An unmissable sight, the climax of any trip to Peru, Machu Picchu is truly an extraordinary place, in every sense of the word. What makes it so distinctive is undoubtedly the combination of the site’s beauty along with that of the natural surroundings, as well as the landscapes you will see along the road to the ancient site, be it on foot or by train.
After leaving the train, you will take a coach which will take you along a dizzying route through a tropical forest for twenty minutes, over to the doors of Machu Picchu.
Another way to reach Machu Picchu is on foot. The Inca Trail ends with your arrival at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) on the morning of the 4th day. To do this trek, you must be in good physical shape, because you will be hiking through altitudes of 4000 meters, and climbing up to 1200 meters per day. The availability of this trek is limited, so booking must be done far in advance.
Another alternative is the Salkantay trek, which brings you over to Aguas Calientes in a 4 day hike through the mountain range. The guided tour of Machu Picchu will be on the 5th day.
But you can of course spend a lot more time around the site to explore it at your own pace, in order to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu.
Climbing Huayna Picchu takes approximately an hour. The uphill climb is very steep, and parts of the path become stairs which were carved into the stone by the Incas. At the top are some minor stone constructions, but the real reason to climb all the way up is to enjoy the incredible view from the top over Machu Picchu and the Urubamba River, almost 1000 meters below.
Another option is to hike up “Machu Picchu mountain”, a similar peak to Huayna Picchu. The Machu Picchu mountain doesn’t have any Inca constructions, and is not as high and well known as Huayna Picchu. It is therefore less frequented but offers just as spectacular views over Machu Picchu.
If you’d like to take some beautiful panoramic photographs, you could also make your way over to Inti Punku, a Sun Gate and former military outpost which controlled access to Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail. It would be about an hour’s walk to get to Inti Punku. It is a relatively easy climb and, unlike Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain, there is no additional cost.
Finally, if you have a little more free time, you could also make your way over to the Moon Temple. In order to get there, take the path over to Huayna Picchu, then to the left. You will need 3 hours in total to discover this temple built in caves, and which could have links to some ancient funeral rituals.
If you have a few free hours during the day, you could make your way to the Mandor Falls, less than an hour away when you follow the train tracks over to Santa Teresa. The stunning 30-meter waterfall in the middle of the semi-tropical forest is definitely worth the walk.
Finally, if you have a taste for adventure, and even a taste for danger, you could also try climbing Putucusi, a 600-meter high peak, which can only be accessed by a vertiginous path, parts of which include ladders.
The climb is tiring and sometimes scary, but the ones who make it to the top enjoy some unique and stunning views over Machu Picchu. (4 hours there and back.)
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By foot:
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