Tips Clear News Portal Your Ultimate Guide to Clear Tips on Life, Tech, Health, and More Machu Picchu Arouses astonishment and delight at first sight. Ignored after the fall of the Inca Empire, and later rediscovered 400 years later, Machu Picchu is undoubtedly Peru’s finest creation. Basically, all explorers and trekkers should plan a visit to it at least once in their life. A prosperous vacation on the site requires careful planning and in-depth knowledge. Read our guide to things to do and popular attractions around Machu Picchu.
Top 7 Things to Do in Machu Picchu
The area around Machu Picchu is home to various interesting sites, ruins and small towns. Here are some recommendations that you should remember before packing your bag for trekking to this place:
1. South America: Find the trail leading to Machu Picchu
When you get here you’ll probably be surprised by the number of paths. You can hike the Inca Trail, which is an extraordinary four-day trek. The route crosses the mighty Urubamba River, passes through mountain passes and passes several crumbling forts to reach the lost city of Machu Picchu. If you are unable to book this trail, you can try another trail, which is the Choquequirao Trail.
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2. South America: Hiking to the Sun Gate
Sun Gate is the compensation for all the difficult trekking journey you have done to reach that place. This is an incredible opportunity to take a look at the secret lost city of the Incas. But if you are visiting Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, it is worth visiting the Sun Gate to see the ruins from above. It takes about an hour to descend to Intipunku.
3. South America: Explore the Royal Tombs
The royal tomb is found near the Sun Temple. Hiram Bingham, the pioneer of Machu Picchu, was quoted as saying that the outer wall of the palace was the finest wall in America. Like the Sun Temple, there are large corners for offerings, and a kind of cave-like structure at the bottom of the building, which is why Bingham referred to this place as a mausoleum.
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4. South America: Stop by Funerary Rock
Offering one of the best perspectives of Machu Picchu, this building was a place where priests were preserved after death. When you’ve completed your climb, you can see all of Machu Picchu from the top. Plus, if you’re lucky, you might even spot the site’s pro grounds-keeping team: a small group of alpacas and llamas.
5. South America: Explore the Caretaker’s Hut
If you have a penchant for beautiful views, be sure to visit the Caretaker’s Hut. It has some structures that have been retrofitted with thatched roofs, making it a good shelter if you visit during the rainy season. The Inca Trail enters the town just below this hut. So, this hut is a perfect place to enjoy a spectacular view.
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6. South America: Get lost in the rooftops of the fields
One of the most incredible achievements of the Incas was their ability to adjust to the mountainous region of the Andes for agricultural occupation. Here, you can stroll across the terraces of Machu Picchu and enjoy the processes used to cultivate the land. It is also a tranquil place where you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
7. South America: Get a bird’s-eye view of the Inca Drawbridge
From the caretaker’s hut a scenic but flat walk takes you straight past the highest point of the terraces and along a narrow footpath clinging to the rock to the Inca Drawbridge. In less than an hour’s walk, the path gives you a good glimpse of the cloud-forest vegetation and a completely unique perspective of Machu Picchu.
But remember, it is stipulated that you capture the view of the bridge only from a distance because a few years ago someone crossed the bridge and had a serious fall and died.
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4 best-kept secrets about Machu Picchu
There are many mysteries revolving around the ancient structure. We have tried to highlight some of them:
1. It was an ancient resort town
As indicated by a group of archaeologists, Machu Picchu was built as a resting area for the royal family. Research directed by John Rowe, Lucy Salazar, and Richard Berger suggests that Machu Picchu was built envisioning the area as a tranquil place to remove oneself from the hustle and bustle of the city of Cuzco.
2. Most of the foundation is underground
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While tourists marvel at the outstanding achievements of architecture, it is estimated that 60% of the Inca city’s development is underground. The Incas put resources into rooted building structures and an extensive pulverized rock drainage structure to adapt to the wet season climate. You will have the best time of your life in Machu Picchu.
3. There are many unknown paths and mysterious temples here
Several paths branch off from the main steps of Machu Picchu and soon become filled with leaves, branches and bushes. This is because the surrounding cloud forests grow so rapidly. From time to time, new terraces and trails are cleared and opened to visitors. Be sure to stay here for an incredible time.
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4. It’s not really lost
When explorer Hiram Bingham III originally discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, he was searching for the lost city of the Incas known as Vilcabamba. In fact, he believed that Machu Picchu was actually Vilcabamba, where the Incas had fled when the Spanish landed in South America in 1532. Bingham’s hypothesis was later refuted when Jean Savoy found Espiritu Pampa, which was actually the lost city, in 1964.
how to reach machu picchu
Machu Picchu is located about 50 miles northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is located on the Urubamba River valley. En route to Machu Picchu is the city of Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. This small town does not have road access from any neighboring towns, so it is not directly accessible via car. You will have to use mixed modes of transport such as train, foot or car. You can choose between a bus or walking tour to Machu Picchu. Once there, Machu Picchu rests on top of the mountain above Aguas Calientes.
To visit the venue, you must purchase a ticket in advance to gain entry, which is available from various ticket offices in Cuzco or through online booking. Please note that tickets to Machu Picchu are not sold at its entrance and are limited to 2500 daily tickets, access to Montana Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu is additionally limited to 400 daily tickets. At peak times of year, tickets for these additional attractions may sell out early. Therefore, you should book your trip well in advance as this place is never less in demand among tourists. Entry to the site opens at 6 am and ends at 3 pm.
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After checking out the breathtaking achievement of the ancient Incan developers, you’ll be eager to go for a more detailed exploration of Machu Picchu. And of course, you will find many great places to take adorable pictures and selfies. Get ready for some adventure on your trip to South America. We promise you will not be disappointed.
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