Visiting
Machu Picchu is one of those trips that we recommend to everyone to do, at
least once in their life, if possible.
However, as
we have been referring in the last posts about our trip to Peru, visiting Machu
Picchu may not be as easy as we would think the first time. We have already
answered many of the questions in our post MACHU PICCHU - 20 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU but, we wanted to take this post
to answer one of the questions that we have been asked the most.
And this
question is related to one of the changes that were made to the entry
regulations in Machu Picchu, in which it is mandatory to be accompanied by an
official tour guide for those who visit Machu Picchu. The only exception is for
people who make the route to Huayna Picchu, or the Machu Picchu mountain, where
the orientation service is not mandatory.
Since our visit
to Machu Picchu took place just a little after that change, so we were a little apprehensive.
Do I really need a guide to visit Machu Picchu?
One of the
concerns were, of course, financial, as our travel budget is generally well
thought out and calculated, and we always try to avoid costs that are
considered unnecessary by us.
However, it
would also make no sense to go to a place like Machu Picchu and miss out on the
opportunity to truly know and explore this wonder of the world just to save a
few dollars on the guide, so we tried to gather as much information as possible
to find out if it was really necessary whether or not a guide to making the most
of the experience.
So, the answer to the question: “Do I really need a guide to visit Machu Picchu?” Concerns two fundamental questions. The first is legal, that is, if entry to Machu Picchu is really prohibited without a guide, and the second question, whether I need a guide to make the most of the experience of visiting Machu Picchu.
So, the answer to the question: “Do I really need a guide to visit Machu Picchu?” Concerns two fundamental questions. The first is legal, that is, if entry to Machu Picchu is really prohibited without a guide, and the second question, whether I need a guide to make the most of the experience of visiting Machu Picchu.
Answering
the first question, the truth is that the changes to the entry rules in Machu
Picchu has forced you to enter accompanied by a guide. However, what happened
when we visited Machu Picchu was that there was absolutely no requirement to be
accompanied by a guide and, until the date of 2020, this obligation is not in
fact.
However, it
is not known whether at any time there will be a policy change, but if it does,
it is easy to hire the services of a guide, either in Machu Picchu Pueblo, or
even at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
Regarding
the second question, which is whether I need a guide to make the most of my
visit to Machu Picchu, the truth is that it depends a lot on you.
The truth
is that a good guide can help you learn a lot about the history of the place.
We are talking about people who know the place as few and can help to pay
attention to details that I would never have noticed or known had it not been
for this precious help.
However,
there are people who, like us, love to explore, discover and know every detail
of their destination, even before taking the plane to their destination. If
that is your case, our opinion is that you can very well make your visit to
Machu Picchu without a guide. In our case, we had already done so much research
that when we entered Machu Picchu it was as if we knew every inch of our
destination.
In addition
to this factor, there is another one that we identify with, which is to make
our visits at our own pace and not be dependent on anyone. Something we loved
was being able to stand still in Machu Picchu, just to contemplate, especially
in the moments when we were able to be more alone, something that may not be
easy to achieve in Machu Picchu but, to achieve this, we advise you to read our
post on how to avoid crowds at Machu Picchu.
Conclusions
Well,
responding directly to the question that led us to write this post, we are
obliged to answer that yes, you can make your visit to Machu Picchu without a
guide. In legal terms, it may not seem possible at the outset, but it is still
possible (in 2020) to make this visit without having to fight it.
Visiting
without a guide has the clear advantage of saving money and being able to
follow your own pace throughout this marvel of humanity. However, as mentioned
above, if you have not done your “homework” and have not studied your
destination properly, we advise you to request the services of a guide, as it
makes more sense to explore this destination by knowing its history, something
that without a guide and without having studied, will lead you to lose much of
the charm of this visit.
So, in case you have not made this visit, we
really advise you to do it with a guide. However, we made the choice to go
without a guide and, we loved the possibility of following our pace, with our
times. Do not forget, regardless of the way you do it, do not miss visiting Machu
Picchu, as it is something that will not fail to amaze you.
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We would also like to invite you to leave your opinion and questions and, in case you have already visited Machu Picchu, let us know about your experience using our comments box. Thanks for your visit to our Non Stop Family Travel Blog, come back often and, if you liked our article, don’t forget to share it with your friends.
If you are planning your visit to Peru, here is a list of some of our destination-related posts that are sure to be very helpful in organizing your itinerary:
- 10 reasons why you should visit Lima
- 20 things you should know when planning your trip to Machu Picchu
- What is the Sacred Valley of the Incas? What to see in the Sacred Valley, Peru
- Sacred City of Caral-Supe: Best day-trip from Lima
- How to visit the Rainbow Mountain in Peru? Things to know when planning your trip
