13 Things to Know Before You Go to Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru
Jeremy and I are less than a week away from the biggest challenge of our entire trip: hiking the 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It’s not just the lack of Netflix and Instagram for four days that scares us (although … shudder) but the incredibly difficult high-altitude hike. This morning I walked down the street in Cusco and it felt like walking through sand… on the moon. Yikes. We’ve been searching high and low for tips about visiting Machu Picchu that will help us to feel less terrified and more excited. And one of my amazing friends from high school – which I just realized was a decade ago (oh god, am I getting old?) – went above and beyond! Angela is a brilliant lawyer who also happens to be Peruvian, and she’s been visiting Peru regularly for years. Who could be better to get Machu Picchu tips from?? Here are 13 things to know before you go to Cusco and Machu Picchu!
Psst: An update on the whole hiking the Inca Trail thing: it went terribly.
Psst: Looking for more tips for traveling in Peru? Check out some of our other posts, or click here to view all of our posts about Peru.
- 40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Peru
- Hiking Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru: Everything You Need to Know
- The Kennedy Park Cats: Cat Lover’s Paradise in Lima, Peru
- The Best Third Wave Coffee Shops in Lima, Peru
Let us help prepare you for your trip! We’ll send you a handy printable checklist with our recommendations for what to pack for South America (and a few important things to do before you leave). We’ll also send you some of our favorite tips for traveling in South America. Sign up below.
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What to Bring to Machu Picchu
Whether you’re visiting for a day trip or hiking the Inca Trail like we did, you’ll want to pack carefully for your day in Machu Picchu. Buying snacks and supplies in either Cusco or once you arrive is super expensive, so the better prepared you are, the more you’ll save.
- Your passport & entry ticket: This seems obvious, but trust us, it’s not. Don’t forget these extremely important items!
- 50-100oz of water: During midday, it gets HOT and sunny, and you’ll be climbing some serious stairs, so you’ll need plenty of filtered water. We have a Camelbak Hydration Pack that fits 100oz of water, snacks, AND has some room for gear, too. This was all we carried with us during the day as we explored Machu Picchu, to keep things as lightweight as possible.
- Trekking poles are a huge help if you plan to hike at any point during your visit – and that includes Huayna Picchu. We brought our Black Diamond trekking poles with us, folded down and tucked into a side pocket of our backpacks, for our entire 5 months in South America and they were SO useful on hikes.
- Rain Gear: During certain seasons, rain is pretty much guaranteed during your visit to Machu Picchu. The good news is that the mist swirling through the valley creates an absolutely beautiful spectacle! The bad news is that uhh .. you’re going to get wet. We love our Ultra-Light Packable Rain Jackets (His & Hers) because they weigh nothing and squish down for easy carrying just in case. We also bring Waterproof Socks to wear under our hiking Trail Runners, just in case. Both our jackets and our waterproof socks are small enough to roll up and tuck right into our CamelBak.
- Hiking Clothes: We prefer wool hiking gear thanks to its ability to cool you down in the heat and keep you warm in the rain – totally necessary for exploring Machu Picchu, where the weather can change in a minute. Here are the exact clothes we have ourselves & recommend:
- Hiking Clothing for Her: T-shirt | Sports Bra | Half Zip | Hiking Pants
- Hiking Clothing for Him: Short Sleeve shirt | Long Sleeve Shirt | Hiking Pants
- Hiking Shoes & Socks: Machu Picchu can feel like a schlep, even if you’re not hiking the Inca Trail. We both hike in Trail Runners rather than heavy duty hiking boots – they’re lightweight and travel friendly, more flexible and comfortable, and they dry super quickly when it rains or after a water crossing, so your feet will stay toasty and try. Pair them with well-made wool socks. Our favorite wool sock brand is Darn Tough: soft, durable, and they come with a lifetime guarantee in the event of holes (that’s how you know it’s real).
