Machu Picchu is located 2,430 meters high in a place of great beauty, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. The Machu Picchu sanctuary was probably the most amazing architectural realization of the Inca Empire in its heyday. Its walls, terraces, and gigantic ramps give the impression of having been sculpted in the escarpments of the rock as if they were part of it. The natural frame, located on the eastern slope of the Andes, is part of the upper Amazon basin, which has a very varied flora and fauna.
Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and one of the most important destinations on the planet. Do not let an improvised or unofficial guide ruin your trip. A guided tour is the best way to get to know the Inca City.
Learn how to hire a professional and authorized Machu Picchu guide.
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The truth is that either by doing some of the Inca roads for several days or visiting the ruins only for a day, it is very important to choose the tour or guide correctly since that part of the wonderful experience that we will have will depend on it.
We do not visit Machu Picchu every day of our life, and our recommendation is that to try to save on this, the only thing that can end up doing is to end up having commented on the poor quality of the guide instead of the beauty of the place we are visiting.
The tour guides offer their service at the entrance to Machu Picchu. The visitor must only make the deal for a certain price and enter the Inca City in the company of the guide. Shared services are up to 16 people.
The organized tours Machu Picchu include the guided service. If you travel on your own, you can request a guide online through a tourism agency.
The price is quite fixed among all the guides, so it is better not to argue with them about this matter because the only thing you will get is creating an unnecessary row. The price basically depends on the size of the group, and for more than two people it usually goes for around 70 Soles (23 dollars per person). If the group is very large, and only in that case, it is worthwhile to haggle a little the price between the different guides in order to get a discount.
Officially, only qualified and authorized guides can guide Machu Picchu, although the reality tells us that there are many other guides that practice without being authorized. The official guides of Machu Picchu must have completed a university career in tourism and have obtained a certificate of professional qualification generated by the National Tourism University. You will know that it is an official guide if you carry a blue identification card generated by said university. Additionally, all official guides operating in Machu Picchu must be certified in first aid.
Remember that you can not enter Machu Picchu if you do not present your valid passport and your printed ticket. Guided tours with private services have an even higher cost.
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The cost of shared guidance varies according to the number of people. The maximum number of tourists is up to 10 people. The larger the group, the cost of the guidance will be less per person.
The cost of the private service is greater than the shared service. The tourist decides which guide to choose. It is ideal for a family trip. This service is contracted through the internet or through a tourism agency in Cusco.
If you plan to travel independently to Machu Picchu, you have the option of hiring an official tour guide at the entrance. There are located the guides authorized by GERCETUR (Regional Directorate of Foreign Trade and Tourism).
Remember that the guides are identified with your official guide credential. Most guides work independently. There will always be an independent one; unless it comes in high season.
The time of guided by all the Inca City of Machu Picchu usually lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. This may vary according to the circuit chosen within the Inca site.
Finally, the custom of tipping is highly recommended at the end of the service. It is not an obligation at all, but if the service is quality it is a local custom just like in other places like EE. UU o Chile is tipped in restaurants or bars. In general, a figure of about 5 USD per person is a typical value and common among visitors who have really enjoyed the guided service. In conclusion, consider a value of about 20 USD per person plus the optional tip you want to give.
Huayna Picchu is the huge mountain located within Machu Picchu. The tour of this summit is not mandatory with a tour guide. Visitors can ascend on their own.
Before or after knowing Huayna Picchu, the visitor must visit Machu Picchu in the company of a tour guide. This is because the entrance ticket to Huayna Picchu includes a visit to the 'Inca City'.
The Inca 4 day trail route through ancient Inca trails until arriving at Machu Picchu through the old Intipunku (Sun Gate). The tour, camp and everything related to this walk is in the company of a tour guide.
To hire a guide for the Machu Picchu tours Inca Trail, you should only book the tour with a tourism agency. It is not possible to do this hiking trail on your own. The guide is responsible for the welfare of the tourist during the Inca Trail.
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The City of Cusco is known as the 'Archaeological Capital of America' due to the many historical sites that exist there such as: Sacsayhuaman, Coricancha, Tipon, Ollantaytambo, Pisac and many more.
To get a guide in Cusco you must hire the services of tours such as: the City Tour Cusco, the Tour to the Sacred Valley or the Tour to the South Valley Cusco. All of them include mobility, entrance to the archaeological sites and tourist guide service.
If you visit Cusco's archaeological sites on your own, you can hire a guide at the entrance door of the enclosures.
