The famous Inca archaeological site, Machu Picchu, needs no introduction. You’re likely well aware of the magnificence of these ruins in the Sacred Valley in Peru, of the sacred site floating majestically in a lush jungle landscape an impressive 2,430 meters above sea-level. You’ve probably already seen dozens, hundreds, thousands, quadrazilbilimilatillions of Machu Picchu pictures. Maybe you’ve even visited the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage site yourself. Maybe you’ve seen how the site in real life is even more badass than the Machu Picchu pictures.
And if you did visit and you were lucky, you may have even had a similar serendipitous experience to ours, the time we had Machu Picchu (almost) to ourselves.
Yes, Machu Picchu is no secret. But that’s just it—we sometimes take things we hear about all the time for granted.
And here’s the thing. Machu Picchu won’t be around forever. So you’ll want to visit Machu Picchu with your kids while you still can! Machu Picchu may very well be the thing we love so much we love it to death, and you should never wait until something is gone until you fully appreciate it. So go forth and adore all of the Machu Picchu pictures you see from here on out.
Send your love to these spectacular ruins of South America in all their staggering glory. And never, ever ever take anything for granted.
TIPS FOR MACHU PICCHU & HUAYNA PICCHU
- Aim for a clear day! A MUST, as we were floating in the clouds at the top and couldn’t see a lick beneath us. If you must visit in the rain, a durable rain jacket is ESSENTIAL.
- Make sure to wear good shoes! At the peak of the Huayna Picchu mountain at Machu Picchu, Ben and his worn-out shoes had a nasty fall on a sharp and very slippery rock, bringing him a foot from the edge and leaving his hand dripping in blood. We had to wrap his hand in a plastic bag for our return trek down the mountain, until a Good Samaritan, seeing his barbaric wound treatments, kindly offered him bandages. We recommend THESE for women and THESE for men.
- And, on that note, bring some band-aids. Or this travel first aid kit.
- Bring a few bottles of water and some snacks. We like the collapsible canteens from Survivor Filter for water, as they’re virtually weightless, take up no space when empty, and can clip onto just about anything. Read our full review of the Survivor Filter collapsible canteens and water filters.
- Also, wear pants with some stretch (my humiliating story on that matter here). We recommend THESE for women and THESE for men.
In honor of the magnificent historical site, we’ve compiled some of our own Machu Picchu pictures to share with you (to remind you just how badass the dang thing really is).
These were all taken on our GoPro and Canon Rebel, but we have since upgraded to the Canon 80D and are in love with it. Make sure to check out our essential cameras for every traveler guide for more info.
We’ll start our compilation of Machu Picchu pictures with a cheesy kiss picture…
Because it’s impossible to not want to kiss someone when you see something like this, a must-see on any Peru itinerary!
You’re constantly discovering little pockets of stunning beauty everywhere you look
New angles to see the mountain, Huayna Picchu, that provides the backdrop for the ruins
A mountain floating so high in the sky, it might be covered in fog when you reach the top
Even at the ruins, the fog of the rainy season dramatizes the site further
And it’s impossible to describe the elation you’d feel when that fog started to lift and you can begin to see the glorious ruins…
You might just throw your arms up in joy!
And lose yourself exploring every pathway
Relishing in the lush greenery of the scene
Looking out at the natural landscape surrounding you
Taking tons of Machu Picchu pictures with yourself to prove you went there, of course
You’ll rush past the grazing llamas with joy to climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu, even in the rain
And be glad you survived the climb down Huayna Picchu with its slippery steps
Knowing that it was fully worth it, all so you could go to Watchman’s Hut and get the iconic view like all the Machu Picchu pictures you’ve always seen
So there you have it. Our Machu Picchu pictures in all their glory, small tokens of appreciation for the magnificent Inca beauty in Peru. And yes, maybe Machu Picchu pictures pale in comparison to the real thing—but I still think we can get a lot of love for them! Want to know a little secret? When we took most of these pictures, Ben had a bloody hand, and I was wearing pants that had ripped right down the middle….but you know, rock ‘n’ roam!
And now that you’ve had a healthy helping of Machu Picchu, go ahead and check out these incredible alternatives to Machu Picchu!
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What’s your favorite of the Machu Picchu pictures?
Let us know in a comment below!