Top Things to do in Machu Picchu
Top Restaurants in Machu Picchu
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Machu Picchu, Peru
It's no wonder Machu Picchu is Peru's most-visited site. Dating to the mid-1400s, it's a marvel of mortar-free limestone architecture perched on a high plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle. Get there via train from Cusco or, if you're not faint-hearted, make the trip on foot via a multi-day hiking trail—you'll travel through deep Andean gullies and enjoy stunning views.
Restaurants in Machu Picchu
1. Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By ceebee51 - Chicago, Illinois
Everyone knows about Machu Pichu and it does not disappoint. One of the world's most spectacular archeological sites, reflecting one of the world's most fascinating civilizations. You can never get enough time to hike around the site and you pray that the weather will be good (we had both good and bad weather over a 24 hour period). A hike to the Sun Gate is challenging but doable for older folks. The llamas are Darling. A good guide will enhance the experience if you are the studious type but everyone will be in awe of the place.
2. Putucusi Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 226 reviews
Reviewed By alexkY1109YI
We climbed up the first 50m but the ladders are broken and a lot are missing and there are only a few cables which arent trustful. Few parts are without anything.. We think it is very dangerous without own ropes and without climbing experience even in the dry season right now, so we decided to go back down and let it be..
3. Huayna Picchu
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Huayna Picchu is located towards the north of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. To climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu, should reach the checkpoint and entrance to Huayna Picchu and the road begins a few meters from the Sacred Rock is followed, it is an area with very dense vegetation, this road is very steep and quite and includes sections of narrow stairs and steps made of granite stone placed irregularly, there are some that appear carved into the rock. The promotion lasts between 45-60 minutes depending on the physical state of the person.
4. Los Jardines de Mandor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 398 reviews
A family initiative for enviromental protection located 4Km from Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), where you can walk into biodiverse Gardens enjoying, learning and at the same time contributing to the restoration and preservation of the habitat of hundreds of species of flora and fauna in a vulnerable state due to many factors such as climate change and human factors.
Reviewed By kirstine2013 - San Francisco, California
This pleasant 3 hour walk to beautiful Gardens and a waterfall begins by walking through & out of the town of Aguas Calientes. Then we walked beside a railway line (the train drivers did get understandably annoyed if we were too close to the track) and came to a small hotel where there are restrooms and for a small fee, access to the Gardens. Someone has spent a lot of time, making this area sacred & special with the path culminating in the waterfall. Although it was apparently unsafe to bathe in the pool, it was lovely to cool our feet. Downsides: there are bugs and when we returned to the town, the walk up the hill to our hotel was exhausting!
5. Winay Wayna
Overall Ratings
5 based on 297 reviews
Reviewed By RaktimRay - Singapore, Singapore
This incan ruin falls along the Inca Trail near the last campsite before Machu Picchu. There are multiple ruins in that area but Winaywayna simply stands out mostly because of the brilliant architecture. It literally stands on a steep slope representing an elegantly and perfectly constructed city. We were told that was a place for the learned people mostly to study the stars. A glance at the exact geometric nature of the construction tells you how hard working and perfectionists the Incans were. I will go so far as to say that the architecture is beyond that of Machu Picchu. Obviously size wise its nothing compared to the holy grail that is MP but this one packs a nice punch. And ofcourse you get exclusive visiting rights given to only those few who are hiking the trail. Mostly the ruin is empty since people dont hang around here for a long time. But it is a nice place to sit around and take in the calm surroundings. One word of caution though, this place is infested with sand flies as is MP. Wear a covered shoe and long length pants. Those flies will literally not let you stand in the same spot otherwise. If you are lucky you can run into a Llama or two.
6. Mariposario de Machu Picchu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
Reviewed By StevieCCD - Leigh-on Sea, United Kingdom
An intersting place 20 mins out of Aguas Calientes, near the start of the hiking trail up to Machu Pichu.
Personal tour from the proprietor was very infomative.... Did you know that while pupating there beatiful insects will move if stimulated.
Gardens by the river are good too.... Allow 30 minutes.
7. Temple of the Sun
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 817 reviews
Built in the form of a circular tower on a massive slab of granite, this sacred edifice contains the famous Intiwatana, or sun dial, which the Incas used to "tie down" the sun at the winter solstice each year.
Reviewed By Brittany_11_10 - Los Angeles, California
It's kind of a "must" if you're at Machu Picchu anyway, and we didn't have any trouble finding it without a guide, as some others on here have said. I thought the whole site was pretty decently marked (although Circuito 2 got a tad confusing for a second).
El lugar es muy magico - the place is very magical...so take your time admiring the brilliance, ingenuity, architecture, and long-lasting ruins.
8. Plaza Manco Capac
Overall Ratings
4 based on 493 reviews
Reviewed By Viviana42California - california
walking in Aguas Calientes we find their little picturesque square, a must spot for pictures, with a Manco capac statue, and the name of the town, very pretty little place with lots of restaurants and souvenier stores around, you will have a stop here in your way to Machu Picchu, because here is the train station and bus station that will take you the ruins.
9. Intipuncu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Mitchell G N
If you are going to visit Machu Picchu Citadel, I highly recommend that you hike to the Sun Gate, “Intipunku.” Unlike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you do not need to pay for an entrance ticket. What is so cool about it? It is the gate with which all of the Inca Trail hikers pass through on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu; just as the Incas did centuries ago. You get the same incredible views of Machu Picchu, the Valleys below, and parts of the Inca Trail. It is an experience well worth it. It is only a 2 hour round trip hike.
10. Museo de Sitio Manuel Chavez Ballon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 187 reviews
Reviewed By pabloprocurador - Oxford, Mississippi
This was a good explanatory site with information and interesting items taken from Machu Picchu, including a gold arm covering-the only gold item recovered from the ruins. It gave information that our guide didn't include, so I think it's a worth a visit. It's about a 40-45 minute experience. We walked down after lunch and it took about a half-hour. The museum employee called a van to take us back to Aguas Calientes for 10 soles each. The museum is about 25% too expensive and it should be located in the town's main square rather than so far away.
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