Machu Picchu, recognized as one of Peru’s greatest tourist attractions, receives more than one million visitors each year. To ensure an orderly and sustainable experience, entry to the citadel is organized into three specific circuits: Panoramic, Classic, and Royal, each with a limited number of participants per day. At LimaTours, we recommend the best option among these routes, which together comprise ten different paths.
Graphic of the Three Circuits of Machu Picchu.
Circuit 1: Panoramic Machu Picchu
The first circuit offers the best views of the Wonder of the World, making it an ideal option for those seeking to capture the most impressive photographs of the Inca citadel. All routes within this circuit include ascending to the highest part of the site, the emblematic Upper Platform, which provides a clear view of the archaeological complex and the Vilcanota River.
There are 4 routes within this circuit:
| Upper Platform | Machu Picchu Mountain | Intipunku or Sun Gate | Inca Bridge | |
| Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain Route | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Route 1-B: Upper Terrace Route | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Route 1-C: Intipunku Gate Route* | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ | ✘ |
| Route 1-D: Inca Bridge Route* | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ | ✓ |
*Routes 1-C and 1-D are available only during the high season.
Circuit 2: Classic Machu Picchu
The second circuit is named as such because it allows visitors to take the classic photograph of Machu Picchu, while also visiting the urban area, including the Quarry sector, the viewpoint towards the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza, the Sacred Rock, and the Water Mirrors.
The circuit consists of 2 routes:
| Quarry sector | Temple of the Sun viewpoint | Sacred Plaza | Sacred Rock | Water Mirrors | Lower platform | Upper platform | |
| Route 2-A: Designed Route | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ |
| Route 2-B: Lower Terrace Route | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ |
Circuit 3: Royal Machu Picchu
This circuit covers the most important and sacred temples of the Inca royalty. The route includes the Agricultural Terracing System, the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, the Pisonay Area, the Eastern Qolqas, the Three-Portals Enclosure, and the Temple of the Condor.
It is divided into 4 routes:
| Agricultural Terracing System | Temple of the Sun | Inca’s House | Pisonay Area | Eastern Qolqas | Three-Portals Enclosure | Temple of the Condor | Waynapicchu Mountain | Great Cave | Huchuypicchu | |
| Route 3-A: Waynapicchu Mountain Route |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Route 3-B: Designed Route | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Route 3-C: Great Cave Route* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✓ | ✘ |
| Route 3-D: Huchuypicchu Route* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✘ | ✘ | ✓ |
*Routes 3-C and 3-D are available only during the high season.
Which Route or Circuit to Choose in Machu Picchu?
The best route or circuit to visit within the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu will depend on the photographs one wishes to capture, the distance one prefers to walk, and the attractions of greatest interest. Ultimately, all of them allow visitors to appreciate the grandeur of the Andean landscape, ensuring a balanced experience of history, nature, and mysticism.
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