There are millions of photos of Machu Picchu on the internet. There are also hundreds of virtual tours of the Inca city. But if you want to be thrilled by one of the most spectacular places on the planet, you have to visit Machu Picchu in person. The archaeological sanctuary has more than 150 main structures, including homes, temples, portals, representations of mountains, and much more. Find out how to visit all the historic buildings of Machu Picchu.

• Sacred Square
• Main Temple
• Royal tomb
• The Intihuatana
• Temple of the Sun
• Temple of the 3 Windows
• Temple of the Condor
• Huayna Picchu Mountain
• Temple of the Moon
• Machu Picchu Mountain
• Huchuy Picchu Mountain
• The Sacred Rock
• The Royal Residence
• The Inti Punku
• The Secret Door
• The Inca Bridge
• The Water Mirrors
• The Guardian’s House
• Photo gallery

Visitor at the LLaqta of Machu Picchu

How long does it take to explore Machu Picchu?
There are millions of photos of Machu Picchu on the internet. There are also hundreds of virtual tours of the Inca city. However, according to tourists who have visited, Machu Picchu’s more than 150 structures should be seen in person. Touring Machu Picchu, via any of the three circuits, takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, although if your ticket includes an extra hike to one of its distant structures, it can extend up to 6 hours.

Sacred Square

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)
• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)
• Machu Picchu Designed Royalty or Lower Temples (Route 3B)
• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon (Route 3C)
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

Main Temple

The passage of time, the climate, and the multiple earthquakes that the area has suffered have caused serious damage to the central wall of the main Temple.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)

Main Temple of Machu Picchu

Royal tomb

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)
• Machu Picchu Designed Royalty or Lower Temples (Route 3B)
• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon (Route 3C)
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

The Intihuatana

The structure is located at a central point, where the surrounding sacred mountains align with the cardinal directions. Along with its ritualistic function, this contributed to its becoming a special center of great energy.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Today it is not possible to visit the Intihuatana for its conservation.

What are your visiting hours?

• There are no visiting hours.

View of the Intihuatana of Machu Picchu

Temple of the Sun

One of the rooms in the Temple of the Sun overlooks an enclosure with a small drain. There’s also a kind of corral that may have been used for camelids, and it also has a private terrace with views of the entire site.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)

Temple of the 3 Windows

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)

Temple of the Condor

Andean culture believes that condors represent mountain deities. Therefore, they built this enclosure, which combines stone walls and natural rocks to create the shape of a condor.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)
• Machu Picchu Designed Royalty or Lower Temples (Route 3B)
• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon (Route 3C)
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

What are your visiting hours?

• From 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

Temple of the Condor at Machu Picchu

Huayna Picchu Mountain

• Huayna Picchu is one of the most impressive sites in Machu Picchu. The climb to its summit is one of the most incredible short hikes in the world.
• Climbing this mountain is an adrenaline-filled adventure as its trails are built alongside cliffs.
• From its summit, you can see the archaeological site in all its splendor, as well as having a dreamy resting place.
• Throughout the hike, you’ll see more of the vegetation surrounding Machu Picchu. It’s believed this was the most important mountain in the area for the Incas.
• The entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain is one of the most popular, so you should reserve it two or three months in advance.
• The minimum age to enter this route is 12 years old, as it involves a lot of effort.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Entry at 7:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Entry at 9:00 a.m.

Temple of the Moon

• The Temple of the Moon is built inside a natural cave and is one of the most impressive structures in Machu Picchu.
• The Incas considered caves to be sacred places, as they believed that people came from the mountains through the caverns and that souls themselves returned there after death.
• It is located on the northern slope of Huayna Picchu mountain and also has some of the finest stonework.
• This cave got its name because at night the moonlight fills this place.
• The Temple of the Moon, also known as the Great Cavern, consists of two natural caverns and other hand-carved stone structures.
• Due to the presence of an altar-shaped rock, it is believed that the Temple of the Moon served as a place of sacrifice and rituals.
• The Temple of the Moon or Great Cave can only be visited during the high season, from June 19 to November 2.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon (Route 3C)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Entry at 7:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Entry at 8:00 a.m.

Machu Picchu Mountain

Thanks to this mountain, the archaeological site acquired the name Machu Picchu.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Mountain (Route 1A)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Entry at 6:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Entry at 8:00 a.m.

View of the citadel of Machu Picchu from the road to Machu Picchu Mountain

Huchuy Picchu Mountain

• Machu Picchu offers beautiful panoramic views of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Although the hike is not particularly difficult, entry is only permitted to persons over 12 years of age.
• The entrance to Huayna Picchu is via the same trail that leads to Huayna Picchu. You’ll see a detour leading to this incredible site, which you must climb via stone steps.
• Huchuy Picchu mountain can only be visited during the high season, from June 19 to November 2.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Entry at 9:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Entry at 11:00 a.m.

The Sacred Rock

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)
• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)
• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon (Route 3C)
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

The Royal Residence

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A)
• Machu Picchu Designed Royalty or Lower Temple (Route 3B)
• Machu Picchu + Great Cavern (Route 3C)
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route)

The Inti Punku

The Inti Punku hike is only available during the high season, from June 19 to November 2.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Entrance to the Inca Trail
• Machu Picchu + Inti Punku (Route 1C)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Starting at 8:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Starting at 9:00 a.m.
• Group 3: Starting at 10:00 a.m.
• Group 4: Starting at 11:00 a.m.

Intipunku (Sun Gate) of Machu Picchu

The Secret Door

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)

The Inca Bridge

• The Inca bridge is an enigmatic construction on the slopes of a mountain in Machu Picchu.
• The route follows some gentle steps and stretches close to chasms, giving you a very different perspective of the Inca site.
• It was an alternative exit from the Inca citadel, which also served as a defense, since part of the bridge is made of wood and can be removed.
• Nowadays you can only see it from a short distance, since entering via that path is very dangerous.
• As you look at the bridge, you’ll see how the path disappears into the undergrowth surrounding the area.
• The route to the Inca Bridge is only available during the high season, from June 19 to November 2.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge (Route 1D)

What are your visiting hours?

• Group 1: Starting at 8:00 a.m.
• Group 2: Starting at 9:00 a.m.
• Group 3: Starting at 10:00 a.m.
• Group 4: Starting at 11:00 a.m.

Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu

The Water Mirrors

• It is a room in the residential area that has two stone bowls carved into the floor.
• When these stories are filled with water, they reflect the sky, along with the moon and the stars, two very important gods within their worldview.
• It is also believed that it may have been related to astronomical and ritual observations linked to the agricultural and religious calendar.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu Classic Designed (Route 2A)
• Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace (Route 2B)

What are your visiting hours?

• From 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

The Guardian’s House

• Built in the upper area of Machu Picchu, it serves as a surveillance tower for the entire Inca citadel.
• The guardian’s house is in a strategic position, being the only one on the upper terrace of Machu Picchu.
• The surrounding area also served as a place of rest and recreation thanks to its large size.

What ticket do I need to visit it?

• Machu Picchu + Mountain (Route 1A)
• Machu Picchu Upper Terrace (Route 1B)
• Machu Picchu + Inti Punku (Route 1C)
• Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge (Route 1D)

What are your visiting hours?

• From 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.

Photo gallery

Gallery of Machu Picchu

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Min J.

“Wonder of the World“

“If you travel to Peru it is impossible to miss Machu Picchu. Tickets must be purchased in advance if you want to travel to this destination, as tickets sell out very quickly; your hotel and train tickets must also be booked in advance, and it is not just any destination, it is Machu Picchu.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 28, 2025