10 Things to do in Machu Picchu

Are you traveling to Machu Picchu on your next trip to Peru? Did you know that is there is more to see while visiting Machu Picchu? Sure, you must visit the main site, as it is a testament to the Inka and their brilliant building skills. You will marvel at the location of the site and the stories that you will hear from you guide. Not only will you see the manmade wonder of Machu Picchu but also the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains and understand why the Inka chose to build this sacred site on the side of the mountain. Some of the history you will learn about is how Machu Picchu remained hidden in the jungle for centuries before an American college professor discovered the ruins in 1911. However here we will give you some other things to do in Machu Picchu.

There are many different sites to see at luxury Machu Picchu but we will give you ten that should not be missed when visiting the Inka Citadel.

Number 1. The Sun Gate or Inti Punku is one of the most important features of Machu Picchu. The path to and from the Sun Gate were used by the Inkas to enter and exit the city. From the Sun Gate on a clear day you can get a good view of the ruins. The gate is also used today as entry to Machu Picchu for the people hiking the Inka Trail.

Number 2. Climb to Huayna Picchu, to see the image you see all over the world of Machu Picchu. You will need to buy your tickets in advance as these sell quickly, but really worth the time, money and the effort to reach the top.

Number 3. The Inca Bridge, the secret entrance to the ruins for the Inca army, the bridge is carved into the cliff and has to large drop to deter the enemy.

Number 4. The Royal Tombs or Palace of the Princess, located near the Sun Temple. When Hiram Bingham discovered the tomb, he remarked that it was the finest example of Inka stonework in South America.

Number 5. Intihuatana, probably the most recognizable locations in Machu, the people used this giant rock as a sundial to predict the solstices. Also known as the hitching post of the sun, there are several similar versions located at other Inka ruins around South America.

Number 6. The Watchman’s Hut, this is the first thing that you will see when you enter Machu Picchu, the hut gives a perfect view over Machu Picchu and is one of the best places for photos.

Number 7. Temple of the Sun, featuring some of the finest stonework the temple is next to the fountain and was used as an astronomical observatory.

Number 8. Temple of the three windows, located in the royal sector, like all buildings in the royal sector the temple is made of much larger stones; the temple has three windows that frame the mountain perfectly.

Number 9. Manuel Chavez Balloon Museum, this museum is thirty minutes’ walk from Aguas Clients and not many people get to see it. Learn about the discovery and history of Machu Picchu and see the 1913 National Geographic, which features Hiram Bingham discovery of Machu Picchu.

Number 10. Hike to Machu Picchu Mountain, not as popular as the Huayna Picchu trek, the Mountain is a lovely way to spend a few hours of your time at Machu Picchu. The return trek takes around 3 hours return and you will experience no crowds. When you reach the mountain, there are plenty of photo opportunities to which you should take advantage.

There are many more great things to do in Machu Picchu, so do some research on what you want to see at the fabulous Inka site.

There are many great hotels to stay at on your Luxury Machu Picchu tour. If you like luxury then at the gates of Machu Picchu there is the Belmond Sanctuary hotel, complete luxury with great benefits that are not available to other travelers.

In the town of Aguas Calientes, which is located at the bottom of Machu Picchu, there are several five star properties on offer, like the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, which has some of the prettiest gardens in Peru. If you do not want to stay at a luxury hotel, then there are plenty of other hotels on offer, from budget backpackers to lovely four-star properties.

The town of Aguas Calientes itself is a quaint village, featuring many different types of restaurants and the train stations that connects Machu Picchu with Cusco. There are many different trains on which you can travel to Machu Picchu; Machu Picchu luxury travel is available with many different trains from which to choose. If you want complete luxury then take the wonderful Belmond Hiram Bingham, where you will be spoilt the whole way to Machu Picchu.

Travel to Peru and Machu Picchu, an experience will not soon forget.

Peru has many wonders waiting for you to be discovered. Here in Cusco Peru Travel, our speciality is to make your trip an outstanding experience, fill-in this form and let your tailor-made luxury Peru vacation begin.