10 tips you should know before your Machu Picchu Trek/Trip

Everything you need to know about Machu Picchu can be pretty much found online, so we will skip the facts, and give you a couple of tips based on our experience trekking 5D4N on the Salkantay trail, which cumulated into the legendary Machu Picchu ruins. Although Machu Picchu is only about 2400m (and Aguas Calientes at 2000m), the Salkantay trek reaches about 4600m, which categorises it as a high altitude trek, that requires a considerable amount of fitness and mental preparation. Then again, anyone can do this challenging trek, as long as you do not take it for granted and underestimate the mountains. So here are some tips that you should consider before your trip to the new wonders of the world.

1. Book the Incan trail at least 3.5 months in advance (or just go for another trail)

For the nature lover and avid trekker, there are numerous trails that lead to Machu Picchu, the most popular of which is the Inca trail, the legendary trail that the Incans took to reach Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The trail is known to be well preserved, with many ruins and accompanying stories of the supposed lives of this forgotten civilisation, based mainly on archaeological expert inductions. More importantly, you get to walk through the Sun Gate at sunrise (which I am sure would be impressive if the weather was good) and see the city from an angle few people get to see it from. Because of its historical significance, the 4D3N trail is over booked, and restrictions were placed on how many people could be on the trail on any given day. There are 500 passes per day on the Incan trail, and they are normally sold out 3+ months before the date itself. So you either book it real early with any of the trek agencies, or you try another trail!

2. Purchase the Huayna Picchu add-on

There are two Picchus (not Pikachu), Machu and Huayna, which are the 2 mountains that flank the ruins at each end and provide a rare bird’s eye view of the entire area. Both these mountain peaks are additional purchases (15USD) and provide a very different experience then just simply browsing the ruins. They will definitely give you a good sweat if you haven’t had any while making the 400m climb from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, or walking around the ruins (you could of course take the bus, which despite the steep price, is highly recommended if you are ascending any of the Picchus).

Huayna Picchu, being the relatively shorter and nearer peak (also the most photographed peak in the background of the classic photo), is more popular, and has only 400 permits a day split into 2 entry time slots: 7-8am and 10-11am. It also has some well-preserved ruins at the peak, with fantastic views of the ruins from afar. It is definitely much steeper but the 300m climb is very doable as it is not in the high altitude zone, and they are pretty much steps all the way to the top. The climb is definitely worth it, but the steepness of the steps, especially closer to the peak, produces a visual sensation that may induce a fear of heights. The faint hearted may have to lean forward on fours to climb and descend the ruins at the peak.

Due to limited tickets do book yours early as they run out as fast as the permits for the Inca trail. A good consideration would be to take the bus up early in the morning (See point 9), explore the ruins twice (once with your guide) and bask in the views while you wait for the 10am entry. For those who are interested in Machu Picchu, you can see the difference between both peaks here.

3. Beware the “mosquitoes”, which are in reality, biting sandflies (Google it)

The most telling sign that someone has been to Machu Picchu on their South American trip is on their arms and legs: just look for the sand fly bites marks. And so we have warned you. The Peruvians call them mosquitoes, but that’s because they have never seen a mosquito. It is pretty obvious how different these biting flies are compared to mosquitoes. The most important thing about these flies, is that they leave scars that itch and stay on for.. well.. kinda forever (Ask Leann). These flies also don’t ever cut you any slack, they really follow you everywhere and are always in your face. You will pretty much be keeping your mouth shut as you swipe these pesky irritants while walking at a pace like you desperately needed a bathroom.

Then again, you can minimize their damage with just 2 simple steps.

Step 1: Wear loose fitting clothes that cover as much body parts as possible. You may have the hottest body to die for that you want to show off in that Machu Picchu photo, but it still won’t look good with bites all over. So wear baggy clothes (long sleeves and pants), and include a hat and gloves, as these bastards bite through clothes and pretty much any exposed skin.

Step 2: Needless to say, the most important tip, if you are still stubborn about wearing your tights/shorts, is to not be stingy with the insect repellent. Smelling good should not even be on the agenda anyway. And yes the SAF (singapore Armed Forces) ones works wonders, but the spray types would be much easier to apply.

4. Prepare yourself for AMS & lousy guides (if trekking)

AMS stands for Acute Mountain Sickness, which normally happens when your brain starts lacking oxygen at altitude’s above 3500m. There will always be people who underestimate the mountains or even fail to realize that they will be attempting a high altitude trek. Fitness is not everything here, and many who attempt these legendary Incan trails are actually first timers who might have never done a high altitude trek before.

Leann's first high altitude trek at 4,600m above sea level

If you are attempting a high altitude trek for a first time, it is highly recommended to bring along some Diamox (get it prescribed by a doctor) and to also do some preparatory research and physical treks to improve your fitness and endurance.

5. Machu Picchu can be done as a DIY 2D1N trip from Cusco

In case you don’t know it yet, you don’t have to take any of the Incan trails, or even any of the 2D1N tours on offer all around Cusco. There are 2 DIY ways to get to Aguas Calientes, where you should spend the night in preparation for the hike/bus up to Machu Picchu the following morning.

