Dos & Don’ts Before Visiting Machu Picchu
We want to share with you some tips to make this important experience as amazing as possible! Check out our “Do’s” and “Don’ts” below which will help you plan and prepare to make your trip to Machu Picchu unique!
We know you’ll want to make the most of your visit to Machu Picchu and if you’re a YouTuber you might want to do all the crazy things that come to your mind.
However, you must know that there are things you shouldn’t do. If you don’t want to get into trouble pay attention to this list we made to help you better plan your experience at Machu Picchu.
DON’T Touch The Ruins
You will surely be fascinated by the huge buildings chiseled by the hands of the Incas which will make you doubt whether they’re real or not, since they’re so tightly packed together that it’ll be hard to think that they’ re real stones, then you’ll be tempted to touch them to check. However, let me tell you, that’s a bad idea, which could get you kicked out of Machu Picchu. Since lotions, sunscreens and bug sprays all contain chemicals that can damage the rock surface.
Let’s preserve this incredible place for generations to come so they can visit and enjoy it too.
DO keep Your Entrance Ticket
It is important to keep your entrance ticket, even if you have already entered the ruins, you should know that today visiting Machu Picchu has become more strict since many backpacker tourists broke the rules.
Now if you have a ticket for either of the Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountains you should know that you can leave Machu Picchu to use the restrooms or to eat something and you can go back in showing your ticket once again.
but if you only have the ticket to visit the ruins, then you must not go out of Machu Picchu, stay as long as possible because if you go out you will not be allowed to enter again.
If you want to get the most out of your visit, visit our article on How to make the most out of your visit to Machu Picchu.
DON’T Get Naked
Don’t even think about taking a nude picture, no matter if it’s to get attention or just to have fun, because this can cause you to be expelled from the country.
There are places in the world where people can get naked, but not all places are “appropriate” for getting naked. Tourists should comply with local rules and regulations when they are traveling.
A couple of years ago two young tourists decided to strip naked and expose themselves during their visit to Machu Picchu as part of the “naked tourism” fad.
The two tourists were not the first to be caught undressing at the archaeological site. There has been an increase in the trend of naked tourists stripping since 2014, These obscene acts ended in detainment and eviction.
Remember that Machu Picchu is visited by tourists of different ages, ideologies, and religions. For Peruvians it was a sacred place.
No “naked tourism” at Machu Picchu.
DO Take Pictures with Llamas
Undoubtedly something you should not forget to do during your visit to Machu Picchu is to have your picture taken with the llamas.
Though it is true that you can not feed the llamas with any kind of food as this could cause them stomach issues. However you can take selfies with them. So if a llama comes your way, that’ d be the perfect time to have your picture taken.
Note:
Walking sticks, selfie sticks, tripods and umbrellas are banned at Machu Picchu.
Visitors who do not comply with the prohibitions in the regulations will be expelled immediately without the right to a refund of the ticket.
DON’T pollute
This not only refers to pollution from waste, such as plastic bags and bottles, but also to noise pollution. Not only does it disturb plant and animal life, but also the experience of other visitors.
All kinds of waste, including fruit peels are forbidden at Machu Picchu and that’s the main reason why eating at Machu Picchu is not allowed.
Finally, one of the things we almost forgot to put on our “do’s and don’ts” list is DON’T Take Jumping Pictures at Machu Picchu.
What if you get caught by one of the park rangers taking jumping pictures at Machu Picchu?
This is what could happen:
The park ranger will immediately ask you to delete all photos that have broken the rules and will give you one more chance before he asks you to step out of Machu Picchu.
We hope we could have helped you or cleared up your doubts. For more information you can contact directly our travel advisor at the following link: I Have Questions
