Machu Picchu – What You Need To Know

Machu Picchu Facts: One of the seven Wonders of the World

There were seven reputed wonders of the ancient world. Sadly, one by one, each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were swept away by the tides of history. Save for one, the first to be built, which lies west of Cairo and can still be visited today.  Three of them were consumed by earthquakes, one by fire, with the Lighthouse of Alexandria the last to succumb.

The Temple of Artemis survived the ravages of the Goths only to perish at the hands of Herostratus, the Greek infamous for burning the temple down just to achieve notoriety.

There still exist today another series of great wonders. Astonishing feats of architecture, engineering and human endeavour that are indeed wondrous to behold.

If you are in India you must visit the Taj Mahal; or China the Great Wall, Europe the Colosseum of Rome.

If you vacation in South America the place to visit it Machu Picchu; the great palace of the Inca, high in the Andes mountain range.

Machu Picchu Facts: Where is Machu Picchu located?

Peru is a land of desert, jungle and mountains.  The Andes mountains run along the spine of the country.  The Machu Picchu ruins are nestled upon a mountain ridge between the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains.

Located in the Cusco region, about 80km (50 miles) northwest of Cusco, Peru amid a sprawling ocean of peaks and rivers and valleys.  The ruins eluded the Spanish conquistadors and colonisers for centuries with the help of the local campesinos (farmers).

They remained a mystery not just for their height but their inaccessibility to colonial explorers.  The palace sat near the heart of the Incan empire, at the head of the Sacred Valley.  Accessed only by Incan trails; precisely laid stone paths that navigated the peaks and troughs of the Andean mountains to which the Inca had called home.

Machu Picchu Facts: How high is Machu Picchu?

The ridge the ruins sit upon is 2,429 meters (7,972ft) above sea level; not the highest peak in the region by any stretch.  Even some of the neighbouring towns and settlements are at a higher elevation.  However, at this height (and since most travelers arrive from places which are closer to sea level) there is the possibility of suffering from altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness.

This occurs when one goes from low to high altitudes too quickly.  This is why most people visiting Machu Picchu first travel to Cusco or the Sacred Valley, which are at higher elevations, for a couple of days so their bodies can adapt to the higher altitude and lower oxygen levels (this is called acclimatization).

Machu Picchu Facts: Machu Picchu Weather

Peru is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons here are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.  So winter in the Northern Hemisphere is actually the hottest time in Peru and vice versa.  Unlike some other countries, Peru only has two seasons: the dry season which runs from April to October and the rainy season which runs from November to April.

Dry Season

• From April to October, average temperatures range from 20°C (or 68 °F) during the day to 3°C (37°F) at night.
• Nighttime temps can get close to freezing, especially in June and July.
• The driest month is June and September is the warmest month, on average.

Rainy Season

From November to April, average temperatures range from 19 °C (67 °F) during the day to 6°C (43°F) at night.

January is the coolest month, while January and February are the wettest months.

Rainfall can be intense at times and may cause travel disruptions such as landslides which can impact trains from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and flight delays or cancellations.

So this should be taken into consideration if you are thinking of traveling during the peak of the rainy season.

Machu Picchu Facts: Best time to hike Machu Picchu

The best time to hike is from April to October with warm (during the daytime) and dry conditions.  Clear blue skies and less clouds means you’ll be more likely to get the iconic Machu Picchu shot.

Conversely, during the rainy season you’ll have to contend with less sunshine, rain showers and cloudy conditions which can obstruct your views of the awe-inspiring site.

Also, intense rains can result in travel delays, which could negatively impact your trip.  If you are planning to do the Inca Trail Trek, some areas (including roads and paths) may be inaccessible or impassable.  And the  Classic Inca Trail path is also closed late January to February for maintenance.

So we recommend visiting during the dry season.  But you should expect lots of crowds and it is highly recommended to book early!