This will be a short introduction to the things to do in the Machu Picchu area and an introduction to some of the highlights of Machu Picchu.

Our guides know the stories behind each structure and sector, the whys and wherefores. They are tour guides, and we will let them tell you the story of Machu Picchu in situ.

However, we will try in this introduction to mention the places to go to or look for when visiting Machu Picchu, rather unmissable sites, although it will depend on the time slot of your ticket, knowing that Machu Picchu park is large and has different routes.

Huayna Picchu Mountain

“Machu Picchu is located at 2 400 mts. / 7 900 ft. altitude, built like a Condor’s nest between the two paired peaks” True. Huayna Picchu is one of the peaks and appears on every postcard of Machu Picchu as an incredible backdrop. Huayna Picchu mountain is highly desired by the thousands of tourists who visit Machu Picchu. However, only 400 people can climb, so permits sell out quickly.

If the day permits and the weather is good, the views from Huayna Picchu are tempting. Otherwise, things can get dangerous and disappointing when it rains and clouds cover and uncover the beliefs. The moving fog comes and goes and sometimes covers more than expected. Learn more about Huayna Picchu at Huayna Picchu Mountain.

Machu Picchu Mountain

The second mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain, is located in the southern corner of Machu Picchu. As with Huayna Picchu Mountain, permits are required, so you need an access. The election of Machu Picchu mountain is higher than Huayna Picchu, so again, on a clear day, the panoramic view is one of the best in the world.

On this mountain are the citadel of Machu Picchu, the Huayna Picchu peak, and the Vilcanota River meandering on the valley floor. It is quite an impressive viewpoint. Click on Machu Picchu mountain for more information.

Inti Punku Sun Gate

The sun gate of Machu Picchu is also one of the most desired places when visiting Machu Picchu. Because the Inti punku or sun gate is the place for the first view of Machu Picchu for each Inca trail hiker, other non-Inca trail hikers have an interest in reaching this particular place.

It is not far from Machu Picchu, and getting here from Machu Picchu means experiencing the Inca Trail, yes, for sure. More about Machu Picchu San Gate.

Inti Punku Sun Gate

The sun gate of Machu Picchu is also one of the most desired places when visiting Machu Picchu. Because the Inti punku or sun gate is the place for the first view of Machu Picchu for each of the Inca trail hikers, other non-Inca trail hikers have an interest in getting to this particular place. It is not far from Machu Picchu, and getting here from Machu Picchu means experiencing the Inca Trail, yes, for sure. More about Machu Picchu San Gate.

The viewpoint of the Guardian’s House

Every photo junkie and every amateur photographer has stopped at the lookout point of the guardian’s house to get the best postcard of Machu Picchu. These photographs have gone around the world for marketing purposes of different companies. There is only one building at the site, the guardian’s house or the guard house. Restored with a thatched roof as it is supposed to have been in Inca times, the lookout is the perfect place for the delight of the eyes gazing at the ancient ruins, the settlement once inhabited by the Inca people. Below is the central plaza, which separates the industrial sector from the religious sector and the temple. Everything you see from here is worth a visit to Machu Picchu.

Inca Bridge

The Inca Bridge is one of the free things to do in Machu Picchu; however, visitors seem to have little time to see it and instead skip it. Exploring Machu Picchu can be exhausting for some, as there are countless steps up and down throughout the city. That may be one of the reasons why fewer people make it up here because of fatigue. The other is that visitors also prefer the two mountain peaks mentioned above because the views are unmissable, that’s true.

Going to the Inca bridge from Machu Picchu park is a twenty-five to thirty-minute hike. It usually starts at the Guardian’s House and follows a well-maintained path; however, a way that goes up a steep mountainside. And there, on the cliff, is the Inca bridge from hundreds of years ago; wooden planks for the bridge deck and a significant stone wall act as the bridge abutment, if it makes sense to describe it that way. It is very narrow, and the path beyond the bridge is still discernible, but no restoration work has been carried out. It is too risky. Just look at the photos—more information about the Inca bridge.