Maps of Machu Picchu: location, routes and more
Machu Picchu is located in the Andes Mountains of South America. More specifically in the department of Cusco in Peru. To get there you must travel by plane or bus from the city of Lima. Know the routes and maps to reach the ‘Lost City of the Incas’.
- Where is Machu Picchu?
- Routes to get to Machu Picchu
- Hiking trails in Machu Picchu
- Map of the Machu Picchu Site
Machu Picchu
Where is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is located in the eastern part of the Andes Mountains of Peru. It is located at 2,430 masl It belongs to the Cusco region, Urubamba province and Aguas Calientes district.
Machu Picchu: Map in South America
Machu Picchu is the first tourist destination in South America. This famous Inca archaeological site is in the northwestern part of the continent.
Machu Picchu location in South America
Machu Picchu: Map in Peru
Machu Picchu belongs to Peru. The ‘Inca City’ is located in the south of the country, in the eastern part of the Peruvian Andes. At its feet is the Vilcanota river. On its peaks, there are the Huayna Picchu, Putucusi, Salkantay and Machu Picchu mountains.
Location of Machu Picchu in Peru
Routes to get to Machu Picchu
To get to Machu Picchu from anywhere in the world, you must first take a flight to Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru.
How to get from Lima to Machu Picchu?
Once in the city of Lima, the visitor can travel by plane or bus to the city of Cusco. Lima is 503 kilometers away from Machu Picchu (by plane).
- The trip by plane from Lima to Cusco lasts approximately 1 hour.
- The trip by bus from Lima to Cusco lasts approximately 20 hours.
The Alejandro Velasco Astete airport in Cusco does not receive international flights.
Map from Lima to Machu Picchu
How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
Once in the city of Cusco, the visitor is 74 kilometers from Machu Picchu. To get to the Inca City, you must choose one of the 3 ways to travel :
- On a direct trip by bus and train to Machu Picchu through Aguas Calientes (duration 4 hours).
- On an alternative trip by bus and train (or on foot) to Machu Picchu via the ‘Hydroelectric’ route (duration 8 or 9 hours).
- On the hiking tour known as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu by the Puerta del Sol (duration 4 days and 3 nights).
Location of Machu Picchu in Cusco
How to get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?
Most tourists choose to get to Machu Picchu by direct train travel. This trip ends in the town of Aguas Calientes. From there, the tourist is only 9 kilometers from Machu Picchu.
You can reach Machu Picchu in 2 ways:
- In an ascent on foot by the mountain where the Inca City is located (duration 2 hours).
- By bus through the road ‘Hiram Bingham’ (duration 30 minutes).
Location of Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes
Hiking trails in Machu Picchu
The most usual way to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco is with a train trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. However, there are also hiking trails to get there. The most famous adventures are: the Inca Trail and the Salkantay.
Map of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a 4-day and 3-night hiking trail. It is recognized as one of the 5 best hiking trails in the world.
- Total distance: 40 kilometers.
- Difficulty: Moderate – medium.
- Walking days: 4 days and 3 nights.
- Places to visit: Inca roads, Sayacmarca, Winawayna, Runkuraway, Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail is the most adventurous way to get to Machu Picchu. Tours must be booked up to 6 months before.
Map of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Map of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
The hike through the Salkantay is a hiking route to Machu Picchu, an alternative to the Inca Trail. It crosses landscapes of great height like the passage by the abra ‘Salkantay’. After 5 days and 4 nights, tourists arrive at the Inca City.
- Total distance: 70 kilometers.
- Difficulty: Moderate – high.
- Walking days: 5 days and 4 nights.
- Places to visit: Laguna Humantay, Abra Salkantay, Machu Picchu.
Map of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Map of the Machu Picchu Site
Machu Picchu was an urban and religious Inca center. It was built in the middle of 1450 by orders of the Inca Pachacutec. After being abandoned, it was made known to the world by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
In 2007, Machu Picchu was recognized as one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Today, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world.
Machu Picchu Site Map
- Machu Picchu is divided into 2 sectors: agrarian zone and urban area.
- Its stone buildings have such perfection that they remain intact after almost 6 centuries.
- Among its most important monuments include: the Sun Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, etc.
- One of its main attractions is the Huayna Picchu mountain. Climbing to the top of this summit is a very popular extreme adventure.
Map of altitudes Machu Picchu
By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, November 27, 2021