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.”
Our Machu Picchu Holidays
Cusco & Inca Trail holiday, tailormade
Peru's highlights of Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
From
£1900
7 days
ex flights
Peruvian Andes trekking holiday to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu with an International Guide and Doctor.
From
£2331
14 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£3199 to £3949
17 days
inc UK flights
Adventure holiday in Peru
Inca culture to sea lions on Peru adventure
From
£2128 to £2660
15 days
ex flights
High Inca Trail trek in Peru
Machu Picchu, Inca fortresses and cloud forest
From
£2999 to £3349
16 days
inc UK flights
Peru holiday, Cusco to Lake Titicaca
Customisable Overland Trip: Machu Picchu & Titicaca Islands
From
£1220
8 days
ex flights
Inca Trail trekking holiday, alternative route
Discover the beauty of the Inca Trail in a different way
From
£645
5 days
ex flights
Peru wildlife tour with Machu Picchu
Trip combining wonderful Machu Picchu and Paddington Bear
From
£2150
9 days
ex flights
Classic Inca Trail holiday, 10 days
10-days: Lima, Cusco, 4-day Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
From
£1695
10 days
ex flights
Peru tailor made holiday, highlights
Experience the history, culture and natural beauty of Peru
From
£1650
14 days
ex flights
Peru tour, small group
Peru on an adventure from mountains & Altiplano to jungle,
From
£1335 to £1910
9 days
ex flights
Peru trekking holiday, Lares
Alternative Inca Trail - Lares trek to Machu Picchu
From
£688
5 days
ex flights
Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu
Hike the second most popular tour to Machu Picchu
From
US $500
5 days
ex flights
Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trekking holiday, Peru
Choquequirao - trek to a lost Inca City, Peru
From
£910
7 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Peru
A luxury tailormade trip exploring the sites of Peru
From
£4245
14 days
inc UK flights
Alternative Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
Remote trekking to Machu Picchu
From
£1930 to £1970
15 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour
Customisable journey through the heart of Peru's Andes.
From
£1880
14 days
ex flights
Peru highlights holiday
Discover the most enchanting destinations Peru has to offer!
From
US $1290 to US $1805
8 days
ex flights
Coffee, Chocolate, & Machu Picchu tour in Peru
Coffee, Chocolate and Machu Picchu trek in Peru
From
US $809 to US $1239
5 days
ex flights
Peru 12 day itinerary, tailor made
Highlights of Peru: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu
From
£1795
12 days
ex flights
Family holiday to Peru, tailor made
Experience Peru's top sights as a family
From
£3560
19 days
ex flights
Inca trail holiday, Peru
Retrace the steps of a fascinating civilisation
From
£960 to £1290
8 days
ex flights
Cusco to Machu Picchu short tour
Cusco, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
From
US $1080 to US $1770
4 days
ex flights
Classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
Hike the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for 4 days
From
US $645 to US $690
4 days
ex flights
Machu Picchu and Titicaca holiday
Traverse mountainous landscapes from La Paz to Cusco
From
£2718 to £3268
15 days
inc UK flights
Peru holiday, encompassed
Coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks and lush forest
From
£2849 to £3499
16 days
inc UK flights
Family holiday in Peru
Amazon rainforest and Peruvian culture family adventure
From
£1620 to £2090
9 days
ex flights
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 Machu Picchu Holiday
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£3199 to £3949
17 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2022: 15 Apr, 20 May, 3 Jun, 24 Jun, 22 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 14 Oct
2023: 14 Apr, 5 May, 19 May, 2 Jun, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
2022: 15 Apr, 20 May, 3 Jun, 24 Jun, 22 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 14 Oct
2023: 14 Apr, 5 May, 19 May, 2 Jun, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 11 Aug, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 13 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Machu Picchu or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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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
More relevant guides
More about Machu Picchu
Learn when to visit Machu Picchu, taking into account climate and peak tourist season.
This incredible Inca citadel casts a spell over visitors today just as it did a century ago.
Learn the key sites in and around the Machu Picchu site with our Map & Highlights.
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.
In 2011, Machu Picchu celebrated 100 years since its (sort-of) rediscovery.
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.