- Coca Leaves will help you with your altitude adjustment in Cusco – Machu Picchu is a little bit lower altitude. You’ll find Coca Leaves all over Peru, including mercados and even supermarkets. If the leaves are too gross for you (they taste like … well, leaves) there’s also Coca Leaf candy and gum.
- Sunscreen, Hat & Sunglasses: Much of Machu Picchu is exposed and sunny. Don’t forget sunscreen, and bring extra protection, too! You’ll fit right in with the locals with a Panama style hat like this one.
- Camera: Machu Picchu is stunning, so don’t forget to pack a camera for that once-in-a-lifetime shot! We recommend bringing a tiny, lightweight GoPro – the wide panoramic angle is perfect for the sweeping wide-angle shots of Machu Picchu. Our other fave is the Canon Powershot. It’s the perfect lightweight, hike-friendly camera that takes amazing photos while still fitting comfortably into your pocket. We used this camera exclusively during our 5 months backpacking South America and were extremely pleased with it.
- Cute Outfit for Photos: You may be wandering around in drab hiking gear, but bring a cute cover-up with you to snap that once-in-a-lifetime photo! It’s a trick of the travel blogging trade 😉 I’m in love with this one. Just crop your hiking shoes out a little bit at the bottom of your photo, I won’t tell.
What You Need to Know Before You Go To Cusco & Machu Picchu
A guest post written by Angela
Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful and spiritual experiences I have ever encountered. Going to Machu Picchu is not for the faint of heart (or height). Here are some of my best tips when traveling to the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu.
1. The city of Cusco is like a world’s fair of people. Cusco is overrun by tourists. You will literally meet people from ALL OVER THE WORLD. I met people from Poland, Norway, Japan, Germany and Switzerland, just to name a few. Cusco also attracts many people looking for a specific type of “spiritual journey”. You will often see the stereotypical “hippie” type covered in peace things, walking the streets of Cusco. Peace Man!!
2. DOGS, DOGS, DOGS! If you think Lima is overrun with stray dogs (and cats), just wait till you get to Cusco. I have never seen that many stray dogs in my life. They run the streets and travel in packs. However, you might meet some actual friendly ones in Cusco. They are so used to tourists giving them snacks and playing with them that they will often approach you. I actually had one follow me on my walk home one day. It was nice to have the company🙂.
3. If you take a photo of someone in native/indigenous attire, be prepared to pay. In Cusco, you will often see women (sometimes men too) dressed in indigenous or traditional Andean clothing. This is not because they like dressing like that. It is how they often make a living. They are considered part of the “tourist experience”. If you take a picture and do not pay them, they will often approach you demanding payment for the experience of photographing them or posing with you in a pic. My suggestion is to avoid taking photos of them. They will often demand 5 soles for a photo or more. While that is not a lot of money, you are better off saving that for some bottles of water and your Starbucks cravings. There will be plenty of llamas at Machu Picchu who won’t demand payment.
4. Coca leaves are your friend. If you experience altitude sickness, definitely find yourself some coca leaves. They are very cheap and you can find them anywhere. Chew on them or buy them in tea form. It will calm your stomach and ease your dizziness.
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5. NEVER take a taxi off the street alone, especially if you are a woman. Crime is rampant throughout Peru and Cusco is no exception. The area is a hotbed of crime due to the amount of wealthy tourists who visit every year. Always take a taxi with another person. If you are female this is especially true. If you must take a taxi alone, call a taxi service company. Your hotel or hostel can do it for you. I took one taxi alone while in Cusco through a service company and had a good experience.
6. Visit some of the nightclubs in Cusco’s Plaza De Armas. (The Main Square). Cusco has some amazing nightclubs and even an Irish Pub. Paddy’s Irish Pub is super fun and claims to be the “highest Irish Pub” in the world. You will often meet a lot of Europeans and Americans. If you are missing American food, this is the place to go. You can also get a free Paddy’s Pub poster as a souvenir from your visit. This is also the best place to watch sports for you soccer fans out there. Mama Africa is another great club to visit, great music and dancing. Also, there is no open container law in Cusco, and if there is, it is not adhered to. You can walk around the plaza with your beer and no cops will ever care.
