Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu: The Good, the Bad, and the Overpriced

I’ve wanted to visit Machu Picchu since I was a kid. It made my very first bucket list—alongside the Pyramids of Giza and the redwood forests."

So when I finally made it to Machu Picchu, it marked the second year in a row I crossed off a childhood dream. The previous year, I stood in front of the pyramids in Egypt—and Egypt delivered. It lived up to forty years of anticipation. Machu Picchu, on the other hand?

It was fine.

Now before the hate mail arrives, let me be clear: Machu Picchu is stunning. Just not in the same way that the Pyramids are stunning. Or Angkor. Or Ellora. The ruins themselves are interesting, but not monumental in scale. What makes Machu Picchu truly unforgettable is the setting. The mountains that cradle the site are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Even if the ruins weren’t there, this would be a premier hiking destination.

But with the ruins, it becomes something else—something deeply atmospheric. Still, if you’re ranking the world’s great archaeological sites based on sheer magnificence, I’d place Machu Picchu somewhere in the middle of the pack. If you rank on value? It may be the bottom.

That said, I’m glad I went. If you’re planning a visit, I hope the reflections and tips for visiting Machu Picchu in this post help you make the most of your trip—whether you leave totally awe-struck or merely “kind of” impressed.

The Overtourism Controversy

Waiting at the gate to get inside. There are always crowds wanting to get into the site

It’s no secret that Machu Picchu is under strain.

More than a million people visit the site each year, and that volume has real consequences—not just for the ancient stones underfoot, but for the surrounding ecology and the communities that host the crush of tourists. Stone steps are worn smooth. Trails erode. Human impact, even when well-meaning, accumulates.

In response, the Peruvian government has implemented timed entry tickets, circuit-based walking routes, and strict rules about what you can bring and do at the site. These measures help reduce the burden on sensitive areas, but they’re also part of a larger—and sometimes heated—conversation.

There’s growing pressure from local groups to prioritize Peruvian access to the site, especially for Indigenous communities who have deep ancestral ties to the region. After all, Machu Picchu isn’t just a UNESCO World Heritage Site—it’s a national symbol, a sacred landscape, and a piece of living history. Many feel that international visitors, who often pay inflated prices for a few hours of sightseeing, shouldn’t eclipse the local experience or push Peruvians out of their own heritage.

Balancing preservation, tourism revenue, and cultural equity isn’t easy. The current system is an attempt at compromise, but it’s far from perfect—and you may encounter protests, logistical changes, or ticket limitations depending on when you go. Some years have seen strikes, transportation disruptions, or temporary access restrictions.

In short: go informed. Go respectfully. And recognize that visiting Machu Picchu isn’t just about you getting your perfect travel moment—it’s also about being part of a much bigger conversation around sustainability, sovereignty, and stewardship.

How to Buy Tickets for Machu Picchu (2024–2025)

Book in Advance—Seriously

This is not a place where you want to “just show up.” Visitor numbers are capped and time slots fill up quickly—especially for the classic morning entries and the mountain add-ons like Huayna Picchu. Book early.

Use the Official Website (If You Can)

The Peruvian Ministry of Culture runs the official site. It's not exactly a model of modern web design. You may have to refresh multiple times, and it might freeze mid-purchase (it kicked me out and made me restart twice). But this is the most direct—and usually cheapest—way to buy.

There are also reliable third-party sellers (like GetYourGuide or Viator), but they add fees and have more limited options.

Circuits, Time Slots, and Decision Fatigue

You’ll need to choose:

• Your entry time

• Your circuit

• Whether you’re adding on an extra hike (e.g., Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain)

As of 2024, there are 10 sub-circuits organized into three main groups: Panoramic (Circuit 1), Classic (Circuit 2), and Royal (Circuit 3). Each follows a defined route, and you must stick to it—you can’t just wander freely. Circuits change occasionally to protect the site, so always double-check before booking.

Best overall choice for most people? Circuit 2B. It’s the most comprehensive, covering the famous photo viewpoint, the central ruins, and a longer path that feels more immersive. This is the circuit we did.

Each ticket is for one entry only. Once you leave the site, you can’t re-enter.

If you look closely, you can see llamas in the courtyard below

Optional Mountain Add-Ons

When buying your ticket, you’ll notice two optional add-ons: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain (Montaña Machu Picchu). These are not part of the main circuit—if you want to climb one of them, you’ll need to book a special ticket that includes the corresponding circuit.

Huayna Picchu is the sharp peak that towers behind the main ruins in that iconic postcard view. The trail is steep, narrow, and occasionally terrifying—but it’s also short and dramatic. The views from the top are incredible, and the sense of verticality is intense. Tickets sell out quickly, so book early. You’ll need to choose the Circuit 4 + Huayna Picchu combo ticket.

Machu Picchu Mountain, on the other hand, is higher and more expansive. The climb is longer—about 3 hours round trip—but less vertigo-inducing. From the top, you’ll have panoramic views that include the ruins, Huayna Picchu, and the surrounding valleys. It’s less crowded than Huayna Picchu, but also requires advance booking. Look for the Circuit 3 + Machu Picchu Mountain ticket.

You can’t do both mountains in one day, and you’ll need to start your ascent relatively soon after entering the site, since circuits and entry times are closely monitored. Note that either climb is a major effort.

Finding a Guide

You don’t have to hire a guide to enter Machu Picchu, but having one can add a lot of context to what you’re seeing — especially since on-site signage is minimal and the flow of the site doesn’t exactly tell a clear story on its own. If you want a guide, you have a few options:

• Pre-book online with a tour company (this is more expensive but guarantees someone will be waiting for you when you arrive).

• Join a small group tour, often bundled with transport from Cusco or Aguas Calientes.

