Top 15 things to know before visiting Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world. And in our opinion it is more impressive than all the others. The history, the energy, the size of the town in the middle of the mountains was just amazing.
How to get to Machu Picchu
The adventure started in Cusco, taking a tour on a van (the tour included drop off/pick up at the train station, hotel, dinner, and breakfast) that took us about 4 hours to get to the train station. The roads are very windy, so be prepared for some potential motion sickness. Once you reach the train station you either pay 170 dollars for the train ride to Aguas Calientes or if you don’t have money (like us) then you start your walk following the train rails. It took us a little less than three hours to get to Aguas Calientes, which was the closest town to Machu Picchu.
Once we arrived in Aguas Calientes, we went to the bus station to buy the tickets for the 5:00 AM bus to the national park. It was around 15 dollars one way to get to the entrance of Macchu Picchu. Alternatively, you can make the 600-meter hike up by foot for free.
Tips before entering Macchu Picchu
There are a few things that you need to be mindful of before you enter Machu Picchu. The first thing is that you need to be prepared to get there early! Preferably before it even opens. The lines are very long and the longer you wait, the more people will be in the park. Secondly, be prepared for different kinds of weather. Dress in layers. It can go from very cold to very warm in less than an hour. Also, keep in mind that there are no bathrooms in Machu Picchu, so use the restroom before you go.
Remember to bring your printed ticket and passport. You can get your passport stamped with the Machu Picchu logo if you would like. Do not forget to bring sunscreen as the sun is very intense at such a high elevation. Lastly, please be careful and stay on the main paths.
Our experience
The weather was cold, so we were wearing jackets and when we got to the top of the viewpoint it was foggy and the clouds were covering absolutely everything, but as the time passed the sky cleared.
We were sitting there just waiting and waiting. Around 9:00 AM the clouds were gone and the view was unbelievably stunning. A dream came true. We finally witnessed the Incas’ masterpiece and yes we had seen a million pictures, but nothing compared to being right there. Machu Picchu was totally the highlight of Peru and one of our favorite places on our South American trip.
About Author
Jordan and Nelly
Welcome! I'm Jordan Haws(ome). Thank you for stopping by. My wife, Nelly, and I are world travelers, photographers, and travel bloggers. So far we have been to 5 continents and over 40 countries. Our goal is to travel as much as we can and inspire you to do the same.