- Travel Tip: Spending a few days acclimating in Cusco before you head to Machu Picchu? Check out this post for more amazing things to do in Cusco, or this post for the top 10 things to do in Cusco, or this massive guide to 101 things to do in Cusco!
7. There are police EVERYWHERE! Due to tourism being one of the biggest sources of revenue for Peru, safety of tourists is of paramount importance. You will often see police in riot gear when there is no riot to be had or police making rounds in the main plaza. You will likely see more police here all at once than you ever have before.
8. Machu Picchu is incredibly over priced. Try and buy all of your Machu Picchu needs in the inner city of Cusco. Machu Picchu is actually around 1.5-2 hours from the inner city of Cusco. Once you arrive at the actual attraction, everything will be super inflated. Buy your water bottles and snacks from local street vendors in Cusco and bring them in. Purchase your tickets and Machu Picchu tours online in advance (by the way, YES, the tours are worth it! They’re super informative and help you better understand why Machu Picchu is so incredible). A little bit of preparation will save so much money!
9. You will have to pay to use the bathroom at the gates of Machu Picchu. When i was there it cost about 1 sol to use the bathroom, per potty visit. There really is no way around this.
10. You will be approached by vendors trying to sell you overpriced pizza and souvenirs the whole time. Like I said, Machu Picchu is a tourist destination and vendors often crowd the streets, looking for potential customers. Be prepared to be approached as you walk through the areas outside the gates of Machu Picchu. There will be a lot of restaurants and shops outside the gates and below in the area called Aguas Calientes. I am not saying to avoid these shops and restaurants but be aware that you will be paying more than you would in other parts of Cusco.
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11. Become comfortable having a whistle blown at you for any little faux pas you commit. The guards are always watching at Machu Picchu and they don’t take kindly to anyone disobeying the rules. Want to take a pic in a non-designated place, that you had no clue was non-designated for your obvious tourist style photo? WHISTLE!!!! Do you have your feet hanging over a cliff thinking it was chill to take a little break after your hike up to take THAT iconic photo? WHISTLE!!! Were you in a llama’s right of way (see post 12)? WHISTLE!!! To avoid the whistle, try and stay with your guide and be aware of signs or barriers where tourists aren’t allowed to, well, tour. (Full Disclosure: I had the whistle blown at me for all of the above….lo siento).
2017 Update: the rules at Macchu Pichu have changed yet again and gotten even stricter! This post about the rule changes in Machu Picchu has all the details you need.
12. Llamas roam free at Machu Picchu and they have the right of way. Llamas are allowed to roam wherever they want through the exhibit, you might even be photobombed by one. They are EVERYWHERE!!! Try and stay out of their way but take as many pics as you want; They don’t charge.
13. DO NOT get drunk before the Machu Picchu tour. That is all.
Well, I guess I’ll throw out that bottle of Pisco I was going to pack for the trail. (Kidding. I would literally die.) I hope y’all found this as helpful as I did! If you’re looking for other hiking adventures in the area, check this guide on climbing Huayna Picchu in Peru and other things to do in Peru besides visiting Machu Picchu.
Psst: Looking for more tips for traveling in Peru? Check out some of our other posts, or click here to view all of our posts about Peru.
- 40 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Peru
- Hiking Laguna 69 in Huaraz, Peru: Everything You Need to Know
- The Kennedy Park Cats: Cat Lover’s Paradise in Lima, Peru
- The Best Third Wave Coffee Shops in Lima, Peru
Let us help prepare you for your trip! We’ll send you a handy printable checklist with our recommendations for what to pack for South America (and a few important things to do before you leave). We’ll also send you some of our favorite tips for traveling in South America. Sign up below.
And if you are looking for even more tour tips during your visit to Peru the amazing guys over at ViaHero will connect you with a local person who will share all their juicy knowledge and help you plan your perfect itinerary. Check it out here.
Do you have any questions about visiting Cusco or Machu Picchu? Ask us your questions in the comments!
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