• Hire one on-site at the entrance — guides usually wait near the ticket checkpoint and offer services in various languages. Prices are negotiable, especially if you're willing to join a group. You may also bump into guides milling about Aguas Calientes.

Don’t Forget Your Passport

You must present the same passport used to book your ticket. In theory you’ll be asked for it at multiple checkpoints: boarding the bus, entering the site, and sometimes even buying the bus ticket. We always had our passports on us, but only showed them when entering the site. But, like my old Gaffer always says, it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

A Few Rules to Know Before You Go

Machu Picchu has a lot of rules—some more enforced than others. But a few are definitely worth knowing:

• No drones. Not even in your bag.

• No tripods or selfie sticks.

• No umbrellas.

• No large bags. Technically anything over 40×35×20 cm must be stored at the entrance.

• No costumes, loud clothing, or commercial photoshoots.

• No re-entry. If you leave the site for lunch or anything else, you can’t return.

• No straying from your circuit. Trails are marked and monitored.

• No snacks inside. Water is okay in small bottles.

The good news? Enforcement is generally polite but firm.

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Buying a ticket to Machu Picchu isn’t hard—but it can be frustrating, especially when the website acts up or you’re trying to figure out which sub-circuit you’re actually booking. Take your time, read the fine print, and don’t expect a smooth modern user experience.

Still, once you’re standing among the ruins with the mountains rising all around you, the glitches and bureaucracy fade away—mostly.

You cannot just wander freely at Machu Picchu

Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu

A little advance prep can make a big difference in how you experience Machu Picchu. Here are a few tips to help your visit go more smoothly:

Get there early. The gates open at 6:00 a.m., and the earlier you arrive, the better your chance of catching that magical mix of morning mist and golden light—before the tour groups flood in. It’s also the best way to feel (briefly) like you have the place to yourself. If you enter right when Machu Picchu opens and move efficiently, you can stay just ahead of the masses—at least for a while. See my post on Aguas Calientes for a discussion of getting the shuttle bus early.

Looking back towards the Guardhouse. Note the crowd of people on the left side. When we were there, it was just us and a couple other groups. Getting to Machu Picchu very early won't get you the place all to yourself, but you won't be jockeying for position with the masses

Wear mosquito repellent. Machu Picchu might not look like a jungle, but it kind of is. Biting insects are common, especially during the wet season, and they can be relentless. You’ll enjoy the ruins a lot more if you’re not constantly swatting.

Bring your passport. You’ll need it to enter, and your ticket must match the name exactly. Bonus: there’s a stamping station near the entrance if you want a novelty Machu Picchu passport stamp.

Use the bathroom before you go in. This might sound trivial, but it’s crucial. There are no restrooms inside the site, and once you exit, you can’t re-enter.

Pack light. Large backpacks aren’t allowed inside. A small daypack with water, a camera, and a rain jacket should be all you need.

Don’t count on phone service. Cellular reception is unreliable, and there’s no public Wi-Fi. Download your tickets, maps, or guide apps before heading up the mountain.

Wear sturdy shoes. The paths are mostly stone—often uneven, sometimes slick, and almost always involving stairs. You’ll want solid grip.

Dress in layers. Even on a short visit, you might experience sun, wind, drizzle, and fog. A hat and sunscreen are smart, too—clouds don’t block UV rays at this elevation.

Hydrate and take it slow. At just over 2,400 meters (7,900 feet), Machu Picchu isn’t as high as Cusco, but it’s still enough to feel winded. Carry water and take breaks as needed. You’ll enjoy it more if you don’t try to rush it.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Machu Picchu

Given its fame, you might expect the tourism infrastructure around Machu Picchu to be seamless—streamlined booking systems, clear signage, logical processes, helpful staff. But you’d be wrong. In our experience, Peru’s tourism infrastructure was surprisingly underdeveloped. In fact, we found it less transparent and reliable than Egypt’s.

Just getting to Machu Picchu involves a patchwork of transport options, ticketing systems, and third-party providers, many of which lack consistency or clarity. Online platforms glitch. Information is often outdated or incomplete. And if you think you can just show up and figure it out—don’t. Book ahead, double-check everything, and keep your expectations in check. Everything should turn out OK and you will get to Machu Picchu . . . eventually. But you might spend a lot of time wondering exactly how things are going to work out.

Also, brace yourself for the cost. This isn’t just about ticket prices (though they’re steep, especially if you add one of the optional mountain hikes). It’s the transportation costs, the required shuttles, the lodging in Aguas Calientes, and the overall “tourist tax” that comes with being funneled through a high-demand location with few alternatives. All told, our one-day visit to Machu Picchu cost more than a three-day family visit (for five people!) to Angkor Wat. And here’s the kicker: the ruins at Angkor are far more impressive.

If you’re looking to experience the world’s great archaeological wonders, I’d argue that Cambodia’s Angkor complex is a better bet. Or Egypt. Or—if you have the stamina, experience, and digestive fortitude—India’s Ellora caves, the most awe-inspiring manmade site I’ve ever seen.

Now, let me be clear: I’m not saying skip Machu Picchu. I enjoyed my time there. The ruins alone might not dazzle if they sat in the middle of a flat field, but they don’t—they cling to a mountaintop, framed by soaring peaks and mist-draped cliffs. There’s magic in that setting. It’s a place for mountain lovers, for lovers of lost cities, for anyone who ever dreamed of hidden kingdoms nestled in the clouds.

I’m glad I went. But if you only have the budget or time for one or two archaeological bucket-list trips in your life, you may find better value—architecturally, culturally, even spiritually—elsewhere.

Also note there are plenty of people who disagree with me. People who loved Machu Picchu. You might be one of them. You can never be sure, because travel is subjective, but for me, I would say Machu Picchu is good . . . but it isn’t great.