Our guides – Tour Machupicchu
- Tourist guide service in Machu Picchu
- Tourist circuits with a professional guide
- Our tour guides
- Gallery of images
- Why choose our tour guides?
- Questions and answers about our tour guides
Is it mandatory to visit Machu Picchu with a tour guide?
According to the rules of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, the visit to Machu Picchu is mandatory for all visitors, although, in practice, the visit can be made without one. However, since the archaeological site does not have informative panels, it is highly recommended to visit the Inca city in the company of a professional guide. The guide is in charge of completing the corresponding circuit, as well as protecting the visitor and the Inca constructions. The guide offers an informative, pleasant, and unforgettable visit!
Tourist guide service in Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a tourist attraction that receives about 1.5 million tourists a year.
To protect the Inca citadel from the large number of visitors, tourist circuits were created, as well as strict visiting hours. To comply with these rules, it was established that the visit to Machu Picchu must be accompanied by a professional tour guide.
The tour guide service in Machu Picchu is by different routes: circuit 1 (full route half), circuit 2 (full route), circuit 3 (lower route half), and circuit 4 (lower route full).
In addition, the guide can accompany the visitor through the different optional trekking routes, such as the Huayna Picchu mountain route, the Machupicchu mountain route, or the Huchuy Picchu mountain route.
The tour guide service offers a safe, enjoyable, and informative route. The guides are trained in first aid rescue. In addition, they have extensive experience in the best spots to get the dream photo in the Inca citadel.
Tourist circuits with a professional guide
These are the circuits that you can do in Machu Picchu and the company of a professional tour guide:
- Archaeological site tours:
- Circuit 1 – Tourist circuit of the complete route that includes the classic postcard photo, as well as the visit to some of the most important Inca constructions, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors, the water fountains and more. The guided tour takes approximately 2 hours.
- Circuit 2 – Tourist circuit of the complete route that also includes the classic postcard photo (in the sector of the House of the Guardian), as well as the visit to some of the most important Inca buildings, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors, the water fountains and more. The guided tour takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Circuit 3 – Tourist circuit of partial route through the lower part that does not include the classic postcard photo from the Guardian’s House, but it does include a beautiful photo from the lower part. It includes visits to important Inca constructions such as the House of the Inca, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, and more.
- Circuit 4 – Tourist circuit of partial route by the lower part that does not include the classic postcard photo from the House of the Guardian, but, on the other hand, it does offer a beautiful postcard from the lower part (agricultural sector). It includes visits to Inca buildings, such as the House of the Inca, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, and more.
- Optional tours in the mountains:
- Hiking route to Huchuy Picchu mountain – Hiking route to the top of Huchuy Picchu mountain (2,497 masl). The hike is simple because you ascend, by stone steps made by the Incas, almost 1 kilometer. From the top, you have a complete view of the archaeological site. The paths are steep but suitable for visitors of all ages. The tour guide service is optional.
- Hiking route to Huayna Picchu mountain – Hiking route to the top of Huayna Picchu mountain (2,693 meters above sea level). The hike is challenging because it ascends, through stone stairs made by the Incas, 2 kilometers. From the top, you have a complete view of the archaeological site and the beautiful geography that surrounds it. The entrance is suitable for visitors over 12 years old. The tour guide service is optional.
- Trekking route to Machu Picchu mountain – Trekking route to the top of Machu Picchu mountain (3,082 masl). The hike is the most demanding in Machu Picchu because it goes through trails and stone staircases in an ascending way, up to the top after a little more than 2 kilometers. At the top, you have the highest view of the archaeological site and the immense Andean geography that surrounds it. The entrance is suitable for visitors of all ages. The tour guide service is optional.
Our tour guides
- Adner – “Hello, I am Adner, a professional in tourism with more than 10 years of experience in Machu Picchu. I like to enjoy a pleasant and well-informed trip. I am passionate about photography and hiking. I believe that Machu Picchu is a place full of energy where one can always start again. I am fluent in Spanish and English”.
- Edwin – “Hi, I’m Edwin, a professional guide who loves my job very much. I have a lot of knowledge of the Inca sites of Cusco, such as the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and, of course, Machu Picchu, a unique place in the world. I love history, researching more and more, and hiking outdoors. I am fluent in Spanish, English, and Quechua.”.
