How to Get Up to Machu Picchu
Yay, you’ve finally booked your bucket list trip to Peru! You’re about to check off one of the seven world wonders! In order to make your experience a bit more smooth, here are some tips on how to get up to Machu Picchu and beat the crowds!
If you don’t know what you’re doing, getting to Machu Picchu can be a bit confusing. Let me just start off by saying that a trip to Machu Picchu involves two different spots: Machu Picchu, the citadel, and the mountain behind Machu Picchu, called Wayna Picchu (this is the mountain that you hike, with the very narrow steps). I thought the entire site was just called Machu Picchu, but it’s not. So as you’re starting to plan your trip, research whether or not you want to hike Wayna Picchu. This is a separate entry that needs to be booked months in advance. Only 200 people are allowed per day, divided into two groups. One goes in the morning at 8 am, and the next in the afternoon.
You can enter Machu Picchu and just stay within the citadel without hiking Wayna. You can also get tickets for both and ultimately opt out of Wayna and take your losses. It costs around 152 soles, which includes entrance to Machu Picchu. You can’t decide last minute, because they are very strict at the entrance to Wayna Picchu. Even if someone opts out and you try to take their spot, they will absolutely not allow you to. If you bought a ticket in your name in advance, that ticket is non-transferrable.
In my opinion, hiking Wayna Picchu is totally worth it — both for the experience and the views. Of course, this is totally dependent on the person, especially on physical condition. The hike up and the descent both take about 1 hour. There are some steps that are narrow but it’s not as bad as I expected. Photos make it look much more steep. Because of the people limit per day, it wont be crowded. You can go at your own pace and there are plenty of corners you can stand and rest.
Another issue is the altitude. Obviously, you will be out of breath as you climb up. But even for me — someone who is not in the best of shape, I made up just fine with some rests in between. They also tell you that if you suffer from vertigo, hiking the mountain may not be the best. I guess this depends on the person. I don’t suffer from this, but the hike up and the descent are not as narrow and straight as photos make it look. It’s gradual, and there are a few steep steps, completely doable. Remember, in the worst case, you can always just stop and go back if you feel you can’t do it.
Now that you’ve decided on what to do, you’ll want to make sure your Machu Picchu experience is smooth. Obviously being a world wonder, it will get very crowded. You will want to make it up to Machu Picchu at sunrise, it won’t be as many people, plus it’s a more magical experience that way anyway.
You will eventually find yourself in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. There are a number of ways to get to Aguas Calientes, depending on where you’re coming from. There are buses that arrive from other cities, but the most common method is the Peru Rail https://www.perurail.com/. I took the train from Ollantaytambo, which is just under two hours away by train. You can also take a train from Cusco, but the ride will be a little longer. You may book the tickets at the station, but of course I suggest to have these taken care of in advance.
You’ll probably want to stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, so that you can be up early the next morning to be one of the first in line to get to Machu Picchu. There are plenty of hotel options in the town, and a lot of them are within a five minute walking distance to the Machu Picchu bus stop.
Like I mentioned before, make sure to book your Machu Picchu tickets beforehand. You can purchase them up to seven days before (in Cusco as well). While you can buy them at the bus stop, the window doesn’t open until about 5:30 am, which is when the buses start arriving to pick people up. You will want to get on the first buses, which is why I suggest buying the tickets prior.
Make sure to wake up super early. The shuttle buses that take you up to Machu Picchu start arriving at 5:30 am, but of course, expect a crowd. I got there at around 4:15 (since I was only a five minute walk away) and there was already around 30 people in line already. Ten buses show up consecutively, and after that they come every 15 minutes or so. They move as soon as the bus is full (fits about 50 people).
The ride is about 40 minutes up the mountain and drops you off at the foot of the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel right before the entrance. This will be the easiest and quickest way to get to Machu Picchu and beat the crowds. You have the option to hike up to the entrance from Aguas Calientes, but this takes more than an hour and you’ll be exhausted. Also, if you’re willing to spend a few paychecks, you can beat the crowds by staying at the Sanctuary Lodge. However, due to the location right at the entrance, it’s a 5 star hotel and will be quite expensive.
There will still be a crowd at the top, even if you made it on the first couple of buses up. Make sure to use the restroom prior (restrooms open once Machu Picchu opens at 6 up, but you will want to be one of the first people to head up, so waste no time). Once the gate opens, there is a little walk (or hike) up to the Citadel. Be prepared with some water. It’s not as bad as the Wayna Picchu hike, but due to altitude, it might be a challenge.
Once you make it to the Citadel, make sure to get your photos in before the place starts to fill up. The site will be packed within an hour or less. When you’re done, if you’re hiking Wayna, you simply cross the Citadel over to the entrance of Wayna Picchu (everything is signed and easy to reach).
Hope this short guide explains everything clearly in order to make your Machu Picchu trip easier! Just make sure to book everything in advance and wake up super early the day of to beat the crowds! It’s one of the most beautiful of the world wonders!
