Machu-Picchu-Travel-Tips

Machu Picchu, Peru

When to Go

The busiest time to visit Machu Picchu is from late June to the end of August. This is the driest, sunniest period coinciding with the busy school vacations. The time of year peaks from January to March however the region is rainy and misty any time. The best times to visit are usually late April to mid-June, and September-October, just outside the rainy season but avoiding the summer rush. The subtropical climate at 2,400 m is generally comfortable though.

There is a certain amount of luck regarding how long you wait in line to enter the site. During the day, it’s often very busy at 6 am when visitors rush to enter the site for sunrise, then quietens down an hour or two later. Lines sometimes peak once more at eleven am to twelve noon once the day trippers arrive from town and subsided by two pm.

Main Sites in Machu Picchu

Enter the south side of Machu Picchu through the Guards’ Quarters. Then the guide leads you up to the Caretaker’s Hut and the Terrace of the Ceremonial Rock, one of the highest points in the site with excellent views. Beneath the lookout ar over one hundred agricultural terraces that provided crops year-round in Inca times.

Continue downhill through the Main Gate, a gigantic entrance door, to the Royal Tomb and the circular walls of the Temple of the Sun, which has windows perfectly positioned for the summer and winter solstices. Continue to the Sacred Plaza with temples on 3 sides, the foremost spectacular of that is that the Principal Temple, constructed with huge horizontal stones.

To the west, climb the staircase of the Intihuatana pyramid, the highest point in the urban area. The centerpiece is AN uncommon sculpture, considered the most sacred site in Machu Picchu. Further on is that the 25-foot-long Sacred Rock and therefore the Artisans’ Wall, arguably the best enclose the positioning. The tour ends at the Temple of the Condor where a sculpted rock depicts the bird still revered by the Andean people today.

Hike up Huayna Picchu

By far the most famous hike is to the top of Huayna Picchu, the dramatic forested mountain that looms above the ruins.This slightly nightmarish hike will solely be exhausted the morning.

It is highly regarded, taking nearly two hours and, like Cerro Machu Picchu, should be set-aside prior to (you area unit given time {beyond regulation|beyond regular time} beyond the first light slot). Add another hour to visit the nearby Temple of the Moon, an extraordinary construction beneath a giant, overhanging rock.

Food & Lodging 

The best – and most expensive – hotel right next to the ruins is the opulent Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. In Aguas Calientes, the top hotel is Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel with a lush location in the cloud forest, but there are many other hotels catering for all budgets, including Gringo Bill’s, a good mid-range option. In Ollantaytambo, the best-known hotel and restaurant in town is the endearing American-run El Albergue.

For refreshments, there is a café just outside the entrance to the ruins. Dinner options are good in Aguas Calientes and recommended restaurants include the eco-friendly Tree House, which mixes Peruvian and Asian dishes, and Indio Feliz, which expertly blends French and local cuisine. 

Expert tips

Water isn't accessible within the web site, thus bring an oversized bottle (or two) with you.

Overpriced bottles of water square measure purchasable simply outside the positioning.

Eat before getting into as a result of food isn't allowed within the web site.

Weather is changeable thus be ready for each robust sun and rain. Bring sunblock, hat, rain gear, walking shoes and mosquito repellent. A small umbrella is also handy.

Note that only small luggage is permitted on the train, so pack essentials and leave any big suitcases in your hotel in Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Some unscrupulous restaurants within the space add a 2 hundredth "special tax" to your bill at the tip of a meal. This is usually not stated on menus so it's best to ask if such a tax is added before ordering. Fun fact: It's possible to get a Machu Picchu stamp in your passport, so ask for this on your way out.