Photos to Inspire Your Machu Picchu Trip

Sometimes, you need to let the photos tell the story. 

When writing a recent article on the incredible ruins of Sacsayhuaman by Cusco, I realized that while I’d written much on Machu Picchu ~ I’d never posted a simple gallery of my travels there.  Some of my best photos of this World Wonder were lying idle on my computer, all but forgotten.  In fact, I’d never even seen some of them before!  What a discovery.  So, to get you planning perhaps your own Peruvian adventure, here are some “Photos to Inspire Your Machu Picchu Trip,” taken from two separate trips to Peru….

I JUST found this photo, hidden amongst thousands of photos! The way the sun is barely coming through the clouds to illuminate the ruins & Huaynu Picchu is breathtaking.

The only hotel that’s located directly next to Machu Picchu (up a steep, steep hill!) is the beyond-luxurious Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.

Photos of the Grand Entrance…

The good news if you’re a first-time visitor to Machu Picchu: a lot of the pay-off is located right up front, near the entrance.  This is also where most of the crowds hang out; after that, it starts to disperse a bit.  Since there’s so much walking involved at the ruins, whether you hiked the Inca Trail to reach them or simply traveled by train: this is certainly a welcome relief.  You’ll get some of your best shots right away!

My friend Nina right near the entrance to Machu Picchu.

I took this shot back in 2016, & it’s still one of my favorites.

Climb up a little higher for views like this…

Another classic shot, taken about 11AM ~ after the morning fog cleared…

The same vantage point at sunset gives you an entirely different feel & lighting…

Alpacas at Machu Picchu

Alpacas are a staple at Machu Picchu: getting gorgeous photos of them during your visit the site won’t be too hard.  And unlike at Sacsayhuaman in Cusco, where the alpacas you see are typically owned by female artisans ~ the alpacas at Machu Picchu seem to be roaming wild, a part of the landscape.

This was one of the first shots I ever took at Machu Picchu, right after we entered the site, at about 6:45AM. The mornings are almost always misty at Machu Picchu…

Alpacas grazing.

When you turn a corner, you may run into one. Or three.

Nina & the alpacas.

Kissing cousins!

Walking Around Machu Picchu….

While the first grouping of photos in this article represent what I call the “classic” Machu Picchu shots, the photos you expect to see ~ the group below represent different views of the ruins, different perspectives that you may not have seen before…

This shot perfectly represents a different, more unexpected angle of Machu Picchu…

Nina & I climbed high above the crowds to get this shot with no one else in it.

A shot within a shot.

Machu Picchu.

Yet another angle of what used to be Incan housing structures..

This shot gives you an idea of how much walking is involved at Machu Picchu: often on rough, uneven stairs such as these.

By the Machu Picchu Exit…

Even as you exit the ruins, the views you get of an incredibly high-stepped terrace are absolutely stunning: this is one of my favorite spots at Machu Picchu.

One of my favorite shots, also taken at sunrise.

This shot, also taken from the “back side” of the ruins, shows the treacherous & very steep switchbacks that all the buses take to reach Machu Picchu.

For a deeper dive into the infamous “Scary Bus Ride” at Machu Picchu ~ read this article.

More of the terrace…

The brown river below the ruins is called the Urubamba…

One final shot: this one hangs in my photo gallery at home.

Photos to Inspire Your Machu Picchu Trip

If you’re planning a trip to Peru, I highly suggest reading some of these amazing books to give you a better understanding of the country’s rich history.  Also check out my favorite luxury hotels by Machu Picchu, or my favorite secret retreat in nearby Ollantaytambo: beautiful El Albergue Hotel.

xoxo Noelia 

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