3. Explore the nooks and crannies.
Go see the Inca Bridge, go up to the Sun Gate, hike up Huayna Picchu (you need to purchase your Huayna Picchu tickets ahead of time if you plan on hiking it), see the Temple of the Moon… Machu Picchu has so many very interesting parts to explore and dissect.Â
Trail to the Inca Bridge
Entrance to the Sun Gate
Temple of the Sun
2. Get a Guide.
Just seeing areas of  Machu Picchu without knowing their purpose (e.g. – what are the temples, what are they for, etc.) will not make you fully appreciate this stunning place. Knowing that this ancient civilization figured out how to create a greenhouse out of granite rocks or figured out where to put the altar so the sun’s rays shone directly on it on summer solstice is incredibly impressive. You need someone to tell you this information, so you don’t only see the beauty of the place, but also see its soul.
With our guide Fabian
1. Don’t choose the easy road.
Want the ultimate Machu Picchu experience? Instead of taking the bus from Aguas Calientes up to the most prominent archaeological site in Peru, hike the Inca Trail. The whole Inca trail takes 4 days to hike, but don’t freak out just yet. There’s a shorter 104 km trek that will take you 6 hours of walking and climbing and savouring that gorgeous Andean landscape. Plus, you’ll get to see some of the sites that you will definitely miss if you take the lazy route a.k.a. the bus. Also, nothing beats working for that view. Getting to Machu Picchu after all that hard work will definitely be sweeter. It’s a good way to burn all those empanadas, too.
Start of the 104 km Inca Trail
On the trail
Wayna Picchu from afar
There really is something mystical about this Peruvian landmark, so go and make sure you tick this off your bucket list. Machu Picchu truly is a must-see.
