How Long Does It Take To Hike Machu Picchu?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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How long does it take to hike to Machu Picchu? There are a number of trekking routes along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. However, the Classic Inca Trail route is a 3 to 5 day hike, and on average, it takes 4 days and 3 nights to reach Machu Picchu.

Is hiking Machu Picchu hard?

What is the Machu Picchu trek difficulty? The difficulty of the Classic Inca Trail is considered to be a moderate level hike . The classic Inca Trail Route is 43 km (26 mi) long and often steep, you will hike over four days at an elevation nearing 13,828 feet (4,215 meters).

Can you hike Machu Picchu a day?

The 1 day Inca Trail Machu Picchu is a 12km (7.5 miles) hike through the Andes in the Cusco region. The maximum altitude reached is 2700mt. In preparation: try walking 15kms/ 9 miles in a day or working out in the months leading up to the trek. It is also important to be well acclimatized to the altitude.

Can a beginner hike Machu Picchu?

Beginner hikers, or sightseers who just want to get to Machu Picchu the easiest and fastest way possible, can take a train from Cusco, Urubamba or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo . From there, the hike to Machu Picchu takes about an hour and a half.

Can you go to Machu Picchu without hiking?

Can you go to Machu Picchu without a tour? Indeed you can, but you will not be hiking the Inca Trail to get there . You can see Machu Picchu via a rushed day trip from Cusco, or stay in the town of Aguas Calientes and walk or bus up to the ruins.

Can you stay overnight in Machu Picchu?

Overnight. You can visit Machu Picchu on a day trip, but we recommend staying overnight at the hotel near the entrance or in Aguas Calientes . A day trip allows you about four hours at Machu Picchu. If you stay overnight you can wander the ruins after most tourists have gone or in the morning before they arrive.

What is the best month to go to Machu Picchu?

Contrary to popular belief, the best time to visit Machu Picchu or hike the Inca Trail is before and after the rainy season, that is late March, April, May, and September, October, and early November , the dry season months, that is June July and August, are great too but beware of the crowds.

How much does it cost to trek Machu Picchu?

Average budget for a foreign adult Price in dollars Total cost: $ 202

How fit do you need to be to visit Machu Picchu?

Treks to Machu Picchu vary in difficulty and length, but all require a basic level of fitness . In general you will be trekking anywhere between 10-15km a day, for up to six days on the longer routes (i.e. Choquequirao or Salkantay / Inca Trail Combo).

How long is the shortest hike to Machu Picchu?

Difficulty First section is a steady ascent on a good path; after Wiñaywayna the trail undulates, sometimes steeply. Acclimatization 1 – 2 Days en Cusco Total Distance 13 km / 8,08 miles Aproximate Walking Time Day 02: 6 – 7 hours Maximum Altitude 2,650 m / 8,69 ft

How do I train to climb Machu Picchu?

  1. Aerobic Training : Can include running, cycling, swimming, cross-country running, speed walking etc.
  2. Strength Training : Should include exercises working mostly on upper body strength.
  3. Recreational Exercise : Any form of fun exercise that you enjoy.

How do I get a permit to hike Machu Picchu?

The Inca Trail permits are regulated by the local government and can only be purchased by a licensed Peru tour operator. The process to get a permit starts with you contacting a licensed tour operator, in this case Sam Travel Peru, and checking the Inca Trail availability for your desired hiking date .

Can you do the Inca Trail by yourself?

Permits are required for each hike and you must get your permit from a licensed operator. You cannot hike the Classic Inca Trail on your own .

What is it like to climb Machu Picchu?

The hike itself, which brings you along ancient narrow paths deep into the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains, is gorgeous; perfect Incan ruins, cloud forest, and majestic valley views laid out like breadcrumbs along the way to perhaps the greatest end-point of any multi-day hike on earth, the ...

Can you hike Inca Trail without a guide?

If you’re an experienced or particularly free-willed trekker, you might want to hike the Classic Inca Trail independently — no tour operator, no guide, no porter, just you and the trail. That, however, is no longer possible. Trekking along the Inca Trail without a guide has been prohibited since 2001 .

Can you get to Machu Picchu by car?

you can’t drive to Machu Picchu – no one can . You can hike on the Inca Trail or take the train to Aguas Calientes. The closest you can get by car is the village of Ollantaytambo where you board the train to continue to the Inca Trail to hike.

How long is the bus ride to Machu Picchu?

What is the bus trip to Machu Picchu like? The bus trip to Machu Picchu lasts approximately 30 minutes . The outward route is uphill on the slopes of a mountain.

Can people with asthma go to Machu Picchu?

People with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or who are pregnant should not participate in the trek .

How difficult is it to visit Machu Picchu?

As long as you are taking the bus up to Machu Picchu, the tour of the actual site is as strenuous as you choose to make it . If you climb all the way up the uneven stone steps to overlook the ruins, it is quite a bit more strenuous than walking among the ruins.

How cold does it get at Machu Picchu?

The temperatures in Machu Picchu will vary from highs around 71°F (21°C) and lows around 42°F (6°C) . Most trekking tours will be open again after February, including the Inca Trails. We recommend avoiding tours like Salkantay Treks as there are located in the Amazon area and rains are still weighty.

Can babies go to Machu Picchu?

From hours of research, I found out that the best way to visit Machu Picchu with a toddler is to slowly acclimatize to the altitude . What most people do not know is that Cusco (where the plane lands) is at a much higher altitude than Machu Picchu.

Does it snow in Machu Picchu?

When can you find snow in Cusco – Machu Picchu? Weather stations report no annual snow .

Is Machu Picchu worth?

And yet, my response: It’s absolutely worth it, provided you’re prepared to do a bit of planning . Below, I’ve outlined how to make your visit to Machu Picchu a day trip from Cuzco. It requires a little extra forethought, but you can do it, unrushed, in a day — saving you both time and money.

Do you have to pay to use the bathroom at Machu Picchu?

5. There Are No Bathrooms Beyond the Main Entrance. You’ll find a small snack bar, restaurant and bathroom just outside the gate at Machu Picchu before you enter the site — which costs one sol, or about 30 cents to use — but that’s all folks.

Is there a train from Lima to Machu Picchu?

There are really only two ways to get from Lima to Cusco which are plane and bus. Unfortunately, train is not an option because the only tourist train that leaves Lima goes to a city called Huancayo which is about one-third of the way to Machu Picchu.

Is there cell service at Machu Picchu?

There is spotty cell reception all through the trek, including Machu Picchu and the top of Huayna Picchu , but count on black holes lasting for several hours. Some days are better than others (day three is widely agreed to offer the best cell signal, although you may need to go to even higher ground to find it.)

How much money does Machu Picchu make a year?

Economic Benefits

At $20 an entrance ticket, Machu Picchu generates $6 million a year for Peru, while the Inca trail brings in another $3 million, according to Machu Picchu Management.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.