8 Awesome Things to do in Aguas Calientes, Peru
The ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu is not only the most visited attraction in all of Peru, but also in all of South America. To visit the ancient citadel, travelers are required to first reach the tiny town of Aguas Calientes, located at the base of Machu Picchu mountain. Accordingly, many visitors spend a ... Read more
Machu Picchu Circuits: Everything You Need to Know When Purchasing Tickets for Peru’s Wonder of the World
Up until a few years ago, you could simply purchase entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, which is renowned as being one of the best preserved ancient Inca cities on the planet, and wander around almost all of the site without restriction. However, between restrictions imposed during COVID and to protect the site against the negative impacts of overtourism, you are now required to purchase a ticket to a specific “circuit” to Machu Picchu, which is a designated route that only provides access to certain areas of the site. Sounds confusing? It honestly kind of is. Not to worry, though—here’s everything you need to know about Machu Picchu circuits before purchasing your ticket to Peru’s Wonder of the World.
16 Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu, Peru’s Wonder of the World
Machu Picchu, found in the Andes Mountains of Peru, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and draws more than 1.5 million visitors per year. This ancient city is one of the most well-preserved Inca cities, with temples, agricultural terraces, and over 150 buildings, and now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But Machu Picchu isn’t someplace that you can just drive up to—you definitely have to do some planning to get to this remote and mysterious place. Here’s 16 tips for visiting Machu Picchu to help you make the most of your visit, from what kind of tickets you need to buy to what you wear to Peru’s Wonder of the World.
How Much the Inca Trail Cost Us (Every Penny We Spent!)
The Inca Trail, located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, is one of the most epic adventures that you can have in South America. This iconic trek takes you past dozens of ancient Inca ruins and some of the most breathtaking vistas of the Andes Mountains and culminates at Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. However, hiking the trail doesn’t come cheap—in fact, it’s the most expensive trek that my husband, Justin, and I have ever completed. If you’re wanting to plan this incredible trek for yourself, here’s exactly how much the Inca Trail cost us, from the hike itself to some of the smaller items we would have never thought about.
Packing List for the Inca Trail (The ULTIMATE Guide)
The Inca Trail may be the most iconic multi-day trek in all of South America, leading from the heart of the Sacred Valley of Peru to Machu Picchu, one of the best preserved cities of the Incan empire. It’s also a little bit unusual for a backpacking trip—most of your food, gear, and even some of your personal belongings are carried by porters along the trail. So what should you pack for this bucket list trail—and what can you leave at home? My husband, Justin, and I have done a TON of multi-day backpacking trips and recently applied all of that knowledge to packing for and tackling the Inca Trail. So, here's everything you need to include on your packing list for the Inca Trail to have the best time on this epic hike.
How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of the best preserved Incan ruin sites on the planet AND is one of the Seven Wonders of the World! So, it’s no surprise that this is the most popular attraction in Peru, with a whopping 1.5 MILLION visitors per year. And, yet, it’s actually not straightforward to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco, the city that serves as the main springboard for most people exploring the Sacred Valley and other Incan sites in the surrounding area. In fact, it actually generally involves at least three modes of transportation! Sounds confusing? It is! But we’ve broken down in this article exactly how to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco, so you can experience this Wonder of the World all for yourself.