Machu Picchu Travel

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Perched within a misty, cloud forest high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is one of the most alluring archaeological sites in the world.

The full purpose of this mid-1400s Incan citadel in the sacred Urubamba River Valley is yet to be understood, but the simple fact that the entire limestone city is built mortar-free and that the sun happens to perfectly align with certain features on the winter and summer solstices makes one wonder about the Inca people who once lived there. You can kick back with a pisco sour and get to Machu Picchu in style by elegant luxury train from Cusco—the former capital of the Inca Empire—or fit adventure-seekers can earn the views by crossing the same peaks and valleys the Incans would have once taken from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu.

Two llamas graze on green terraces at Machu Picchu, stone walls and steep mountains framing the scene.

Why visit Machu Picchu?

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    Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and New Seven Wonder: an astonishing 15th-century Inca citadel perched above the Sacred Valley, with temples, terraces, and super-precise stonework that still baffles historians.

    • Machu Picchu terraces appear through a stone doorway, framing the ruins and mountains beneath low cloud cover.
    Stone path winds along a misty ridge, with an Inca ruin emerging through sunlit fog above jungle canopy.
    Rows of bright knit hats sit on a stone wall, patterns and pompoms vivid against the clear blue sky.

    Machu Picchu trip itineraries 

    Use these itineraries as a starting point, or as inspiration to create your own journey.

    Itinerary

    Peru: Andean and Incan Adventure

    A Peru hiking trip along the epic Salkantay Trek

    Itinerary

    Active Amazon, Machu Picchu and Galapagos Tour

    A multigenerational adventure through wild landscapes and ancient cities 

    Itinerary

    Peru Honeymoon: Andean Adventure

    A journey for two around Peru, to Machu Picchu and beyond

    Itinerary

    Family Trip to Peru

    An Andes-to-Amazon journey for adventurous families

    What to expect on a Machu Picchu trip

    Every trip with Extraordinary Journeys is tailor-made, crafted in direct collaboration with one of our destination specialists.

    Seamless, worry-free travel

    There is no getting around the fact that Machu Picchu attracts tourism, but Extraordinary Journeys South America travel experts know how to make the experience feel relaxed and exclusive. While many visitors reach Machu Picchu via coach bus from Aguas Calientes, our luxury trips usher you in by foot or via the Hiram Bingham luxury train, having taken care of all transfers and connections.

    Expert guides

    At the ancient citadel, you’ll enjoy a privately guided tour where you’ll be able to understand what each space in the Incan stronghold could have been used for. You will leave with a comprehensive idea of Incan history and culture. We’ll use our expertise to try and plan your site visits to coincide with the quietest parts of the day.

    Extraordinary experiences

    Your luxury trip to Machu Picchu will end each night with exquisite Peruvian cuisine and memorable accommodations that offer jaw-dropping views of the surrounding Andes. There are great opportunities for wellness experiences infused with traditional knowledge and rituals. 

    Key travel information for Machu Picchu

    The best time to visit Machu Picchu 

    Machu Picchu is open year-round, but the best time to visit or hike the Inca Trail is May through September when the weather is clear. May and September are sweet spots that skirt the June, July, and August crowds. In February, the Inca Trail closes for routine maintenance. 

    It’s practical to acknowledge that rain isn’t exclusively a feature of the “wet season”—October through April. Even in the so-called “dry season,” you can expect anywhere from two to three inches of rainfall to fall each month (welcome to a cloud forest). On rainy days, mornings can be foggy. Some travelers worry about fog obscuring a full view of Machu Picchu, but many who have visited on a grey day would agree that a misty veil only adds to the mysticism that cloaks the site.

    Peak season tends to attract crowds from May to September, in addition to festive season (December 20 to January 5). Realistically, there will always be crowds at Machu Picchu, but since re-opening post-pandemic, new rules and restrictions have been installed to combat overcrowding.

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    May - September

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    January - December

    Highlights of a Machu Picchu trip

    • Watch the sunrise over the Sun Gate. 

    • Hike to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, or Lares Trek.

    • A private tour with a hand-selected expert guide.

    • Hike to nearby Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for breathtaking views.

    • Ride the Hiram Bingham luxury train into Aguas Calientes.

    • Wander the streets of Aguas Calientes, a small town circled by mountains, and shop the artisan market.

    • Sumptuous meals enjoyed in a mountainous, cloud forest setting.

    • Andean shaman-guided ceremonies and wellness treatments.

    • Visit the remarkable Incan ruins and architecture of the broader Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, Maras, and Moray).

    Machu Picchu ruins sit beneath low clouds, stone terraces and green slopes fading into misty mountain air.

    Machu Picchu travel FAQs

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    Other areas to explore 

    A visit to Machu Picchu puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of South America.  

    Stone terraces and Inca ruins cling to a steep hillside in the Sacred Valley, with rugged mountains behind.

    Sacred Valley

    Located in the Andes mountains near Cusco, the Sacred Valley holds great historical and cultural significance as it was once the heartland of the Inca Empire, and lies beneath the world-famous site of Machu Picchu.

    Traveler reclines on a cushioned daybed beneath a thatched cabana, facing Lake Titicaca and mountains at sunset.

    Lake Titicaca

    The largest freshwater lake in South America, Lake Titicaca is known for its floating islands, ancient culture, and UNESCO World Heritage status. 

    A weathered moai statue stands in grassy fields, with the Tongariki platform and distant coast behind it.

    Easter Island

    Few places on the planet exude as much magnetism as this tiny dot of land afloat in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Known to the locals as Rapu Nui, Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on Earth, which only adds to its allure.

    Two blue-footed boobies stand on a lava rock ledge, preening and calling in soft light beside shallow water.

    Galápagos

    Endemic species, both weird and wonderful, reawaken wonder for the natural world

    Why book with Extraordinary Journeys?

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    Destination experts

    Specialists with firsthand knowledge and deep local insight

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    Custom journeys

    Every trip designed uniquely for you

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    Top guides

    Engaging, adaptable guides who bring each place to life

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    Seamless preparation

    Personalized pre-trip calls and curated documentation

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    Dedicated concierge team

    A personal contact managing every detail on the ground

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    From touchdown to takeoff

    Complete care, every step of the way

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