It’s on many people’s bucket lists. It certainly was for RealFoodTraveler.com’s Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor, Jimmy McDonough. Here, he provides very usable tips for making the most of your visit to Machu Picchu in Peru, gleaned from having traveled there with his siblings. 

Save this list of tips to Pinterest to help you plan your trip to Machu Picchu. Photos by Jimmy McDonough. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

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Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu

Visiting Machu Picchu requires lots of preparation – and it is worth every minute! This wonder of the world far exceeded my expectations. Based on my visit in June of 2023, here are some tips to plan a successful visit. A debt of gratitude to my sister Gloria who managed the Peru planning process for our sibling trip.

1. If Machu Picchu is a must see for your trip to Peru, reserve entrance tickets as far in advance as possible – even before finalizing your Peru travel plan/itinerary to ensure entry! This incredible site is a must-see for people traveling from all over the world. You are literally competing with a global crowd for an opportunity to visit! Research MP in advance to choose what you want to see – it is an enormous, sprawling site with many options to explore.
   

   Machu Picchu is enormous, with many trails. Making a reservation is recommended.

2. Reserve an entry time for as early in the day as you can to avoid crowds, get your choice of routes, and avoid mid-day heat (even during their “winter” it gets hot at mid-day!).
3. Book train tickets on Peru Rail in advance; visits to the region for Machu Picchu and other historic sites via scenic train routes are relaxing. Pay extra for seats in the Vista Dome when traveling during the day – don’t bother for night journeys.
   

   The train ride to Machu Picchu is quite convenient and certainly scenic.

4. Decide if you want to try to visit MP in one day by traveling from nearby Cusco, or by overnighting in nearby Ollantaytambo, or elsewhere. I highly recommend overnighting in Aguas Caliente; a one-day visit from Cusco will be exhausting. On my visit, I took the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Caliente (also known as Machupicchu Pueblo), spent the night, then visited MP early the next day. Spend another night in Aguas and take an early train back to Cusco. While in Aguas Caliente, enjoy the thermal swimming pools, as well as the many restaurants, bars, public art, huge artisans’ marketplace, and street life.
   

   Plan to spend some time in town in conjunction with visiting Machu Picchu to see sculpture, and enjoy shopping, dining and day-to-day life.

5. Reserve bus tickets in advance to travel from Aguas Calientes to MP to ensure an early entry.
6. Eat a big breakfast the day of your visit! You cannot eat in the park. There is a quick-food counter with some outdoor seating at the entrance. There is also an all-you-can-eat buffet at the Sanctuary Lodge hotel restaurant, Tinkuy; not cheap, but the delicious food in a lovely, air-conditioned space is a perfect way to relax and recover from your Machu Picchu climbs.
   

   The hotel restaurant’s breakfast buffet is a good option for getting fortified.

7. Pack a water bottle. It is high and dry – you will need it.
8. Use the toilet before entering – there are NO toilets in Machu Picchu and you cannot exit to use the toilet and return. There are public toilets at the entrance. This makes it important to “time” your usual “bathroom routine” (fluid intake, caffeine, etc.) to avoid having to leave the site early to use the toilet.
9. Pack a rain poncho. There are almost no shelters to hide from the rain on the site. If it rains, be cautious of slippery stone walkways and find a place to stay low if lightning strikes.
10. Clothing – comfortable sturdy shoes for climbing stairs and steep walkways; wear long sleeves, long pants, sunhat, sunglasses – protect yourself from the sun and bugs.
    

    Dress to keep yourself comfortable and protected from the elements like I did including bringing plenty of water for the trek.

11. Pack patience and be bold. There are large crowds and worst of all are the social media selfie-obsessed tourists who stop traffic to take videos and repeated selfies of themselves at just the right angle. Be bold, say “Disculpe” (“Excuse me” in Spanish), and move through them – don’t waste your precious visiting time! If you don’t, you’ll be stuck for long periods of time. Lines of visitors may also back up on the narrow trails due to mobility-impaired folks doing their best to move through the site – be patient.
    

    Crowd sizes will vary at Machu Picchu but count on plenty of people.

12. Apply sunscreen and bug spray. Take it with you to reapply during your hours of exploring the site – you will sweat it off!
13. Upon arrival at Machu Picchu, you will be greeted by a throng of men offering to be your guide for the day. You may employ their services or not – it is your choice. There are almost no interpretive signs in MP, so do not rely upon that for information about the ruins. Depending on your preference, it may be better to arrange for a Guide in advance or bring your own guidebook.

-Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor, Real Food Traveler

Hungry for more? Read about Dining Experiences in Peru.

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Save this article to Pinterest to help you plan a better trip to Machu Picchu. Photos by Jimmy McDonough. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.