Machu Picchu
Peru, South America
A lost city above the clouds, where Incan engineering meets Andean wilderness.
A 15th-century Incan citadel perched on a ridge high in the Peruvian Andes, above the Sacred Valley. Abandoned for centuries and wrapped in cloud forest, its mortar-free stone walls and terraces remain remarkably intact.
Our honest take
Absolutely worth the effort, but book months ahead, go in dry season, and skip the overcrowded morning slot. The 2pm entry is quieter and the light is better for photos.
Why go
- One of the few ancient sites that genuinely takes your breath away
- The Inca Trail is a bucket-list trek with stunning scenery
- Altitude and remoteness keep it feeling wild despite the crowds
Skip if you can
- The tourist train from Cusco, overpriced for what it is; take the colectivo to Ollantaytambo instead
- Guided tours that rush you through in 2 hours, you need at least half a day
Things to do
Where locals eat
Farmed and river trout is the reliable local plate in the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes below Machu Picchu, grilled or pan-fried, often with Andean grains.
A restaurant in Aguas Calientes or the Sacred Valley
Hearty Andean quinoa soup with vegetables, grown for millennia in these highlands, and good acclimatisation food at altitude.
A Sacred Valley or Aguas Calientes restaurant
Large-kernel Andean corn on the cob with a slice of fresh cheese, a simple, ubiquitous Sacred Valley snack sold by roadside and market vendors.
A market or roadside stall in the Sacred Valley
An herbal tea brewed from coca leaves, widely used in the Andes to ease altitude symptoms. Legal and customary in Peru, offered at most lodgings.
Any café or lodging in the region
Costs
Per person, per day on the ground, lodging, food, local transport and activities. Excludes international flights (see Getting there).
Machu Picchu entry: S/152-163 (~$42). Inca Trail 4-day tour: $750-950 per person (all-inclusive).
Official pricingGetting there
Where to stay
Base town at the foot of Machu Picchu, walkable to bus station
Quieter Sacred Valley town, cheaper, train access
Colonial city, great food scene, needs extra travel day
Good to know
- Altitude sickness is real, spend 2 days in Cusco first to acclimatize
- Drink coca tea, avoid alcohol on arrival
- Keep valuables close on trains and in Aguas Calientes
Prices, visa rules, and transport details may change. Always verify with official sources before booking. Last updated: July 2026.
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