Machu Picchu T Guide

Clothing

• Comfortable hiking shoes (waterproof recommended)
• Lightweight layers (temperature varies by altitude)
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Hat or cap (sun protection)
• Warm sweater or fleece (mornings/evenings are cold)
• Sun & Health Protection
• Sunscreen (high SPF)
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• Basic first aid kit
• Altitude sickness medication (if needed)
• Prescription medications

Essentials

• Passport or ID
• Camera or smartphone
• Portable charger/power bank
• Cash (small bills for tips)
• Tickets/booking confirmation
• Hydration & Snacks
• Water bottle (refillable)
• Energy snacks (nuts, granola bars, fruit)
• Electrolyte tablets (optional)

Other Items

• Backpack (20-30L)
• Toilet paper/tissues
• Hand sanitizer
• Ziplock bags (protect electronics from rain)
• Binoculars (for wildlife viewing)

Optional

• Travel insurance documents

If you’re traveling to Machu Picchu a day early to visit the Inca citadel, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a briefing. During this meeting, they’ll go over your travel details and confirm the pickup time for your guided tour. They’ll also take your WhatsApp number so you stay in direct contact throughout your trip.

If you’re doing a Machu Picchu day tour only, your guide will be waiting for you at the train station, holding a sign with your name. They’ll give you a quick briefing about your guided visit, and then you’ll head to the Inca citadel together to begin exploring Machu Picchu. Both of these options are private services.

For group tours, your guide will coordinate everything through WhatsApp ahead of time and will meet you in Aguas Calientes to take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu together. Group entry is only available at two set times — 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. If you need to enter at a different time, you’ll need to book a private guide instead, since group service isn’t available outside those two slots.

Your arrival time depends on your scheduled entry slot to Machu Picchu. As a general rule, plan to be at the bus station at least one hour before your entry time. If something delays you along the way, there’s a 30-minute grace period to enter after your scheduled time — but not a minute more. This strict window exists because Machu Picchu limits daily entries and controls visitor capacity to protect the site.

Traveling with a group? Your guide will ask everyone to be at the bus station at least one hour before entry time. Buses leave every 5 minutes, and the ride up the mountain takes about 30 minutes. Once you reach the entrance, your guide will be waiting with a sign showing your name, ready to bring the group in together.

Booked a private tour? Your guide will confirm the exact time you need to be ready at the bus station. A guide assistant will be there to help you and share extra details about your Machu Picchu tour guide before you head up. Once you arrive at the citadel, your private guide will meet you right at the entrance to start the visit.

One thing to keep in mind: entry times at Machu Picchu are fixed and tickets are non-refundable. If you show up late, contact the Ministry of Culture immediately to ask about your options. There’s a strict 30-minute grace period for late arrivals — after that, you won’t be allowed in, and you’ll need to purchase a brand-new ticket to enter.

Don’t worry — before your trip even begins, your guide will already have your contact information, and you’ll have theirs as well. Because of this, if you don’t spot each other right away, your guide will reach out to arrange where to meet you. You can also call your guide directly to let them know you’ve arrived at the Inca citadel and you’re ready to start the tour.

Mt Picchu by Inca Trail Machu works with professional guides who bring years of experience showing travelers around the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, whether through our traditional Machu Picchu tours or our multi-day treks. Our guides are true experts at bringing the history of this enigmatic Inca citadel to life. Every Machu Picchu tour guide on our team is a trained professional, having studied at a local university in Cusco and further developed their language skills there as well. They’ve spent years working along the Inca Trail, Salkantay, and Machu Picchu routes, gaining firsthand knowledge of every step of the journey.

To make a booking, reach out to us directly on WhatsApp or send us an email at info@incatrailmachu.com. Our highly trained team will walk you through every step of booking your guide, based on the language you’d prefer. We offer guides who speak English, German, Portuguese, French, and other languages, ensuring your trip becomes an unforgettable experience filled with lasting memories and rich, in-depth information about your visit to Machu Picchu.

To ensure you have an unforgettable experience during your visit to Machu Picchu, Peru, we highly recommend booking in advance. Our most knowledgeable guides, especially those fluent in specific requested languages, are limited in number. To enjoy a smooth, worry-free trip, we strongly suggest securing your guide ahead of time.