Peru guide
No matter whether you’re looking for a 2 min summary or want to delve deeper and discover what we rate & what we don’t, our Peru travel guide is here to help you travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping & people.
Machu Picchu tips & advice
Sunrise
Sarah Miginiac, General Manager Latin America for our specialist tour operator G Adventures:
“The ticketing system has been a big positive. This kind of thing is used at tourism attractions around the world. The fixed scheduling means if you want to see the sunrise you no longer see these massive queues for the bus. It’s worth noting, though, that the sunrise is not always as impressive as people think it will be, there’s often mist up there for one thing.”
“The ticketing system has been a big positive. This kind of thing is used at tourism attractions around the world. The fixed scheduling means if you want to see the sunrise you no longer see these massive queues for the bus. It’s worth noting, though, that the sunrise is not always as impressive as people think it will be, there’s often mist up there for one thing.”
Mountain climbing
Heather MacBrayne, founder of our specialist operator Discover South America:
“There’s a one-way system around the main sites, so you can’t miss anything on a guided tour. But there are some places everyone should see. The Sun Gate just inside the entrance is the iconic vantage point. The Condor Temple is a must-see too, and if you have time I recommend also seeing the Incan Drawbridge. And also climb Machu Picchu Mountain. It’s a longer trek than the more popular Huayna Picchu but not as steep or narrow. The views are just as stunning but you’re sharing them with fewer people. Officially you get four hours on the site, but if you do a trek, which takes about three hours, you are allowed to stay for six.”
“There’s a one-way system around the main sites, so you can’t miss anything on a guided tour. But there are some places everyone should see. The Sun Gate just inside the entrance is the iconic vantage point. The Condor Temple is a must-see too, and if you have time I recommend also seeing the Incan Drawbridge. And also climb Machu Picchu Mountain. It’s a longer trek than the more popular Huayna Picchu but not as steep or narrow. The views are just as stunning but you’re sharing them with fewer people. Officially you get four hours on the site, but if you do a trek, which takes about three hours, you are allowed to stay for six.”
Jennifer Cox, walking holidays product manager for our specialist operator Exodus Travel:
“We’ve been offering the Moonstone Trail as an alternative to the Inca Trail for about a decade now. Many people choose it because it’s so remote - you can often walk for four days and not bump into a single other group. It’s probably the most challenging of the various alternative routes to the Inca Trail and reaches some high altitudes. However most of the porterage is by horse, so if you’re struggling, you can usually get a ride.”
“We’ve been offering the Moonstone Trail as an alternative to the Inca Trail for about a decade now. Many people choose it because it’s so remote - you can often walk for four days and not bump into a single other group. It’s probably the most challenging of the various alternative routes to the Inca Trail and reaches some high altitudes. However most of the porterage is by horse, so if you’re struggling, you can usually get a ride.”
Our top trip
Peru 2 week tour
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour
From
£2065
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
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MACHU PICCHU TIPS FROM OUR TRAVELLER REVIEWS
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Machu Picchu travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Machu Picchu travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
Of course Machu Picchu is amazing, but I also loved Cusco and Arequipa. Wandering around the streets of Cusco and finding beautiful squares was a great experience.![]()
– Nigel Parsons
“The Inca Trail is physically demanding and if you are 50+ (I am nearly 70) some good training in preparation is essential to enjoy the trek. There are literally many hundreds of roughly constructed rock steps up and down... Trekking poles are a big help. If you go to one museum before or after Machu Picchu make it the Casa Concha Museum in Cusco which features all the artefacts found by Hiram Bingham during his excavations and returned a century later by Yale University.” – Stephen Shirley
“Our group of eight porters, a cook and a guide were all employed from the local area so it was helping local farmers to supplement their income. The porters were also very careful to make sure that everyone on the hike was respecting the local environment and leaving as little trace as possible.” – Elfie Burgess
“Our group of eight porters, a cook and a guide were all employed from the local area so it was helping local farmers to supplement their income. The porters were also very careful to make sure that everyone on the hike was respecting the local environment and leaving as little trace as possible.” – Elfie Burgess
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All you need to know about how to get to Machu Picchu, and what trekking there involves.
Find out how to avoid the worst of the crowds at Machu Picchu with expert tips.
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Discover lesser known, less-busy alternative Inca sites to Machu Picchu in Peru.
Learn more about some of the key tourism issues and solutions at Machu Picchu.