Method 1: The most straightforward way, and also probably the most expensive way, is to get onto a train, which goes right in to the centre of the tourist town. This saves you a hell lot of time, and a hell lot of trouble, especially from the bugs. One way to save a little money is to take a bus to Ollantaytambo (2hrs away from Cusco) rather than Poroy before getting on the train to Aguas Calientes.

Method 2: The cheaper way is to find your way to Santa Teresa or Santa Maria (ask your hostel/hotel to help you book a bus ticket), and get on another bus that brings you to Hidroelectrica (named as it should be because of a hydroelectrical power station there), where you can take a flat 3-hour hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. FYI, you will pretty much spend the entire day getting there (7 hrs to Hidroelectrica + 3 hrs hike), so do start early.

Regardless of method, do remember to book your tickets for Machu Picchu (and the peaks), as well as the train tickets a few weeks in advance. You should also note that although there’s a really good map brochure of the place at the entrance, a tour guide would be much better. You can easily find a freelance one at the entrance (they wear vests with big bold letters: Tour Guide). Get a few more budget travellers and test the tour guide’s English before confirming.

6. There’s more to the sacred valley than Machu Picchu

We mentioned earlier that you could skip the trails and the tours by doing everything yourself. That flexibility also allows you to explore more of the national park and its surrounding villages. Albeit catering to the tourist clientele as well, there is a less touristy vibe since everyone skips these these places. Many of the locals who work in Machu Picchu also stay here.

We passed by Santa Maria but spent our night near Santa Teresa. Although we could have had one less day by rushing to Aguas Calientes, that additional day was good as we had time for hot springs (cheaper and less crowded than the one in Aguas Calientes), and a fantastic Zip line experience with Vertikal the next morning! We also had more time to explore Aguas Calientes. So that said, even if you are doing a DIY, consider spending the night in Santa Teresa before heading onwards.

7. Pay the 12USD for the bus ride up

12USD for a short one way bus trip up is probably a hefty price to pay for a budget traveller, but you won’t regret it, especially if you are making the extra climb up Huayna Picchu or Montana Machu Picchu.

The bus ticket counter (only one) is really easy to find. And start queuing for the bus at 4.30am if you want to catch sunrise at the top.

8. Go through the Machu Picchu ruins twice

If you are on a tour like we were, you would be getting a guided tour around the ruins early in the morning (you and your group get to decide the time). Although the entire tour takes almost 2.5 hours, you will realize, by checking the map of the area, that you will miss out certain areas. The complex is huge, and like all tours, you move on pretty quickly, plus the fact that there might be early morning fog, and everyone else will be there as well to avoid the crowds, you will barely get a good photo. And seriously, we rather you listen to your guide to absorb the knowledge rather than getting all self-absorbed in selfies. With so much time on your hands, why not do the second round yourself? The experience is doubled when you get to explore the ruins on your own!

9. If the weather’s not looking good, stick around anyway

Similar to the above point, there is a high chance the early morning fog will not provide you the perfect photo of the area. We were caught in an irritating drizzle that made things even more miserable, and we could barely see 20m ahead of us. That conversely made us think twice about taking any photos, and allowed us to fully appreciate the legends of the ruins. Also, although we did not get the epic sunrise shot over Machu Picchu, it is important to not discount the entire day from a miserable morning.

Although we were tired from the long tour and the trekking days before us, we realised we should not waste all that effort of climbing and head straight back. Plus, we still had a lot of time before our entry time for Huayna Picchu! With high altitude, comes rapidly changing weather. The weather cleared once our guide left us on our own (we strongly believe he had everything to do with the bad weather), and within an hour, the skies cleared to a jaw dropping view of the entire lost city. The unbelievable scene before us reinvigorated us, and we proceeded to explore areas we did not see, and quickly take those classic photos before the rest of the crowds came in! So the point here is to stuck around and wait out the weather. There are also lots of areas for you to rest, recover and admire the view!

The perfect timing for all the above is to get to the bus queue at 4am (best to arrange with your guide beforehand) and wait out for the first few buses. Your guide should already be there with you, otherwise you could also find an official freelance tour guide at the entrance (make sure you test their english). Pick up a brochure (it is filled with useful info) before you step in. Complete the first round with your guide for 2.5 hrs, take a break and go for another round (1hr), before heading to Huayna Picchu at about 1030hrs. You should reach the summit no later than 1200 where you can picnic and congratulate yourself with the gorgeous summit view. You should easily head down to Machu Picchu entrance by 1330, and if up to it, take your time to walk back down to Aguas Calientes (1hr). All in all, be mentally prepared for a full 6-8hrs to fully immerse yourself in this fantastic city, even without heading to the Sun Gate.

10. Get a passport chop before you leave

Probably one of the most memorable stamps that no one knows about is available near the exit where the park office is. Get some stamps on your passports as souvenir/memory before you step out of this sacred place.

11. The Extra Tip: The photo spot

That classic shot you see above can be taken at the "Guardhouse". If the weather doesn't permit for a good sunrise shot, just be content with a good one at about 0900hrs like us, when the weather clears and there still aren't alot of people yet.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our useless guide Hipolito from Salkantay Trekking, whose incompetence allowed our team to bond so much better. Thanks to Brian, Angelina, Kara, Brittany, Michael, and Natalia, for being part of the "family" that made the trek enjoyable and fun.

For other interesting secrets about Machu Picchu, visit this: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/peru/machu-picchu/secrets/