machu Picchu combines the Inca citadel on the mountain and the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) below it. The citadel visit covers terraces, enclosures and viewpoints; entry runs on timed circuits with assigned slots and is usually paired with a guide. The optional climb to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain requires a separate permit.
Lodging is concentrated in Aguas Calientes, the usual base for an overnight before or after the visit; many circuits instead stay in Cusco or the Sacred Valley and come up for the day. There is no accommodation at the site itself.
Access is by train only, from Ollantaytambo or Cusco to Aguas Calientes, then a shuttle bus up to the citadel; there is no direct road. Trains and entry tickets should be booked ahead given limited capacity. Operationally it works as a one- or two-day visit, with a night in Aguas Calientes or the Sacred Valley.
Useful information
Access By train from Ollantaytambo (1h45-2h) or Cusco to Aguas Calientes; from there, a shuttle bus to the entrance. There is no direct road access.
Season Dry from May to September; rains from November to March. Highest demand in July-August.
Currency · time · language Peruvian sol (PEN). UTC-5. Spanish and Quechua; English in services.
Altitude The site sits at around 2,430 m, below Cusco. Prior acclimatisation in the Sacred Valley or Cusco is advised.
Operations Entry carries an assigned time slot and circuit; book entries and trains weeks ahead, especially in high season. Time the train to reach the entry slot with a margin. Bring your passport. Shuttle buses run every few minutes.