- Coco – “Hi I’m Jorge, but you can call me Coco, I have a lot of experience in each of the stone sites in Machu Picchu. I love to make pleasant visits but full of information. I have been to Machu Picchu thousands of times and I know its secrets. I am fluent in Spanish and English.”.
- Luis – “Hello, I am Luis, a tourism professional with a lot of experience in all the tourist attractions of Cusco. My priority is that the tourist gets the real information, as well as the best pictures in each of the places I visit. Of course, Machu Picchu is one of my favorite places. Undoubtedly, it is a site that must be visited at least once in a lifetime. I am fluent in Spanish and English”.
- Fredy – “Hello, my name is Fredy and I have more than 15 years of experience as a professional guide in all the corners of my homeland Cusco. I am passionate about my culture because, besides being fluent in Spanish and English, I know Quechua, the language of the Incas. I love outdoor hikes, the more challenging the better. I have trekked Machu Picchu on foot hundreds of times.”.
Gallery of images
Why choose our tour guides?
| Our guides | Other guides | |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | All our guides have more than 10 years of experience in Machu Picchu. | Without experience |
| Languages | Spanish (native) and English (advanced) | Spanish only |
| Culture | All guides are from Cusco and have knowledge of Quechua (the language of the Incas) | Guides to Cusco or other cities |
| Treks | Guides between 30 to 40 years old with experience and energy for short and long trekking routes in Machu Picchu | No trekking experience |
| Photography | Guides with extensive experience in Machu Picchu and points to get the best pictures of the place. | No experience in photography |
| First aid | Guides trained in first aid care. All of them have an emergency backpack during trekking routes | No first aid training |
| Additional training | Guides with additional courses in environmental care and protection of the flora and fauna surrounding Machu Picchu | No additional training |
Questions and answers about our tour guides
How long does the tour of Machu Picchu with a tour guide take?
The tour of Machu Picchu with a tour guide takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, if you take Circuit 2, the most recommended and complete in the archaeological site.
Is it mandatory to visit Machu Picchu with a tour guide?
The rules of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture state that it is mandatory to visit Machu Picchu with a tourist guide. However, in practice, a tourist without a guide can enter the Inca citadel.
Why is it advisable to visit Machu Picchu with a tour guide?
Machu Picchu does not have information panels. There are signs about the route to follow (circuits 1, 2, 3, or 4). However, there are no informative notes about the rules and prohibitions that must be followed in Machu Picchu. Therefore, to protect the visitor and the Inca city of Machu Picchu, as well as to offer the best possible experience, it is highly recommended to visit Machu Picchu with a professional tour guide.
Are the guides in Machu Picchu certified?
Yes, all the tour guides of ‘Tour Machu Picchu’ are certified professionals with extensive experience in Machu Picchu.
What is the best circuit to do in Machu Picchu with a tour guide?
Each circuit is set up to offer a different experience in Machu Picchu. However, circuit 2 is the most complete, offering the visit to the sector of the Guardian’s House (classic postcard photo), as well as the main Inca constructions.
Is it mandatory to hire a guide to tour the Huayna Picchu mountain?
No, the visit to the Huayna Picchu mountain in the company of a tour guide is optional. Most tourists choose to hike these mountains without a guide.
Is it necessary to get a tour guide to visit Machu Picchu Mountain?
No, the visit to Machu Picchu Mountain in the company of a professional tour guide is optional. Most tourists decide to visit this summit without a guide.
How long does it take to visit Machu Picchu with a tour guide on circuit 4?
The visit to Machu Picchu with a tour guide for circuit 2 (the most chosen by visitors) takes 2 hours 30 minutes approximately. On the other hand, the visit through circuit 4 (lower part of the Inca citadel) takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes in total.
Do the tour guides in Machu Picchu have knowledge of English?
Not all tour guides have an advanced knowledge of English. On the other hand, in ‘Tour Machupicchu’ all the guides have an advanced level of English, as well as extensive experience in visiting Machu Picchu.
Do the tour guides have knowledge in environmental care?
In ‘Tour Machu Picchu’ all the guides are trained in the care of the environment, as well as the diverse flora and fauna that surrounds the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.