Tips to Make The Most of Your Trip to Machu Picchu
It is easy to make a visit to Machu Picchu unforgettable if we take a 2-hour guided tour; but it doesn’t always have to be this way. We have realized that most tourists do not know or simply are not well informed to make the most of a visit to Machu Picchu, for this reason in this article you will find important information to make your trip to Machu Picchu even more memorable.
Here we show you the places you should explore during your visit to Machu Picchu, any of them will make you stay longer in Machu Picchu.
Note:
It’s important to know how much time you have depending on what time your train leaves. Careful, we don’t want you to miss your train.
Huayna Picchu Mountain
Every morning, 400 lucky visitors are granted access to scale it for the best pictures at the top of Huayna Picchu, it rises above the lost city of the Incas at 8,835 feet above sea level. The mountain has a path beside it that leads to the temples and terraces at the top.
The climb is not technical, but it’s not easy either. It’s quite exhausting. It gets steeper and steeper until the route becomes almost vertical, without a doubt it is one of the best options to take into account on your visit to Machu Picchu, for this climb you need to be in good physical condition and not to suffer from vértigo.
Remember! in order to be able to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain it is necessary to reserve it at least 5 months in advance.
Sun Gate or Inti Punku Hike
The Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft) is the pass over Machu Picchu through which hikers on the Inca Trail enter the ruins. (Inti Punku was dedicated to the worship of Inti, the sun god)
For those who do not enter the ruins through the Inca Trail, they can climb to the Sun Gate from the ruins of Machu Picchu for one of the best views.
What’s the SunGate?
The Sun Gate or Inti Punku in Quechua was once the main entrance to Machu Picchu, in particular it was the main access road from the capital of Cusco, this entrance gate would probably have been protected by the military in Inca times as it allowed access to the sacred city of Machu Picchu.
To get to the sun gate you don’t need to actually be in good shape, this hike takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour uphill and 30 minutes to get back down to the ruins, (this alternative route unlike the waynapicchu mountain doesn’t need an entrance ticket).
Trek to the Inca Bridge
After a 30 minute walk from the citadel, at the end of a narrow path near the mountain, is the Inca Bridge, the place where the Incas took refuge in the Andes, when they abandoned Machu Picchu. The view over the Urubamba River and the Andes seen through the cloud forest is absolutely amazing, especially since not many tourists come to visit this hidden route.
There is a locked gate on the trail just before the bridge, so you can’t walk directly to the bridge, but when you see it, you’ll probably just crawl on all fours even if you can cross it. I highly recommend doing this trail to the Inca Bridge.
Hike Down to Aguas Calientes
If you like hiking then going down to the town of Aguas Calientes would be your best option to extend your time before taking your train back, obviously you can also choose to take the bus back to town but if for some reason you are still in the mood for hiking don’t miss this opportunity.
Consider hiking down the mountain after the day is done.
