Common Mistakes Travelers Make in Machu Picchu

James Bustamante( Travel Writer )

James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on November 2, 2023 by James Bustamante

Picture yourself getting ready to visit Machu Picchu. You spend weeks researching the perfect itinerary and finally put together the ideal Peru tour package for yourself. You proceed to pack what you think is necessary to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, this includes the right footwear, the perfect shades and the right trekking pants. You begin the trek and after the first 12 hours, you notice that your skin is a little red because you forgot to pack sunblock. After four days of hiking under the highland sun you look like a Peruvian Rocoto hot pepper.

These things can happen. We decided to give a brief list of common mistakes travelers make in Machu Picchu (or getting there). So make sure you make an outline to plan ahead on what is needed for a successful trip to the Inca citadel

You Forgot Your Passport

Rule #1 of going anywhere in Cusco: make sure you bring a passport with you everywhere you go, especially when going to Machu Picchu.

The only way to get in is to show your entrance ticket and your updated passport at the gate. Notice I said updated, as you need to make sure your passport has more than 6 months before it expires, otherwise, you won’t be let in.

This is non-negotiable, and you will be denied entry. Also, make sure that your entrance ticket information matches your actual passport, as they will not let you enter otherwise.

If your passport expires between the day you booked your trip and the trip itself, bring both the old and new ones with you.

You Forgot to use the Bathroom

Another very important point: don’t forget to go to the bathroom while you’re in Aguas Calientes or even right outside of Machu Picchu.

There are no bathrooms within Machu Picchu itself. And the last thing you want to do is leave the complex too quickly. You’ll miss out on your tour as well as the opportunity to take fantastic pictures. The guards are the complex are very strict about the rules and will not let you back in after you’ve already left Machu Picchu.

There have been case in the past where travelers tried to go to use the ruins as a restroom. This is not just frowned upon but can lead to some jail time in Peru. This leads me to my next point.

Follow The Laws of The Land

This should probably go without saying, but the entry rules also ban yelling or making a loud scene, climbing or spraying graffiti on the walls, eating, littering, running, and taking indicent photos of yourself. Yes really, people have made it a point in the past to take naked pictures in Machu Picchu.

This is an ancient, sacred monument (and a religious sanctuary for some), so it’s incredibly important to show respect.

And yeah, if you’re caught nude, you will be handed over to Peruvian authorities and likely given a large fine or worse, a few nights in a prison in Cusco.

You Didn’t Reserve Machu Picchu Tours or Accommodations.

Not everyone has the foresight to see if getting permits to Machu Picchu is doable. We’ve had countless people call the agency asking for Machu Picchu permits for the same day! There are travelers who think that going to the Inca citadel is an easy task and that they can just wing it.

Everything in Cusco related to tourism is highly regulated and must be purchased/reserved well in advance This includes making your Machu Picchu reservations or booking the Inca trail (sometimes months in advance) as example. Basically, if you want to do anything that involves MAchu Picchu, make sure to have all the necessary bookings made at least 60 days in advance. If it is a last minute idea to travel to Machu Picchu, male sure to contact a travel agency to check for availability.

The classic Inca Trail is also a great example of this. Out of these 500 permits, almost 100 go to guides, porters, and trekking staff, while the other 400 are registered to travelers. That might sound like a like of permits for a single day but it’s really not. There is a permanent shortage of permits throughout the year.

Due to the incredibly high demand for the Classic 4 Day Inca trail, most people have to reserve spots from 5 to 8 months in advance.

This is also true for accommodations in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. Both locations have become incredibly popular tourist destination, and it is necessary to stay in at least one of these destinations if you want to see Machu Picchu. Most hotels get completely booked months in advance. It’s definitely something to look out for.

Remember that structured Machu Picchu Group Tours are the most affordable way to learn absolutely everything about the complex.

You Assumed You Would Not Need a Guide in Machu Picchu

It’s easy to bask in the sheer grandeur and majestic surroundings of Machu Picchu.

But to get beneath the surface, you need a guide. Sure, you can do a bit of your own research but the entire essence, feeling, and history of this Inca city is lost without an expert voice.

As part of our services, all guides must be certified by the Ministry of Tourism and provide at least five years of professional experience. Not to mention that you are only allowed in Machu Picchu accompanied by a guide. So make sure to get a professional and experience person to teach you about the UNESCO world heritage site.

Packing Too Much For One Day

Many people decide to visit Machu Picchu and do everything in a day, this includes all shuttles, trains, and tours in the span of what really boils down to 8 or 9 hours.

That’s a lot to fit in, and many things can happen along the way; trains can break down, arrive at Huayna Picchu too late, or lose out on the chance of having a certified tour guide.

We always advise staying overnight in Aguas Calientes so that you can take in the full Machu Picchu experience without having to hurry.

This will also give you enough time to have your 2-hour guided tour as well as reach the Huayna Picchu entrance as it only has two schedules, one at 7 a.m. and then again at 10 a.m.

As such, following this advice, you’ll get the incredible reward of being one of the first people to enter the site.  Of course, if you simply can’t go early, you can also go in the afternoon. 

Traveler’s Tip: The ruins close at 5 p.m., so you’ll also encounter fewer crowds if you explore in the late afternoon.

Avoiding The Machu Picchu Wet Season

Many travelers avoid Machu Picchu in February because the famous Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. But it’s actually a great time to visit.

Not only are there fewer visitors, but you can still access the ruins via alternative trekking routes—such as the Salkantay or the Lares—which can be just as rewarding as the Inca.

Journey Machu Picchu offers both as they wind over towering green mountainsides.

These routes provide ever-changing landscapes with massive granite columns, shimmering lagoons, and the glaciers along the way. Don’t expect to see any other foreigners, either.

In February, you’ll be the only one passing local Quechua women with babies strapped to their backs in rainbow-hued papooses and men whistling and chirping as they chase llamas over the horizon.

Being Tempted by The Pisco (And Succumbing)

Maybe it’s unnecessary to warn against heavy drinking the night before visiting one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, but Peru’s national drink is no laughing matter.

Whipped with egg white and lemon juice, the eye-popping sweet pisco sour is so addictive that one innocent sip can easily lead to a whole night of drinking.

The result: a hangover accentuated by the high-altitude Machu Picchu hike (8,000 feet), definitely not how you should hike to Machu Picchu.

Something you definitely should do is have fun, take as many pictures as you can, and take in the beauty of Machu Picchu.

If you want to know anything more about Peru, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, check out the rest of our blog posts at Peru Travel Blog, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for our special packages

Frequently Asked Questions About Mistakes Travelers’ Make in Machu Picchu