10 things you should know before traveling to Mapi!

1. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is located in the district of Machu Picchu, province of Urubamba, in the Cuzco region, more than 100 kilometers from the city of Cuzco, and at 2430 m.a.s.l., much lower compared to the city of Cuzco.

2. Machu Picchu is located on the left bank of the Urubamba Canyon, through which the Vilcanota-Urubamba River flows. In addition, it is surrounded by 3 mountains; Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and Putucusi. All these characteristics give it a tropical and humid climate, typical of a jungle geography.

3. Machu Picchu has two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season runs from November to March; this is the time when it rains the most, the days are warmer, with temperatures ranging between 19 and 21 ºC, and the nights are not so cold. The dry season runs from May to October; and it is usually dry most of the time, especially in the months of June, July and August. The days are warm with an average temperature between 17 and 19 °C and the nights are colder, even reaching temperatures below zero. It is considered the best time to visit, but it is also a time when it receives the largest number of visitors.

4. The access to the wonder of the world, from the city of Cuzco, is by land, having as main means of rail transport, which is complemented by buses and other transport vehicles. In addition, there are established routes and roads from certain points, such as the well-known Inca Trail, or the alternative route from the hydroelectric station.

5. To have a better experience during your trip to Machu Picchu, it is recommended to plan your trip, and book tourist services in advance (as the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are usually sold out quickly, especially for high season dates).

6. If you wish to hike Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain, the latter not to be confused with the wonder of the world, you must make your reservation at least 3 months before your trip, as entrance tickets are limited.

7. Take advantage of your trip and spend at least one night in the town of Machu Picchu, to enjoy the culture and natural beauty of the town; you can walk around and visit the thermal baths, the Machu Picchu Site Museum, the Mandor Gardens, among other places.

8. The most used route to get to Machu Picchu, is leaving from Cuzco by bus (1 hour and a half) to the train station of Ollantaytambo to take the train to the town of Machu Picchu or also known as Aguas Calientes (1 hour and 40 minutes). Finally, from the town of Machu Picchu you can go up by bus for approximately 30 minutes or you can hike for approximately 2 hours to reach the wonder of the world.

9. For the train route to Machu Picchu we find different types of trains, it is recommended to choose the train that best suits your budget, itinerary and needs, some of them even have live cultural presentations and food.

10. Pack light, with everything you need for your trip. Don’t forget to bring your personal documents, a little cash, light clothes, windbreaker, sun block, insect repellent, camera, hat, good spirits and a rain poncho if necessary. As additional information, the Inca Rail train company allows you to carry a handbag or backpack of up to 8 kg, while the Peru Rail company only allows up to 5 kg maximum.

View of huayna Picchu through a stone gate of Machu Picchu. Photo by Uwe-Bergwitz on istockphoto

We hope that the information provided will be useful to many travelers who will soon be visiting our wonder of the world. 🙂 As part of our commitment as responsible travelers, we want to emphasize the importance of generating a positive impact on the destination we visit, respecting the natural and cultural environment of this amazing place.