Machu Picchu Mistakes

Booking in the wrong order

Buying a train or a hotel first and a ticket second is the classic error. The entry quota is the scarcest item, so it needs to be secured before anything that depends on it. A refundable hotel booking is a safer first step than a non-refundable train fare while the ticket is still uncertain.

The same logic applies to flights. Do not buy a non-changeable international ticket that fixes your arrival in Cusco until you have checked that tickets exist for the dates you want. In the dry season the best entry windows and the climbs can be gone months ahead, and moving your whole holiday by a week is a poor trade. See tickets to understand how far ahead to look and which choices must be made at purchase.

Details that do not match

Ticket holders are checked against their travel documents. A misspelt surname, a different passport number or a ticket bought under a nickname can cause refusal at the gate. The same goes for the date and the entry window: a train that arrives late is not an excuse the staff can bend. Check each field when you pay, and photograph the confirmation.

If you renew your passport between booking and travelling, tell the seller at once, because the number on the ticket will no longer match. Couples and families often book in a hurry and swap surnames or middle names, so read the names aloud to each other before confirming. The effort of correcting a mistake in advance is small; at the entrance there is almost nothing the staff can do.

Underestimating the schedule

A day that looks easy on paper has many dependencies: the road transfer, the train, the queue for the bus, the entrance, and the way back. A single delay can compress the whole day. Avoid planning a flight on the same evening, avoid tight connections, and never schedule an important appointment the next morning.

Altitude adds to this. A day that starts in Cusco at 3,400 m and ends at the ruins, which are lower, may feel easy, but sleeping badly after a late night makes the following day heavier than expected. If your plan has a long bus or flight afterwards, leave a buffer day and read how many days to allow.

Check each leg of the journey against the one before it, and ask what happens if it runs an hour late.

Bringing the wrong things

Large backpacks, tripod-style camera supports, food and certain items are restricted inside the site, so a heavy bag can mean a trip to the left-luggage point or being turned away. Wet-weather clothing is more useful than most people expect, and sun protection matters on clear days. For the sensible kit, see what to bring, and for the restrictions, the rules.

A smaller mistake is carrying too little water or snacks for the long queue and the walk up, since what you can take inside is limited. Plan to eat and drink before you enter and on your way out.

Leave anything bulky at your hotel and enter with only what you need for a few hours.

Ignoring the circuit and the guide rule

The route through the site is one-way and fixed by the ticket. Wandering off it, re-entering through a gate you have already used or trying to sit on walls can lead to a warning from the guards. Many visitors also assume they can wander alone, when a guide is generally required. Pick the circuit that includes the viewpoints you most want to see before you buy.

Finally, do not treat the site as only a photo stop. Give yourself some time to stand still and look, because the setting is what most people remember. A guide who is chosen in advance usually gives a better visit than the first person who offers at the gate.

Whatever the route, treat the guards' instructions as final, since arguing rarely helps.

Treating the altitude and weather lightly

Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco, so people sometimes assume altitude is no issue on the trip. The trouble comes from the days before, when a rushed arrival from sea level can leave you tired and headachy at the start of the climb. Read the notes on altitude and, if you are walking up one of the mountains, give yourself a few days in the region first.

The weather is the other underrated variable. Mist can hide the view and rain can make steps slippery, so do not cancel your plan because of a forecast, and do not leave the poncho at the hotel. A fixed mood about the perfect photograph is the quickest way to spoil a good visit; see weather to understand what normally happens.

Travelling in the wrong style

Some visitors rush the whole of Peru into a week and arrive at Machu Picchu exhausted. Others choose a multi-day trek without the fitness or the time to acclimatise. A better fit between your style and the route avoids most disappointment. If you are unsure, first-timer mistakes shows the wider patterns that spoil trips across the country, and the planner narrows down the options for the site itself.

Whatever your plan, reconfirm your bookings with the seller and your hotel a few days before you travel.

Be honest about what you enjoy, because that matters more than copying someone else's itinerary.

Check your plan against your own energy, not against a list.