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Where is Machu Picchu?
Home » Peru » Machu Picchu Overview and History » Where is Machu Picchu?Located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is between two peaks: Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu ("Old Mountain" and "Young Mountain," respectively). It looks over a valley that has a small village called Aguas Calientes by the villagers though the official name is Machu Picchu Pueblo (Machu Picchu Town). Bring malaria pills, for this is a concern in the subtropical rainforest.
This city sits about 70 miles northwest of Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire before its fall and a tourist site in itself. Day trips can be made from Cuzco to Machu Picchu including some hours worth of travel time. Some find the ensuing press and rush of the crowds and guided tours dissatisfying. Lodging near the ruins or in Aguas Calientes allows for study of Machu Picchu on off hours and at one's leisure, but if you are not interested in the history and merely want to see the buildings, one day might be enough for you.
After a train trip to the area, a visitor can reach Machu Picchu by bus or by a narrow footpath Camino del Inca (Incan Trail) constructed by the Incas. Hiking trails vary from taking 2 to 9 days, though the 2 and 4-day trails are the most popular, and they require good physical condition to manage.
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