Machu Picchu Flights and Travel Guide

Machu Picchu, an everlasting symbol of the Incan Empire, is a treasured relic and source of national pride in Peru. Constructed in the 15th century, the former site of Incan Rulers escaped the conquering throes of the Spanish forces even when the Incan Empire fell to European colonialism. Machu Picchu was an afterthought in worldview until American historian Hiram Bingham “re-discovered” the ruins in 1911. 

Bingham wrote about his travels in “Lost City of the Incas: The Story of Machu Picchu and Its Builders”, and Machu Picchu's presence is felt in passages throughout the canon of Latin American literature, as well. Pablo Neruda and Ernesto “Che” Guevara have both penned odes to the Incans and their mind-blowing structures in poems and autobiographical accounts. 

Included as a “Seven Wonders” of the Modern World by historians, archaeologists and travel writers, and named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Machu Picchu flights continue to draw curious onlookers from around the world who are eager to step in the footsteps of the Incas for breathtaking views of the Urabamba Valley.

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Machu Picchu Climate

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When to Fly to Machu Picchu

Whether you’re joining the ambitious backpackers eager to reach the summit during the dry season or you’re braving the chilly rains in exchange for a seat on a cheap flight to Machu Picchu, there’s no wrong time to travel to Peru’s most sought after attraction. 

Peak Season: 

The dry season is the busiest travel time in Machu Picchu, so flights to Machu Picchu should be made months in advance in order to secure a seat. 

Off-peak Season: 

Tourists tend to avoid the Inca Trail between the months of November and March due to the inclement weather, making cheap flights to Machu Picchu widely available thanks to the lull in tourism.

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Getting Around Machu Picchu

Once your flight to Machu Picchu lands in Cuzco, take a taxi or hop on the colectivo, or bus, which will take you to the center of town. Machu Picchu is 50 miles away from Cuzco. Arrive at your final destination by way of train to Aguas Calientes, where you can then travel by buses, which depart hourly between 5:30 am and 5:30 pm. When it comes to actually hiking the Inca Trail, there are two trails that can be taken and both require reservations with officially sanctioned trek guides.

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Machu Picchu Insider Information

• Machu Picchu, the nearly 600 year-old Incan ruins of the Urabamba Valley, is the driving force behind Peruvian tourism as the feet of hundreds of thousands of visitors traverse its steep trails each year. Machu Picchu is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and concerns regarding the wear and tear of the ruins have been raised and have initiated laws creating a no fly zone over the area and stipulating strict codes when it comes to building hotels and bridges that could affect the well-being of the structure. 
• Take a detour after your flight to Machu Picchu lands and explore Cuzco as soon as you clear customs. Historically celebrated as the capital of the Incan Empire, Cuzco is home to Coricancha, the Incan temple to Inti, the Sun God, and Inca Wasi, which at over 13,000 is the Incan ruin with the highest elevation. 
• Looking for something to watch while you’re packing for your flight to Machu Picchu? Rent “The Motorcycle Diaries” –the major motion picture adaptation of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s diary from his epic journey through Latin America. Machu Picchu is prominently featured in the film and was a life-changing point of inspiration for Guevara, and Gael García Bernal excellently portrays this as the man whose face would later become a symbol for revolution and Latin American pride. 
• Lima, the Peruvian capital, is most likely where the first leg of your flight to Machu Picchu will land. Spend a day or two before your return Machu Picchu flight exploring Lima’s crowded streets, which are home to treasure-trove museums and gorgeous 18th century churches.

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Machu Picchu Airports

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